How has your idea of beauty and self-care evolved since becoming a mother?
"Motherhood has definitely transformed my approach to beauty and self-care. Before, I was meticulous and hands-on, running a business and tackling interior design projects. Pregnancy naturally slowed me down, but postpartum was a whole new learning curve. It felt like a rebirth, not just for my baby, but for me as well.
Beauty, for me now, is about maximising the little moments of self-care. My beauty routine became quicker and more efficient. Self-care shifted to finding pockets of time, like enjoying my special nook in the living room or indulging in a luxurious bath. For me, it's now more about intentionality and maximising those precious moments."
Did your feelings about your body change during and after pregnancy?
"During pregnancy, I felt beautiful watching my body change and grow, I think I really carried that well. However, postpartum brought new challenges, but I'm learning to embrace the journey and love myself through it all. It's important to give yourself grace and celebrate the incredible feat of bringing a new life into the world."
How do you maximise your limited time for self-care now?
"Self-care is no longer about long, elaborate routines. It's about those small, intentional moments that make me feel good. It could be a quiet moment on my mint sofa, a quick face mask, or simply romanticising shower timer. For me, it's about quality over quantity. I'm more mindful of the ingredients in my products and drawn to brands that have put thought into their ingredients and formulation. It's less about vanity buying and more about finding products that make me feel good, both inside and out.
The other day I went to the store and the ladies there were like “Wow! Michelle, what are you doing to your skin?” the truth is my routine had become even more limited compared to before pregnancy but now, I’m using less but using quality products over vanity buying".
What's something about motherhood that's not often talked about?
"The physical changes! Our bodies go through so much – some even life changing, and it's essential to give ourselves grace during the postpartum period. It's easy to compare ourselves to how we looked before, but we need to remember the incredible journey our bodies have been through – you grew a human being! It's about embracing the journey.
I constantly reassure myself saying 'Okay Michelle, yes you looked like this before but remember you literally brought out a whole human that grew inside you and you are now nurturing so you need to just love yourself and enjoy your life regardless of what is going on. Be intentional about making yourself happy and enjoy the little wins.'"
How do you stay true to yourself amidst the changes of motherhood?
"I focus on a few key things: remembering my identity, appreciating this phase of life I’m in, knowing it’s a gift and a blessing, nurturing myself and my family, and giving myself grace.
I also surround myself with supportive friends, people who constantly encourage me when I start to feel down. I find strength in my faith, my identity as a Christian, God’s Word and His promises to me. Lastly, I keep my goals in sight because It's easy to lose yourself in motherhood, but if you have a plan and you know where you’re going, you’ll be reminded that life is in phases and not fall prey to the FOMO feeling (fear-of-missing-out). Basically, by focusing on these things, I stay grounded and confident."
What does enjoying life mean to you now?
"Hmm, this is such an interesting question for me right now because honestly before motherhood, I might have given a different answer. But right now, it's about nurturing my family, taking care of myself, finding joy in everyday moments, and giving back to others.
Things like just going on a car ride with my family, just the three of us; myself, my husband and our baby. It all feels fulfilling and rewarding. Simple things like making breakfast, spending time with loved ones, and finding balance in my life."