Motherhood can turn a woman's life upside down. Brittany Gould was ready to reprioritize herself by refreshing her hair, pampering her skin and trying new fashion trends.

Brittany Gould was overwhelmed by the transition to motherhood after the birth of her daughter, Ivy, in May 2015. "I used to keep up with current styles," she says, "but that's all fallen by the wayside to make room for elastic-waist shorts and stretched-out tees for easy breast-feeding access." She stopped colouring her hair during pregnancy and, now, keeps it tied back so Ivy doesn't pull on it. Also, her skin has become red and dry from neglect and lack of sleep. It was time for Brittany to start taking care of herself again.  

Hair

When Brittany arrived at the salon for a colour and cut with Schwarzkopf Professional hairstylist Paul Pereira, her roots were several inches long. Pereira added strawberry-blond highlights to complement her peachy complexion and freckles, then added a medium copper to give it more depth. "A semi-permanent colour is lower maintenance because it gradually rinses out, [making roots less visible]," says Pereira. He chopped several inches off her locks but maintained the length so she can still put her hair in a ponytail. On set, Pereira curled Brittany's hair from mid-shaft to ends, and he braided one side "to give a little texture and show her colour" Then, he ran a silicone-based serum through the hair to give it an undone look.

Makeup

It's a struggle to put on makeup with a newborn demanding your undivided attention, but Brittany managed a few minutes to apply mascara, foundation and blush with a side of concealer, "for the dark circles and bags that have now become a part of my life." Plutino Group makeup artist Sheri Stroh was struck by Brittany's ice-blue eyes and wanted to give her an easy look to make them the focal point. "Nothing looks better with blue eyes than bronze and gold eyeshadows," says Stroh, so she dusted copper shadow onto Brittany's lids and applied a chocolate-brown eyeliner to her waterlines to make the eye colour pop. "I didn't use black because I didn't want the contrast to look too harsh, especially with her fair complexion and strawberry-blond hair." To finish, Stroh used a highly pigmented coral-peach gloss in lieu of lipstick, as gloss is a time-saver and doesn't require precision or constant touch-ups.

Skin

Brittany lacks both sleep and time to care for her skin, so her complexion was dull and dehydrated- something Régine Perron, Clarins Division boutique and spa development director, noted when examining Brittany's face at Spa My Blend by Clarins in Toronto. That lack of hydration was creating fine lines, which could later turn into wrinkles. Her recommendations? Use a gentle foaming cleanser, then a hydrating serum followed by a cream to lock in moisture. If Brittany can find the time, she should use a hydrating mask once a week. "She can apply the mask 20 minutes before bed, relax a little, then remove it and put on night cream," says Perron. "She really needs that boost of hydration."

Osis+ Magic Anti-Frizz Shine Serum, $24, schwarzkopf-professional.ca. Clarins Double Serum, $87, clarins.com. Gosh Nail & Cuticle Oil, $11,shoppersdrugmart.ca. Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon in Bronzed Garnet, $32, charlottetilbury.com. 

Wardrobe

"I always strive for an effortlessly chic style," says Brittany. However, some of her usual faves aren't terribly mama-friendly. Cynthia Florek, style expert for Square One Shopping Centre in Mississauga, Ont., created an ensemble that was comfortable and had the polished elements Brittany craved while steering her in a more bohemian direction. "Brittany is very tall, so she can carry long layers," says Florek. A tunic with a paisley print was the foundation piece of her look—the button-down frock gives her easy access to breastfeed. Wearing a dress over pants is a big trend now, says Florek, so she chose a skinny pair of distressed jeans. To give the look structure, she added a long sleeveless vest, along with a pair of fringed suede booties to solidify the boho influence. 

Vest, $160, White House Black Market. Tunic, $60, Loft. Jeans, $50, Zara. Booties, $160, Steve Madden. All clothing and accessories available at shopsquareone.com

 

Verdict

"I love the hair colour and cut, and I like that the outfit was different from anything I would normally choose. It was fun to see the elements come together, and the couple of hours of baby-free relaxation felt like the equivalent of a 12-hour sleep!"