In the spirit of Mother’s Day, Garnier® Whole Blends™ continue to remind us of our unique beauty.

If you had told me years ago that becoming a mother to three little girls in three years would change the way I take care of myself, I would have called you crazy. Before kids, I was never a fashionista or girls’ girl, but I did get up, exercise, wash and style my hair and put on makeup every day. After three pregnancies and the immediate shift of attention from me to them, the weight piled on, the hair went up in a ponytail and the makeup got lost in the diaper cream and baby shampoo.

But at 43, with the girls growing like weeds, I want to regain some of the beauty and love for who I am that I let go so willingly when the stick turned blue. Now a CrossFit addict with results that matter, makeup again in the top of my drawer and new Garnier® Whole Blends™ shampoo, conditioner and treatments in my shower, taking care of me has become a part of my daily routine again. I love how that makes me feel!

My days are crazy. You would think a woman who works from home would have the insanity of her day lessened. The truth is, I am busier now as a single mom running ADayinMotherhood.com than I ever was as a stockbroker in my younger days. I get up at 5 or 6 a.m. every day and don’t fall asleep until 11 at night. Every hour in the middle is full. My “me” time is my workout at CrossFit and the hot shower I get to take after before my afternoon gets busy again.

For a week or so now, I have used Garnier® Whole Blends™ Hydrating Line with Coconut Water & Vanilla Milk Extracts to give more hydration to my hair. Since I straighten my naturally wavy hair and wash it almost daily, I tend to have fly aways from dryness that make it look messy even when it’s styled. I love the aroma and the clean feel of the shampoo and conditioner, but the major results I get from the hydrating mask are amazing. My hair brushes smoother, stays smooth and feels way less dry — and the fly aways seem to be more tamed.

As a mom raising girls, it has become apparent that they watch every little move I make. So if I want them to grow up caring about how they feel and look, I have to do the same thing. In fact, this new me — the one who puts on makeup and fixes her hair and is working hard to eat right and take care of myself — is a great example to them. My oldest is really paying attention and tells me all the time now how much she loves my hair down. My youngest tells me I smile a lot more, and my middle daughter hugs me tight and says she thinks I’m the prettiest mom at school. I want to be the best I can be for them, and I want them to be as proud of me as I am of them.

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It’s funny. If you scan the 9,000 photos I have on my phone, you see a sort of transformation. As I scroll through pictures of babies growing into little girls, dog adoptions, family vacations, meals out and school events, you see me go from this bland, almost messy, scattered-looking mom to this smiling, organized, wearing-something-flattering woman that I always wanted to be. I notice a huge difference in the way I smile and stand out in photos when my hair is fixed and pretty versus the ponytail that is my instant go-to. Whereas before I was always the picture taker, I love seeing me in photos now, which is something I never thought I would say at 43.

Taking care of me is more than just being able to put on some mascara and wash my hair. It’s about smiling more, living longer, having a more fulfilling life and being more than I thought I could be just by making the smallest changes. Having products like Garnier® Whole Blends™ shampoo, conditioner and treatments, which encourage women to present their best selves out in the world, in my shower is a daily reminder that “me time” is important! They really work, they smell amazing, and they give the confidence you need to take care of you!

I also love that they are paraben-free formulas, gentle for everyday use and enriched with select ingredients that give back, like argan and coconut. Aside from that, they are made of recyclable PET plastic with 30 percent post-consumer recycled waste and are produced in a facility committed to sustainability, which has reduced its waste and water consumption per unit by approximately 58 percent and 47 percent respectively since 2005. Garnier® also partners with TerraCycle to keep beauty products out of landfills. Companies that are making good decisions are companies whose products I believe in!

Whatever your haircare needs, Garnier® Whole Blends™ has a formula for you! Which of these do you need in your shower?

Find your blend, and take that first step in making yourself a priority again! Which one would you use?

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This post is part of a sponsored collaboration between Garnier® Whole Blends™ and SheKnows