IN A NUTSHELL
Main Takeaways: Even popular skin care products can contain some dangerous ingredients (some of which can cause birth defects), so it’s crucial to know which to avoid.
Good to Know: Not only should you seek out skin care products that are safe, you should find ones that are gentle as your skin is likely in a state of flux right now.
Recommended Products: So Clean!
Now that you’re pregnant, you’re doing everything possible to ensure the health of your baby but have you thought about how your skin care could affect them? Products that are absorbed into your skin can affect your unborn child. In this article, we’re discussing finding a facial cleanser that’s safe for pregnancy, some of the changes in your skin that can happen during pregnancy, washing your face when pregnant, safe skincare during pregnancy, skin care ingredients to avoid during pregnancy, and the best facial cleanser safe for pregnancy. As always, we implore you to discuss anything you use on your skin or put in your body with your doctor; however, we think this guide will help keep your skin looking great while putting your mind at ease.
Changes in your skin when pregnant
As you’ve probably noticed, pregnancy changes everything in your life and that includes your skin. Your hormones are going a little kerflooey right now (not an official term), so be prepared for anything. If you’ve traditionally had dry skin, you may experience oiliness for the first time or vice versa. Or, your skin could become even drier or oilier than it usually is. You may also experience melasma, also known as pregnancy mask. These are dark spots on the face caused by a rise in hormone levels. Even if you’ve never had it previously, you could also experience acne.
Washing Your Face When Pregnant
All this means that it’s more important than ever to come up with and stick to a safe, effective skin care routine, the first step of which is making sure your skin is as clean as it can be. Dirt and oil is the last thing your skin needs right now, so washing your face when pregnant with a safe, gentle cleanser that doesn’t dry out or add extra oil is crucial.
And of course, make sure you follow that up with a skin care routine that’s equally gentle and includes all the basics: a serum, toner, moisturizer and eye cream.
Safe Skincare During Pregnancy
Just as you need to be more careful of the medications you take and the food you eat, it’s crucial to re-evaluate your skin care routine during pregnancy. One of the most important things to remember is that now is not the time to experiment with extreme or powerful skin care products and routines, especially if you’ve never tried them before.
Here are a few important tips to remember when considering safe skincare during pregnancy:
1. Always wash your face with warm or tepid water. Your skin is super sensitive right now and using really hot water can dry it out even more. Use warm or tepid water to make sure that doesn’t happen.
2. Choose products that are as gentle as possible. Using strong skin care products like powerful exfoliants or moisturizers with high levels of oil will only serve to destabilize your skin. Find products that are gentle and easy on the skin.
3. Make sure you’re using products that can be used by every skin type. Even if you regularly use products for your specific skin type, they may not be what you need right now, as your skin is changing. Choose skin care products that work for every skin type to make sure your skin is getting what it needs, even as it changes.
4. Check every single ingredient in your skin care. Beware of commonly used toxic skincare ingredients, even in so-called “natural” products. Some of these ingredients can cause cancer and birth defects, which is why it’s beyond crucial to make sure they’re not lurking somewhere in your skin care routine. More on that below.
Skin Care Ingredients To Avoid During Pregnancy
It’s always wise to stay away from certain skin care ingredients to avoid irritation; but it’s especially crucial during pregnancy, as many can cause birth defects. Here are just a few specific skin care ingredients to avoid during pregnancy:
Parabens - As endocrine disruptors, parabens should be on everyone’s list of out-of-the-question skin care ingredients but this is especially true for pregnant women. Parabens can potentially affect everything from birth weight to developmental issues and it’s even thought that parabens can affect children’s fertility later on in life.
Retinol - When taken in pill form, this derivative of vitamin A is thought to cause birth defects. To err on the side of caution, we recommend staying away from it both orally and topically.
Accutane - Like retinol, accutane is derived from vitamin A and should be out of the question while you’re pregnant.
Formaldehyde - Although a known carcinogen, formaldehyde is often used as a preservative in skin care, so pregnant women need to steer clear of it. Linked to everything from birth defects to spontaneous abortions, it’s an ingredient to be avoided at all costs.
Phthalates - Like formaldehyde, phthalates should be on everyone’s list of ingredients to avoid as they are thought to be carcinogens, but they pose an even greater risk to pregnant women. Children with mothers who were exposed to phthalates during pregnancy have been found to have issues with motor skills, as well as language development problems.
Artificial fragrances - Artificial fragrances often include ingredients we spoke about above, like phthalates and parabens.
Best Facial Cleanser Safe for Pregnancy
With all the changes your skin is going through and all the ingredients you should stay away from, finding a safe cleanser might seem daunting. Thankfully, our So Clean! facial cleanser ticks all the right boxes, so you can feel safe using it during pregnancy.
As we discussed above, one of the major changes your skin might experience while you’re pregnant is dryness. So Clean! is known for its ability to cleanse the skin thoroughly without drying it out or leaving it feeling tight, as many cleansers do. It’s formulated for every skin type, making it usable throughout your entire pregnancy, even if your skin experiences changes.
Another symptom you might have is redness and So Clean! Is known for its ability to help calm redness.
Perhaps most importantly, however, it contains no harmful or artificial ingredients, so you don’t have to worry about harming your child. No parabens, no phthalates, no formaldehyde, nada.
We hope this helps you find a facial cleanser safe for pregnancy. As we said above, you should always consult with your doctor about anything you do during pregnancy, but this information should give you a great foundation for that discussion. You’ve put so much energy into making sure your baby is healthy– be sure you don’t overlook how your skin care affects them.