How the Co-Founder of This Best-Selling Beauty Brand Winds Down During Pregnancy

by Candice Aman

It's no secret that we love a good morning routine. We've come to learn, however, that the rituals we do to wind down before bed are just as important. Whether you take 10 minutes or a few hours, it's precious time that you have set aside at the end of the day to take care of yourself. Our series Weekend Wind-Down highlights the nightly routines of the people we admire.

Lauren Ireland Headshot

Photo:

Courtesy of Lauren Ireland

By now, you’ve probably come across a certain periwinkle tube in an aesthetic beauty post on your Instagram feed. Since its launch in 2018, Summer Fridays’s Jet Lag Mask ($48) has amassed a near-fervent following and holy-grail product status from many skincare enthusiasts, myself included. The clean-beauty brand’s success is due largely in part to the expertise and influence of wellness blogger turned co-founder Lauren Gores Ireland and her partner Marianna Hewitt.

Ireland was pregnant with her first child when the idea to create a line of clean, high-performing, and truly pregnancy-safe skincare products came to mind. Now that she is expecting her second child, Ireland has really made the entire Summer Fridays range a mainstay in her routine.

Keep scrolling to see all the wellness essentials Ireland incorporates into her evening routine in her third trimester.

6 P.M.

Lauren Ireland Wind-Down Routine

Photo:

Courtesy of Lauren Ireland

As a working mama of a toddler during an especially unusual time in life, I can assure you my evenings are my everything. I love to wind down as both a family and individually to ensure I get some R&R after a busy day. Typically, we start our routine early so that I get more solo time at the end of the night.

Post-dinner, a glass of fresh mint tea is my current go-to. We started to grow fresh herbs in our backyard during quarantine, so it’s been fun to use it each night!

Lauren Ireland Mint Tea

Photo:

Courtesy of Lauren Ireland

Mint tea eases digestion and calms my stomach and immediately shifts me into evening mode. Admittedly, this has replaced my usual glass of wine since I am nearly eight months pregnant.

Around this time, I'll indulge in something sweet as well. My pregnancy craving has been the SmartSweets Gummy Bears!

SmartSweets Fruity Gummy Bears
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SmartSweets Fruity Gummy Bears ($18)

6:30 P.M.

Lauren Ireland Yoga

Photo:

Courtesy of Lauren Ireland

I have also gotten into the habit of winding down with a 15-20 minute stretching or yoga session I do from our family room each night. This has been key for me mentally and physically, especially while pregnant, so that I start and end each day by moving and stretching my ever-changing body.

7 P.M.

Lauren Ireland Shower

Photo:

Courtesy of Lauren Ireland

I’ll shower shortly after while also giving my son his bath around the same time. This marks the start of my skincare routine, beginning first with our Summer Fridays Super Amino Gel Cleanser.

Post-shower, I apply our Soft Reset AHA Exfoliating Solution with a cotton round. Our solution works to exfoliate, brighten, and reduce the appearance of pores and is a game changer in my overall skin health.

Summer Fridays Super Amino Gel Cleanser
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Summer Fridays Super Amino Gel Cleanser ($38)
Summer Fridays Soft Reset AHA Exfoliating Solution
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Summer Fridays Soft Reset AHA Exfoliating Solution ($54)
Summer Fridays

Photo:

Courtesy of Lauren Ireland

I’ll then apply a thick layer of our Jet Lag Mask and leave it on overnight to really hydrate and nourish for several hours—it’s like a glass of water for my skin! Pro hack: Leave yours in the fridge for extra cooling effects. Lastly, I apply our Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm for overnight moisture. (PS: our balm is also vegan!)

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask
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Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask ($48)
Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm
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Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm ($22)

7:30 P.M.

Lauren Ireland Bedtime

Photo:

Courtesy of Lauren Ireland

I’ll put my son to bed with books and storytime around 7:30 p.m. and then hop into my pj’s and have some one-on-one time with my husband. Usually, a little TV (hello, Bachelorette) and any lingering work emails happen from the couch before I head up to bed.

I’ll think about what I’m grateful for and how I want to approach the next day any differently as well as think over my schedule the next day and plan accordingly. I like to wake up feeling prepared versus overwhelmed.

8:30 P.M.

Parachute Linen Bedding

Photo:

Courtesy of Lauren Ireland

Just before I turn off the lights, I always spray my sheets with a Sleep Mist from Slip that smells like heaven and puts me in a sleepy mode. It’s the best!

Slip Sleep Mist
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Slip Sleep Mist ($32)

We sleep on linen bedding from Parachute, and I love how cooling yet cozy it feels. It is my absolute favorite!

Parachute Linen Duvet Cover
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Parachute Linen Duvet Cover ($250)

10 P.M.

Then, it’s off to bed in what I cross my fingers will be a restful night of sleep, but with my growing belly, that can vary!

Up next, The Co-Founder of Vitruvi Breaks Down Every Aroma She Uses to Unwind at Night

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions. See our full health disclaimer here.
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