Pregnancy is arguably one of the most exciting times in your life, but as glorious as pregnancy can be, it can wreak havoc with your complexion, even if you’ve never had issues before. Not only do you need to watch what you put in and on your body right now, it can also be a real challenge to keep your skin in good shape. That’s why in this article, we’re talking about what changes you might experience in your skin during pregnancy, what ingredients to avoid, and what skincare products you can use during your pregnancy. As always, we recommend speaking to your doctor before starting any skincare routine while pregnant, but this article should give you a good start in terms of understanding what ingredients to avoid and which ones are fine to use.
IN A NUTSHELL
Main Takeaways: As wonderful as pregnancy can be, it can also cause your skin to act in ways it never has before. From stretch marks to breakouts, there’s a lot that can happen to skin during pregnancy.
Good to Know: This is a crucial time to avoid certain skincare ingredients, as some are known to cause birth defects.
Recommended Products: So Clean! Facial Cleanser, Rose and Shine Rose Water Toner, Nectar of the C Vitamin C Serum, Just Dew It Hydrating Serum, Crème de la Cream Brightening Moisturizer, H2 Oh Yeah Hydrating Moisturizer, Eyes Eyes Baby Anti-Aging Eye Cream, One Lip Wonder Lip Treatment and Prince Charcoal Detox Mask.
Skin Changes During Pregnancy
As we mentioned above, as glorious as pregnancy is, it can cause some pretty drastic changes to your skin. Your hormones are really out of whack right now, which can cause excess oil production, making your skin break out even if you usually have very clear skin. And while it seems counterintuitive that the same thing that causes your skin to be oily can also cause it to dry out, hormones can make your skin dry even if you usually have oily skin.
Another issue you may face, even if you’ve never experienced it before, is melasma or dark spots. Also caused by hormones, melasma is often referred to as “pregnancy mask” and will sometimes start to fade on its own after pregnancy.
The upside of all this? You may experience a noticeable glow to your skin and while many attribute that to the excitement of pregnancy, it’s more likely a result of the fact that blood production increases by as much as 50% during pregnancy. Either way, it’s one of the more positive effects of being pregnant, so we’ll take it!
Skincare Ingredients To Avoid While Pregnant
If you get nothing else from this article, it’s crucial to understand what skincare ingredients should be off the table during pregnancy (and even breastfeeding for that matter). Here are a few total non-starters:
- Retinol - Retinol is a wonderful, effective ingredient for those who are not pregnant, but for those who are, it’s a serious no-no. This powerful form of vitamin A is linked to birth defects when taken in pill form which is why we, like so many dermatologists and doctors, recommend staying away from it–orally or topically–while pregnant.
- Formaldehyde - Believe it or not, the same formaldehyde that is used to embalm dead bodies is often used in cosmetics. Thought to be a carcinogen, it’s an ingredient you should stay far away from whether you’re pregnant or not.
- Salicylic acid - While most experts agree you need to stay away from the oral form of salicylic acid during pregnancy (when taken that way it acts very much like aspirin which is known to cause intracranial bleeding), the jury is still out when it comes to definitively stating whether or not salicylic acid is safe to use topically during pregnancy. That said, most experts feel that it’s best to play it safe and stay away from it.
- Fillers, other med spa procedures - Sure, the occasional facial is probably fine, but most spa procedures like fillers, botox, and the like haven’t really been examined enough to know whether they might be harmful so the general consensus is not to risk it. This is especially true since some procedures, such as peels, can include ingredients you want to stay away from, like salicylic acid. Even some spa amenities like saunas and hot tubs are thought to cause birth defects, so play it safe and avoid them while pregnant.
Pregnancy Safe Skincare Ingredients
The upside of all this is that there are more than enough safe skincare ingredients to keep your skin looking its best when you’re pregnant. Here are a few we recommend:
- Hyaluronic acid - Not only is hyaluronic acid safe to use during pregnancy, it’s an ingredient from which your skin can really benefit. In addition to keeping skin moisturized, it also helps soothe your skin as it goes through these changes.
- Niacinamide (vitamin B3) - If your skin feels especially oily during pregnancy, niacinamide should definitely be in your skincare routine. Known for its ability to balance oils, this antioxidant will also help protect your skin from environmental stressors that can harm it.
- Vitamin C - Although it’s probably best known for its ability to restore radiance to the skin, vitamin C is also lauded for its ability to balance the oil in skin while providing hydration. It’s also great for evening out skin tone that can become uneven due to shifts in your hormones.
- Glycolic acid - Even though it’s an exfoliant, glycolic acid is also a humectant that can help hydrate the skin. If you’re experiencing dryness right now, this is the time to incorporate glycolic acid into your skincare routine, as it will gently smooth and soft your skin.
- Vitamin E - Dry skin can also find relief with the help of a little vitamin E, which is well known for its ability to soften and moisturize the skin.
Skincare Products That Are Pregnancy Safe
Now that you know which ingredients are safe to use, let’s chat a bit about some skincare products that are pregnancy safe. Here are a few of our favorites:
So Clean! Facial Cleanser
As we mentioned above, your skin can experience dryness when you’re pregnant– even if you’ve never experienced it before. That’s why it’s so crucial to find a cleanser that removes excess oils without drying out your skin. Our So Clean! facial cleanser will do just that and will even remove light makeup in the process.
Rose and Shine Rose Water Toner
The great minimalist of toners, this spray on facial toner includes just four ingredients– including rose water and glycerin– to make sure you’re restoring much-needed hydration to the skin. While we recommend using it at least once in the morning and once at night after cleansing, there’s no reason you can’t treat yourself to a few extra spritzes during the day to refresh your skin.
Nectar of the C Vitamin C Serum
We know you’re already glowing right now, but increased radiance isn’t the only benefit of this brightening serum. It also includes hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to keep skin hydrated and healthy. This serum will help reduce the appearance of dark spots, which is crucial if you’re experiencing melama right now.
Just Dew It Hydrating Serum
Rich in antioxidants that protect your skin from environmental stressors, this ultra-hydrating serum will instantly revitalize your dry, dehydrated skin. An added bonus: it also works wonders to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles!
Crème de la Cream Brightening Moisturizer
Given that pregnancy often causes both dryness and dark spots, this moisturizer is an absolute must. Not only will it give your skin a healthy dose of hydration, it will also work on those dark spots with the help of vitamin C.
H2 Oh Yeah Hydrating Moisturizer
Some may experience extra dry and dehydrated skin during pregnancy. For you, we offer this long-lasting moisturizer that provides an even deeper level of hydration. Its rich texture feels great on thirsty skin, and it’s full of no less than 21 actives, such as vitamin E and aloe vera to nourish and calm your skin.
Eyes Eyes Baby Anti-Aging Eye Cream
There’s a good reason this is our best seller. In addition to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, Eyes Eyes Baby helps with darkness under the eyes, as well as the puffiness that comes with lack of sleep, so you can look well rested even if you are not.
One Lip Wonder Lip Treatment
With dry skin also comes dry lips, so treat them with a clean and petroleum-free alternative. Our lip treatment works to hydrate, soothe and smooth your lips with botanical ingredients such as coconut oil, castor seed oil, and candelilla wax. It also includes peptides to help plump your lips.
Prince Charcoal Detox Mask
You’ll only need to use it once or twice a week, but when you do, this gentle mask will help draw out the impurities that clog your pores. This helps other products, like your serum and moisturizer, go on more evenly and absorb more effectively.
We hope this helps demystify what skincare ingredients and products you can and cannot use during your pregnancy. As always, it’s important to speak with your doctor about anything you use while you are pregnant, but these are the first steps to making sure you are using pregnancy safe skincare products.
