Mom to Mom Beauty: Patricia Haimes

The London-based founder of Little BU non-toxic nail polishes for little girls, shares her favorite mom beauty picks.

 “As a true city girl in New York, manis and pedis were always a weekly ritual to relax and catch up with friends,” says Patricia Haimes, the founder of Little BU. “I started to see an influx of sweet girls having their nails painted with traditional nail salon polishes. Their faces would light up when their color was applied! I thought I could replicate this experience with a safe, non-toxic alternative that also offered them fun and trendy colours.” Here, Haimes, who is the mom of 10-month-old Grayson Asher, gives the scoop on her top beauty must-haves. —Melissa Schweiger

What are your favorite desert-island skin care products?
I am obsessed with Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair and Eye Cream to help with the anti-aging process and hydrate skin! I don’t only use it at night, but in the morning and while in-flight. It’s the perfect skin quencher!  I also douse my skin in the evenings with Skinesis Overnight Facial by Sarah Chapman. It’s like bringing Sarah home with you for an at-home facial!  It’s vitamin infused and contains collagen-building nutrients, but what I really love is that It really reduces the appearance of my fine lines!

Being a mom does not allow much time to get ready in the morning. What is your typical five-minute morning makeup routine?
As I’ve gotten older, I can’t seem to get away with a bare face, so I just create one! Not one to enjoy the pale look, I use my tried-and-true Estee Lauder Day Wear Sheer Tint SPF 15 for a lightly tinted bronzed look. I get sun-kissed and sun protection all in one! With a brush, I tap on a bit of Laura Mercier Secret Concelear to hide the dark circles from late nights up with my son. It’s hydrating and leaves the under eye area looking fresh. Once my face is primed, I add a touch of blush by Bobbi Brown in pale pink to the apples of my cheeks. It’s long lasting and is matte because I don’t like to sparkle during the day. Moving on to my eyes, I swipe two coats of Chanel Inimitable Mascara to lengthen and separate my little lashes. The formula is so light I forget I’m wearing mascara, but get a wide-eyed look that I love.

Are there any skincare treatments you get on a regular basis?
As a beauty junkie, I do have quarterly facials at Sarah Chapman’s Skinesis clinic in South Kensington. I always walk out the door with a glow. When I lived in NY I would have facials every month, but in London my skin isn’t as dirty from the city grime.  I continue to have endermology treatments at the Lifestyle Clinic in Mayfair. I am cursed with a touch of cellulite so the treatments work to smooth the trapped water and uneven skin!

Favorite every day lip product?
I love looking all natural, even if it does take some work! I wear Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Lip Moisturizer SPF 15. It’s so smooth and brings out my natural lip colour. My day lip rotation also includes Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer in Glaze.  I’m obsessed with its gorgeous shimmer, super shine and light touch of colour.

Favorite date night lip color?
In the evenings I prefer to wear a fun and lightweight lipstick like Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Boy or Romance. They’re very fun and flirty shades.

Do you have any beauty rituals that allow you to relax/unwind after a hectic day?
I relax in the bath with soothing bath salts. I find that after a hectic day a warm bath and quiet time restores me.

What were your favorite pregnancy skin care products?
When I was pregnant with Grayson, I maintained my usual beauty routine and took special care of my face with a high SPF on sunny holidays to avoid malasma, which I’m prone to. I also found solace in the comforting and hydrating Santa Maria Novella Olio Dermoprotettivo from Italy that helped keep the stretch marks away.

What sunscreen do you use on yourself? The kids? 
I carry an arsenal of sun protection when traveling but I do have favourites. For personal use I apply La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 40 Sun Cream, which has a broad UVA & UVB protection for body. I carry Neutrogena Healthy Defense Oil-Free Sunblock Stick SPF 30 for quick swipes and it’s perfect for my husband who doesn’t like cream on his face. It’s very lightweight, sweat proof, water proof with a broad UVA & UVB spectrum. 
For Grayson, I have found that Nivea Sun Baby Moisturising Sun Lotion SPF 50 + not only protects his skin but doesn’t dry it out like other brands.  I also carry Neutrogena Pure & Free Baby Sunblock Stick SPF 60 + to swipe on his ears and face when he becomes impatient with the lotion application!

Best beauty advice you can give to other moms?
Keep your makeup very simple and look for products that hydrate throughout the day, because you’ll never stop to touch-up. I would also look for makeup that ‘stays put’ because you don’t want your baby to wear your makeup on his skin or clothes when you go in for a snuggle!