Becoming a mother changes everything — including the way you care for yourself. Natasha Yamala Aromolaran shares her honest journey from a 12-step skincare devotee to a minimalist, hydration-focused routine that fits into life with a six-month-old.
Pregnancy transforms more than just a woman’s body — it also completely reshapes her relationship with beauty. What was once an indulgent ritual for Natasha quickly evolved into a minimalist pregnancy skincare routine built on gentleness, safety, and self-care. Between navigating morning sickness, hormonal shifts, and the demands of work, she found herself rethinking every product on her shelf.
Pregnancy is often romanticised for the “glow” it brings, but the reality is far more complex. According to studies, up to 90% of women experience significant skin changes during pregnancy. This ranges from cases of hyperpigmentation to acne flare-ups, stretch marks, spider veins, and shifts in oiliness or dryness. Hormonal fluctuations increase melanin production, disrupt elasticity, and heighten sensitivity — and the postpartum crash can leave skin dull and dehydrated. Scientists attribute these transformations to an increase in estrogen and progesterone levels.
In our Motherhood Special, we’re exploring the honest and deeply personal stories that define motherhood in its many forms. We begin this pregnancy beauty series with Natasha Yamala Aromolaran. She’s a public relations, branding and corporate communications professional, and mum to a six-month-old. Since giving birth, Natasha has been navigating more than her fair share of skincare changes. She shares how pregnancy transformed her beauty routine, her skincare staples, and her new philosophy on self-care.
Read also: Nigerian Mothers: How to fix postpartum changes in Skin and Hair
Hydration and safety were the core of her pregnancy skincare routine
Pregnancy has a way of rewriting the rules, and for Natasha, it meant rethinking every part of her beauty routine. Before her daughter arrived, Natasha was one of the 12-step, possibly 24-step skincare routine girls. “I was always trying new serums and moisturisers. I’m sure if my bank account could, it would roll its eyes every time I watched another TikTok skincare video.” However, the moment she saw those two lines on a pregnancy test, the changes started. “My doctor told me to immediately stop using certain actives in my skincare routine.”
Safety became non-negotiable with her pregnancy skincare routine. “I started reading every ingredient label like it was [preparation for] an exam,” she recalls. Retinoids, salicylic acid, alpha arbutin and other actives were replaced with gentle cleansers, hydrating serums, and pregnancy-safe moisturisers. “I haven’t been able to go back to most of the actives because I’m still breastfeeding.”
Post-baby beauty reality
Natasha’s daughter is now six months old, and she admits she hasn’t fully returned to a consistent self-care routine. “The most I’ve done is make a mental note to reorder my lotion or face wash. She doesn’t have a proper, consistent routine just yet, “I’ve just been doing the bare minimum to get by.”
The post-baby lifestyle requires clear priorities that take time and energy. They also dictate her beauty choices. “I have to work with a little window to get ready before leaving the house. Now that I have some help, it’s slightly easier, but that’s also when I remember a thousand other things I need to do before I can focus on myself.” Having help might be a huge relief to many mothers, but it doesn’t take away the mental anxiety they experience before prioritising themselves.
For Natasha, Motherhood has changed how she feels about her appearance. “I still enjoy expressing my beauty, but now it comes from a place of gratitude and self-acceptance, rather than comparisons and pressure.”
Natasha’s main indulgence is the “everything shower” at night, if she’s not too tired. She also takes advantage of some quiet time before getting back into the busy mummy schedule. “On rare days when I’ve slept well, I wake up early just to have some me-time before everyone else is up. It really helps keep me sane.” There might not be a saying to this effect, but a mother’s sanity is key to a healthy baby and a thriving mummy life.
Natural makeup look and hydration-focused skincare staples
Natasha’s makeup routine hasn’t seen a major overhaul, but her reasons for wearing less are all about motherhood. “I’ve shifted to a more natural look with fewer products, mostly because my baby will try to ‘eat’ my face at least 50 times a day, and I don’t want her getting all that product in her mouth.” The way babies go at your face and put everything in their mouths is one of the most hilarious things ever. I often marvel at mothers’ instincts of sensing the “grabby” hands before they reach anything dangerous.
Natasha’s skincare, on the other hand, is almost unrecognisable from her pre-baby routine. “The change has been huge. I cut out most of my actives because I got tired of researching what was baby-safe, and I now focus on hydration and protection.” Her current staples include The Ordinary Glycolic Acid toner, vitamin C serums from Uncover and Timeless, Hada Labo Premium Lotion, niacinamide serum, SPF, Bioderma moisturiser, and La Roche-Posay sunscreen.
Read also: Discover the secret to choosing the perfect moisturiser for skin hydration!
Beauty hacks for busy mums
Natasha’s top time-saving advice is to buy products that do double duty; it’s a huge time-saver. This is especially true for mothers who don’t have help. “For example, instead of buying a vitamin C serum and a separate moisturiser, get a moisturiser that already contains vitamin C so you can skip a step,” she advises.
Her top three must-have products for any new mum are: The Ordinary Glycolic Acid toner, Uncover I Am Radiant Vitamin C serum and the La Roche-Posay sunscreen. “They’ll help your skin look fresh and glowy, even when you’re running on little sleep.” She also advocates for personal care for mothers. “If you can, wake up before everyone else to have some me-time. It really helps.”
She might not have time for beauty products like before, but Natasha still has a wishlist product. “If I could splurge on any beauty product as a mum treat, it’ll be the Drunk Elephant powerpeptide resurf serum.” A small luxury in a life full of baby bottles, bedtime routines, and busy mornings.
Beauty through a kinder, more forgiving lens
When Natasha became a mother, her definition of beauty shifted completely. “Motherhood has taught me to see beauty through a kinder and more forgiving lens,” she says. “I still have days when I’m hard on myself, but I remind myself that this same body brought me the greatest joy of my life, and that is beautiful.”
Natasha reminds us that beauty in motherhood is deeply personal. Your pregnancy beauty routine often depends on a delicate mix of shifting hormones and your own personal preferences. Each woman’s journey shapes how she feels about skincare, makeup, and self-care during those nine months — whether it’s a swipe of lipstick before heading out or a barefaced embrace of every moment. None of these make your journey less important or makes you less beautiful.
Read more: Mum Style Diaries: Ayoyinka Abolarin shares her secrets to balancing motherhood and style with ease
