Here is a crafted expert-approved guide to the ingredients and beauty products that should be definitively avoided during pregnancy, along with the products that might be beneficial to add to your prenatal beauty routine. Plus, the skincare pros break down the changes you might see in your skin during your pregnancy, so there are hopefully no unexpected surprises.
How does skin change during pregnancy?
Sure, we’ve all heard about the phenomenon of the pregnancy glow that many people are said to enjoy during the second trimester and beyond—but what other changes in the skin are common during pregnancy? Numerous skin changes can occur during pregnancy, either as an intensification of existing skin conditions or as a result of the pregnancy. In fact, in almost 90% of women, skin changes during pregnancy are due to increased hormone levels, which can lead to acne, hyperpigmentation and melasma. And whilst these issues tend to resolve themselves in the postnatal period, it can be hard to know how to tackle them whilst you’re pregnant if you’re unsure what products are safe to use.
Which beauty products should be avoided during pregnancy?
Experts agreed that stripping your routine back to basics is a good rule of thumb during pregnancy. However, if you're used to a pretty extensive skincare routine, it’s good to be aware of a few key ingredients that should be avoided entirely throughout pregnancy.
Retinoids
Although widely considered to be a gold-standard ingredient in tackling uneven skin texture, minimising the appearance of lines and wrinkles and improving firmness and tone, topical use of retinoids (including retinol, retin-A, tretinoin and adapalene) should be avoided because they may contribute to high levels of vitamin A in the body, which could cause issues with your pregnancy.
Salicylic acid
Whilst our experts typically agreed that salicylic acid at low levels (around 2% or less) would likely be fine, for safety’s sake it's best to avoid this BHA entirely and switch it out for a safe-to-use AHA like lactic, glycolic or mandelic acid at a concentration of 10% or less.
Hydroquinone
This is a star ingredient for treating pigmentation, but using it to treat dark spots in pregnancy is a no-go as it absorbs through the skin.
Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is commonly found in prescription skincare to treat acne, but it should be avoided during pregnancy due to potential health risks.
Formaldehyde
Typically found in some nail and hair products—it’s particularly prevalent in a lot of gel polishes and used in treatments like a Brazilian blowdry—our experts agreed that it was best to minimise exposure to this ingredient whilst pregnant.
Essential oils
There isn’t much research on how the use of essential oils can affect a baby in the womb, which is why most experts agree it’s sensible to limit their use entirely whilst pregnant, especially tea tree oil and rosemary oil, which have been linked to skin reactions and premature contractions.
Which beauty products are safe to use during pregnancy?
Thankfully, there are still so many efficacious ingredients and beauty products that are entirely safe to use during pregnancy, so you don’t have to compromise on looking after yourself and feeling your best during this time. In fact, you might not even use any of the aforementioned ingredients to start with and so can leave your routine exactly as it was pre-pregnancy. There are, however, some ingredients that our experts particularly rate for use during pregnancy.
AHAs
Generally, AHAs such as lactic and glycolic acids are safe at lower concentrations during pregnancy. Not only do they both offer gentle exfoliation, but they’ll leave skin soft and smooth too.
Vitamin C
A protective antioxidant that looks after skin health and brightens the complexion, vitamin C is a great all-rounder that will help encourage that pregnancy glow if you aren’t already seeing it naturally.
Azelaic acid
Azelaic acid is a multifunctional hero ingredient for many skin concerns, including acne and melasma. It has antioxidant properties which help to brighten your complexion as well as reducing the appearance of blemishes, dark spots and redness.
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is an active form of vitamin B3 and is clinically proven to have pigmentation-reducing properties of its own, reducing the transfer of pigment cells in the skin and increasing ceramide production, which keeps your skin hydrated.
Peptides
Try seeking out skincare containing peptides, which are safe to use during pregnancy and help to improve skin health overall, penetrating the skin to boost moisture, smooth fine lines and wrinkles and bolster the skin barrier.
SPF
Sunscreen is always important and continues to be so during pregnancy. Physical blockers, which contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, are the least reactive so are often recommended for pregnant women.
Of course, it goes without saying that if you have any concerns during your pregnancy or about the products you're using, speak to a professional: We always recommend speaking to your GP or dermatologist to ensure the products are appropriate for your specific skin concerns during this important time.
Adapted from: Who What Wear
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