When my sisters started having babies and still looked good, I thought nothing of it.  Obviously I was young , childless, and completely clueless to the fact that being a mom and still looking great is sometimes a huge feat to achieve.  When I had my first child I found myself in a daze with copious amounts of spit-up on my shirts and my hair perpetually in a disheveled rats nest on top of my head.  It was hard for me to even remember when I actually last had a shower.

Through all of this, I somehow found myself once again enraptured with my sisters’ art of putting on makeup.  I noticed that they seemed to achieve the same gorgeous face in literally a quarter of the time.  After the birth of my second child, and no beauty relief in sight, I decided to ask my sisters what their secrets were.

Here is what I learned:

Less is more!  As you get older those pesky wrinkles can get in the way and the last thing you want is your makeup drifting into these lines and making them more pronounced.

No more bottled foundation.  Foundation can be thick and while it lies nicely on young, plumped out skin, it doesn’t cooperate as nicely on skin that is aging.  Instead, choose a cover stick and some good mineral powder.

Instead of eyeliner, try eye shadow as a substitute.  Use a thin makeup brush to apply the shadow on your eye lids right above your eyelashes, just like you would apply eyeliner.  Subtle makeup will help the face look softer and younger.

Choose a brighter blush than you would normally use and only dab it on the apples of your cheeks.  This helps capture the youthful glow that seems to fade as we age.  I adore lipstick, but I can’t wear the same dark colors I used to when I was in my 20’s without feeling like a clown.  Lip gloss, or tinted lipstick can help the lips look more plump and youthful.

Mascara is one of my favorite makeup products but heavy mascara can make the eyes look hooded and older.  Only use one layer of mascara so they look lighter and more youthful.

The greatest thing about using less makeup is that it takes less time, and more time to a busy mother is priceless.

So now, instead of looking like a worn out, disheveled mom, I take five minutes to put on my minimal makeup and I look good again!  Maybe not like I did when I was twenty, but shaving five years off my face in five minutes is nothing to sniff at.

Steps to recovering from a breakup:

Get out of the house!  Don’t sit in the house and have a pity party.  If you have been in the house for a few days, get out and get some sunshine and fresh air.

Call a friend.  We all need someone to talk to from time to time.   Call and share your feelings with someone that you’re close to.

Go to your favorite restaurant.  It is always nice to get out and enjoy a nice meal.  Take time out for yourself; you deserve it!

Go for a long walk or head to the gym for a great workout.  Exercising increases endorphins.  This will help to put you in a better mood.

Continue to eat  fruits and vegetables and other mood boosting colorful foods.  Believe it or not, what we eat has a lot to do with how we feel.   Try to stay away from greasy heavy foods that will just make us feel sluggish.

Entertain yourself with your favorite hobby.  If you do not have a hobby, now would be a great time to create one.

Hangout with your friends for an enjoyable evening.

Get away for the weekend.   It’s just great to get away and clear your head.  This will help you to feel refreshed and renewed.

Take a trip to the spa.  Everyone loves to be pampered.   Take time for a facial, massage or a mani-pedi.  If you cannot afford the spa, have a spa day at home and do it yourself.  You will feel so much better!

Continue to try to look your best.  Even though you are going through a breakup you still need to try to look your best.  So be sure to get dressed, do you hair and apply that makeup.  How you look affects how you feel.  If you look good you will feel good!

Above all, understand that just as this person came into your life,  so will someone else.   In the meantime, use this time to focus on yourself.