Ah, self-care for parents! What a lovely idea...
We meant to post this during World Wellbeing Week but the week came and went while we stared at our endless to-do list. The irony’s not lost on us. But it’s never too late. One day, we will shower without an audience.
Until then, repeat after us: Self-care isn’t about having extra time. It’s about fiercely guarding the scraps you’ve got.
This is realistic self-care for parents. The kind that doesn’t rely on silence, candles, or three-hour windows you don’t have. It’s not about chasing perfection or pretending you’re one early morning away from a yoga retreat. It’s about finding something that helps in the chaos. Five minutes. A deep breath. A product that feels like it’s on your side.
No fluff. No 12-step routines. Just little lifelines for overstimulated minds and tired bodies that fits into real life.
1. A Shower Steamer for Parents Who Only Have Five Minutes
Steam, Soothe, Survive, Repeat. Only have a few minutes? Make them count. Drop a LEVEL Wellbeing's relaxing shower steamer at your feet - each colour a different calming scent. Breathe deep and let the steam do its thing. Gentle, soothing, and just the right amount of sensory without being overwhelming.
Prefer eucalyptus? No Tox Life Eucalyptus Steam brings the spa vibes without the childcare logistics. Perfect for sensory-friendly self-care moments.
2. A One-Pot Wonder for Skin & Glow
For when your glow-up has a five-minute deadline, Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream is a bit spenny but it lives up to the hype.
This skincare-makeup hybrid hydrates, primes, and brings glow and bounce back to tired skin, basically faking a full night’s sleep, without the sleep part.
When you’re short on time, this one-step wonder more than earns its spot on your bathroom shelf. A solid hydrating skincare for busy mums needing a quick glow-up.
3. A Wind-Down Mist for Parents Who Can’t Just ‘Switch Off’
Because sleep’s a journey, not a switch!
This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray isn’t magic, but it does help when your brain won’t shut up.
A quick spritz helps ease the shift from racing thoughts to actual rest. It’s a calming product for overstimulated minds, Herbal and sensory-friendly, and not too ‘woo woo’.
Low-maintenance alternative? Splash Lavender Essential Oil on the sheets and hope for the best.
4. A Calming Bath Soak to Reboot Your Brain
Made it to the Bath? Miracles Happen! Now go all in. If you haven’t tried Mother Mother’s Magnesium Bath Soak, consider this your permission to run the tap. With a calming blend of magnesium and essential oils, it’s designed to soothe tired bodies and restless minds. Best of all? There’s no greasy residue, so safe if someone under 4ft decides to ‘just have a quick splash too.
Want a simpler soak that still does the job? Westlab Magnesium Flakes are a dreamy, budget-friendly option.
Sometimes, realistic self-care for parents means locking the door and pretending you’re at a spa.
5. A Mineral Sunscreen that Plays Nicely with Makeup
Protecting your skin doesn’t have to be a faff or leave a chalky layer behind. These two do the job quietly and brilliantly, helping to keep sun damage (and future wrinkles) at bay.
Dr Sam’s Flawless Daily Sunscreen doubles as a primer, It’s light, non-greasy, and packed with skin-loving ingredients that protect and perfect in one go.
The Ordinary UV Filters SPF 45 Serum is a brilliant budget-friendly option that boasts a lighter texture, lovely finish, and doesn’t fight your makeup. Small steps now = skin wins later.
6. A Weighted Eye Mask to Help You Unwind Fast
Because two minutes of calm still count and if you don’t have hours, you might still have minutes. Before the school run, after the plates are cleared, or in that quiet moment no one’s discovered yet.
The Nodpod Weighted Sleep Mask is a sensory-friendly wellbeing tool. It’s gently weighted, soft, and ideal for a quick reset. No playlist, no candles, no pressure. Just a moment to breathe or simply lie down and do absolutely nothing (which totally counts as self-care, by the way).
7. Self-care for parents starts with a breather
Sometimes it’s not about spa days or silence—it’s a moment wrapped in softness.
Bundle them in Morning Marvels.
Softer kids = quieter kids = calmer parents. Science-ish 😉
