Looking for beauty inspiration with a whole lot of heart? Here are the CF team’s timeless beauty rituals that we learned from our mothers.
We all pick up habits from those around us, and, for the CF team, some of our most precious beauty habits are learned from our mums – whether it’s her signature haircare ritual, that one skincare trick she always swears by, or the way she wears her fragrances.
These little rituals aren’t just about looking and feeling good either. They’re also lessons in self-care, confidence, and a bonding experience that encourages us to carry this knowledge forward by sharing each tip with our own children.
Read on to discover the beauty rituals we love and learned from our mums.
Sheena Bhattessa, Founder
“She taught me the benefits of coconut oil in my hair. It’s an age-old Indian ritual, and my mum would massage it into my scalp twice a week to help it grow thicker and healthier. I still do it, and I massage it into my children’s scalps as well, before washing it out the next morning”.
Katie Silcox, Managing Editor
“That beauty and wellness start with what you put in your body, not what you put on it. My mum was both a textiles and food-tech teacher, so she understood the value of nutrition, including macro and micronutrients, and the importance of high-quality food – she taught me how their benefits show up externally as well as internally”.
Becki Murray, Beauty & Wellness Director
“The best lesson my mum taught me was to have fun and experiment with my beauty routine to discover what worked for me as an individual. I’m an identical twin, so that was a really important part of shaping my identity – even if she did have to sit back and watch me try out some questionable hair colours! Of course, it also helped me achieve the job I have today, and I take particular pleasure in still poring over the latest skincare, makeup and fragrances with her. Now though, it’s me returning the favour and helping her find the very best products for her skin, hair and pulse points”.
Rachel Story, Style & Commerce Director
“My mum is a skincare aficionado and has always had a very well-stocked beauty cupboard. Fortunately (for her!), she’s not prone to breakouts, but all my siblings inherited our dad’s acne-prone skin – cheers, pops! My mum was the one who taught me about active ingredients once my skin had matured, and layering skincare for different areas of concern. I just wish she’d been hotter on the need for daily SPF – something I will definitely try and pass on”.
Ella Alexander, Fashion Features Director
“My mum was a hairdresser, so she was very hot on healthy, regularly cut hair, and she taught me to blow-dry my hair upside down because it gives lift to the roots and adds volume – something I still do today. She has also had an enduring influence on my makeup bag. Mum, crucially, introduced me to the virtues of YSL’s Touche Eclat concealer, which I use religiously under my eyes, and she always told me to look after my skin and to moisturise daily, which is something I’ll impart to my son when he’s older”.
Bibiana Obahor, Head of Graphic Design
“One beauty ritual I learned from my mum was layering fragrances and how scent becomes part of your identity. She taught me it starts in the shower. A body wash sets the tone, followed by a lotion that anchors the scent into the skin, and then a perfume (and even a light mist through the hair) to let it project throughout the day. The secret, she always said, is commitment: choose one scent family and carry it through every step so it builds rather than competes. That’s probably why I’ve grown into such a vanilla girl through and through”.
Courtney Griffiths, Experiences and Community Director
“My mum has never really been into beauty products to be honest, so our wellness ritual was a walk in the park before school. Rain or shine, we were out the door for fresh air first thing. I don’t actually think she knew about circadian rhythms or cortisol levels, but, growing up in Ireland, I think she instinctively understood that light and movement set the tone for the day. To this day, I always feel the best when I intentionally get sunlight and steps in the morning”.
Sadaf Quyoum, Partnerships Consultant
“As I was in my teens, my mum would make a face mask consisting of turmeric, besan and yogurt mixed into a paste, used to brighten and exfoliate the skin. It’s now a ritual my teens incorporate into looking after their skin, especially to help with acne. It’s a relief from all the harsh products that are easily accessible and hugely influential today”.
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