Olivia Smith is a writer for Amaira Skincare, a natural skincare company focusing on products for sensitive skin.
During pregnancy, your skin endured rapid stretching and then sudden rapid shrinking. This can leave your stomach looking, and feeling, very out of shape. Not only that, it can leave you feeling self-conscious about the way your body now looks. While this is totally normal and you should embrace all of the changes that motherhood brings into your life, it’s understandable if you want to regain confidence in your body.
Remember that during pregnancy, your baby absorbs nutrients from your body to help them grow and flourish. So this does mean that your body (especially your skin) will now be paying the price. Have you noticed that your skin is dry, cracked, and even prone to breakouts? Your hormones have contributed toward some of this, but don’t worry, it’s not permanent!
As you may have already guessed, the health of your skin starts from what you’re putting into your body. Since your body has lost so many nutrients bringing your bundle of joy into the world, it’s sometimes recommended to try multivitamins to bring your body back up to speed. These are especially useful if you’re choosing to breastfeed!
You may want to consider approaching a skincare consultant. Certified skincare consultants are trained in working directly with clients to develop a skincare routine that works for them. You’ll undergo a skincare assessment where they’ll identify any underlying skin issues. They’ll then recommend products with active ingredients that directly address your skin’s needs! You’ll walk away with a routine that works.
Babies don’t need to use harsh chemicals to cleanse their skin as they don’t sweat at such a young age. This means that any dirt they do build up on them can be washed off with gentle soap baths or simply water, if you wish.
Your baby may suffer with a condition called cradle cap at some point or another. This condition often panics new mothers because they think they’re doing something that might be causing skin problems for their babies. Remember that cradle cap is very common, and it’s not caused by any products that you’re using!
There isn’t a conclusive reason why this condition appears on infants. Many hypothesize that it’s a baby’s way of adjusting itself to being outside the womb! If you’re worried about cradle cap, though, it’s always best to speak to your family doctor for further information.
As a new mom, it’s likely that you and your baby are going to spend plenty of time enjoying some skin-to-skin contact. There are some incredible ways of achieving this without damaging either of your skin.
Maintaining a good skin care routine for both yourself and your little bundle of joy is now easier than ever. And finally, congratulations on becoming a mother!
I am a wife and mother to four little boys, an avid horror and zombie fan, and a Doritos and V energy drink nut! Along with makeup artistry, I also love to dabble in photography and cake-baking. With all my passions and hobbies, I always strive to perfection—you can call me a perfectionist!
I guess it really came down to inspiration. I never used to wear much makeup at all; however, upon getting my makeup done for my wedding, my makeup artist really inspired me. Since then, I began practicing more and buying a lot more makeup products. It wasn’t until I came across QC that I seriously considered a career in makeup. I decided to have some faith in myself and my abilities to give it a go. I’m grateful I took that leap as I feel I’ve found my calling.
In regards to Special FX makeup, I’ve always been in awe of the creations that can be made within this field. Special FX can really be anything you can imagine! It comes down to creativity and your wildest imagination, which is what I love about it. You can transform from nothing to an amazing creature in record time.
I love it all! But you guessed it, I’d have to say Special FX, for sure. I love to create looks that make people say “wow”! They fall in love with it, whether it be creepy or uniquely different. It’s something where no two days will be alike, and it provides a fun challenge to test my makeup skills.
I wish someone had told me that applying makeup on other people was so much different than applying it to yourself. I had always thought it would be easier, but no two faces are the same! What works for one makeup client isn’t necessarily going to work for another client.
Wonderfully, I cannot express my gratitude in words. My whole experience has been a dream, and has really given me the feedback and knowledge that I require to further myself in the industry. The information provided within this course are highly valuable. To be taught by prestigious experts within the makeup industry is priceless, I wouldn’t change a thing.
I am definitely aiming to complete all beauty-related courses with QC!
Oh, that’s are hard one—they were all so much fun. If I had to choose just one, it would have to be the “Create a Stage Character” assignment from Unit F. The door is open wide to create whatever character look you please. I created a female tin-man. Although, looking back now and knowing what I know now, I really think I could have created something better, something more unique.
Check out her Before and After photos for Unit F Assignment 3 below!
It would have to be my brow palette. I cannot live without having my brows looking perfect. I use the Brow Obsession Palette in Brunette from Younique.
Usually, you will do a trial run to see what works and what doesn’t. Before you meet your potential client for the first consultation, ask them to provide you with inspiration photos of makeup looks they want and also a photo of themselves. When you have both of these photos, you can compare them to see if their inspiration photos make sense with their features.
Is it possible to achieve what they want? Are their expectations realistic? Since you’re the professional, you have a much firmer grasp on what’s realistic and what’s appropriate for the occasion.
You may choose to call them ahead of time and get a feel for their personality. Oftentimes, you can get a pretty good idea of what they want from your services just by speaking with them! Combining what you know about their personality, the inspiration photos, their own features, and your personal expertise, you can come up with suggestions or tweaks to their look in advance.
Make the effort to mitigate as much risk as possible! Always give yourself enough time at the end of the appointment to fix anything they may not be happy with. A 20 minutes window is enough to correct any mistake. If you rush a client and they end up unhappy with the look at the very end, you won’t have time to fix any issues. This can make everyone feel rushed and unsatisfied when leaving. So plan ahead, mitigate risks, and give yourself time to fix any mistakes!
Azzi says that you must absolutely charge for the trial run! You must always factor in your time when you charge for your services. With any makeup trial, you’re often spending far more time and effort than the actual day. Why? Well, you’re working with many different colors, textures, and products while you gauge their comfortability with the look. You’ll be testing out a variety of makeup products until you settle on a combination that makes your client happy. All of this cuts into your professional makeup kit, which you’ll have to eventually replenish.
With the trial run cutting into your time, costs, and expenses, you’ll want to be compensated! She recommends charging the same price or even higher for the trial run. Otherwise, you will be operating at a loss.
If it is a large job—a bridal party on the weekend with a high budget—Azzi suggests that the cut-off period for cancellations be 24-48 hours before the big day. To ensure you aren’t going to be left at a loss if your clients cancel, ensure the cancellation policy in on the initial contract!
Discuss cancellations and make mention of the cancellation clause on the contract at the consultation. When they sign the contract, ensure they also have their own copy.
Azzi mentions that every step you take from beginning to end should ensure that you walk out (mostly) unscuffed if your client cancels.
Azzi stresses the importance of a good invoicing process. When you have a professional procedure for how you conduct your business, you’ll always keep your head above water. You won’t have the added stress of having to chase after clients or be at a loss if they cancel on you!