Sharon Ohiro

The everyday MVPs that earned a permanent spot in my life.

For the days when you want to feel like you again, not just a milk machine with a messy bun and yesterday’s toast on your shirt.

Becoming a parent is magical, overwhelming and can be expensive. That’s why I made this list of the most-wanted, sanity-saving, joy-bringing gifts for new mums, dads, and their little ones. This list has different ranges of affordability. Whether you’re shopping for your baby, supporting brand-new parents, or looking for something practical and cute, this collection has you covered.

My toolkit for mamas with products that fix problems like leaks, stains, hyperpigmentation, dehydration, and ‘I have 3 minutes to look alive.’ The products recommended are pregnancy & postpartum safe, cast-free finishes on deeper tones, and easy to apply. Each pick includes a tip so you get results fast and fewer ‘why did I buy this?’ regrets.

As a first-time mum to a sweet baby boy, I have a list of essentials that made those early months smoother, calmer, and a little more magical. Whether you’re a first-time mum like me or just building your registry, these are the things I actually use and love.

Your body changed to make a baby, now your skin is changing too. If you’re a brown-skin mama like me (or soon-to-be) dealing with pigment shifts, dryness, stretch marks or just ‘Who is this skin?’ moments, this is your skin-care toolkit. I’ve pulled together products perfect for melanin, respect your postpartum hormones (you can’t use every skincare product you see on the web as some of the ingredients can affect your baby). Tap each product to learn why it works for brown skin mamas and how I use it as a brown skin mama post partum.