Safe Skincare Practices & Ingredients During Pregnancy
Pregnancy was one of my most magical stages of life I was fortunate to embark on. With that, I don’t think there is any denying that it is paired with a multitude of changes -- both internally and external. One of these changes you are more than likely experiencing, is a shift in your skin. This could look like the “pregnancy glow,” but this can also look like greater dark spots, stretch marks, breakouts etc. As someone who feels so passionate about this subject, I am here to give you the inside scoop on all the skincare practices/ingredients I recommend, and the ones I highly suggest avoiding.
Common Skincare Patterns That Occur During Pregnancy
Like I already mentioned, pregnancy brings about a myriad of changes, not just to your body, but to your skin as well. The surge in hormones can cause your skin to react in ways it never has before, leading to a mix of both delightful (and less-than-delightful) changes. Some women might experience the often-coveted pregnancy glow, thanks to increased blood circulation and more oil production, giving the face a radiant appearance. However, this same oil production boost can also lead to greasier skin patches or even bouts of acne.
Everybody is different, but here is a short list of some of the changes that I often see (and some I even experienced myself):
Increased Sensitivity: Skin may become more reactive and sensitive to products previously tolerated, leading to irritation or reactions.
Acne Breakouts: Let’s be real, pregnancy has so many hormonal fluctuations (trust me, I’ve been there). These can lead to increased oil production and acne breakouts (even in women who haven't experienced acne in years).
Melasma: This is a big one for me and probably the “skin concern” I put most of my focus on during pregnancy. For anybody not familiar, melasma causes darker, discolored patches on the face, especially on the cheeks, forehead, and upper lip. I should preface that I deal with melasma even when I am not pregnant, but due to the hormonal changes and increased sensitivity to sunlight, it’s definitely heightened during this time period. This is not to say that if you haven’t dealt with it before, you are immune to dealing with it during pregnancy. This can often be the time it surfaces for women for the first time.
Dryness and Itchiness: Hormonal changes can for some lead to dryness and itching. This can often happen particularly on the abdomen due to the stretching of the skin.
Stretch Marks: Speaking of stretching of the skin, rapidly expanding skin on the belly, breasts, hips, and thighs can result in stretch marks. These are usually characterized by streaks or lines on the skin.
I also want to take a moment to state that I am not saying stretch marks should be feared or are always unwanted. In my point of view, everyone has different feelings about them and I think all opinions about stretch marks are completely valid. Whether you love them or you are looking for solutions to soften them.
Varicose Veins / Spider Veins: Increased blood volume and pressure from the growing uterus can lead to varicose veins in the legs and spider veins on various parts of the body.
Increased Hair Growth: Ok this might be a stretch on what falls under the umbrella of “skincare,” but I do think it’s worth mentioning that it’s common to notice thicker hair on the head and/or increased hair growth on the body.
I think it is so important to be aware of these changes for a multitude of reasons: if you are experiencing these, you are absolutely not alone. I also think becoming aware of what you are working with is the first step to knowing how you would want to adapt your skincare.
Skincare Ingredients and Practices to Avoid During Pregnancy
Now we have got to the real juice of this blog. I know I have said this before, but without a doubt, pregnancy safe ingredients/practices is my most frequently asked question. With pregnancy, as you can imagine, we are not testing ingredients and procedures directly on a pregnant population. So among our pregnancy recommendations, some are because they have been proven to have negative effects on fetal health, but some of them are also due to lack of confirmation (so it’s better to just play it safe).
Retinoids: If you have read my blog on retinoids, you know that I am normally such an advocate for incorporating retinoids in my skincare regimen (outside of pregnancy). While the most concerning data come from oral retinoids, there's limited research on the safety of most topical retinoids during pregnancy. It's unclear how much of these lower strength and OTC retinoids are absorbed through the skin and what effect, if any, they could have on a developing fetus. Out of an abundance of caution, healthcare professionals recommend avoiding all forms of retinoids during pregnancy.
Hydroquinone: This skin-lightening agent is absorbed into the skin at a higher rate compared to other products. The concern is that once absorbed, hydroquinone could have toxic effects on the fetus. The higher absorption rate and lack of safety data prompt the recommendation to avoid it during pregnancy.
Chemical Sunscreens with Oxybenzone: The data we have on chemical sunscreens isn’t conclusive and further studies are needed in my opinion. Out of an abundance of caution, you can avoid chemical sunscreens in pregnancy.
Acid Peels and Overuse: You probably read in my exfoliation blog that I love Salicylic Acid (especially in my body cleanser). While this is true and topical salicylic acid in low concentrations is safe. It’s best to stick to a Sal Acid at 2% or less and AHAs at less than 20% during this time period. Avoid higher strength peel products especially in office.
Skincare Ingredients and Practices to Adopt
Now that we have gone over the ingredients that I consider no-gos in pregnancy, let’s finally go over some of the skincare I LOVE during pregnancy. First and foremost, let’s state the obvious, adopting safe and effective skincare ingredients and practices during pregnancy can help manage the common skin changes expectant mothers face. I joke that 90% of pregnancy just feels like constant googling (what to do, what not to do, etc), so here is a cheat sheet for what I recommend considering when building your pregnancy skincare regimen.
Azelaic Acid: Fun fact: Azelaic Acid is neither an AHA or BHA. It is a safe and effective option for treating acne and hyperpigmentation. I also love Azelaic Acid because it plays well with others! You can pair it with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, benzoyl peroxide and antioxidants like Vitamin C. I love using Azelaic Acid 10% from Naturium on mornings where I am not using a glycolic acid cleanser, before my moisturizer! It can help to even skin tone and texture.
Benzoyl Peroxide: If you saw my AM Pregnancy Routine, you probably know that I love a Benzoyl Peroxide cleanser to combat acne (especially in pregnancy). Benzoyl Peroxide is an antimicrobial agent that helps reduce the bacteria on the skin that can cause acne. It's considered safe in low concentrations (usually up to 5%) during pregnancy (make sure to read my Skin Ingredient Combo Recommendations blog to know how to pair Benzoyl Peroxide properly). I am OBSESSED with this BP wash from Jan Marini for my morning cleanser and it really helped keep my pregnancy breakouts at bay.
Glycolic Acid: One of my favorite AHAs! Glycolic Acid gently removes the outermost layer of dead skin cells, improving skin texture and tone. Its lower molecular weight allows it to penetrate the skin effectively, yet it’s considered safe during pregnancy for its minimal systemic absorption when used in skincare products. Products with glycolic acid concentrations of up to 10% are well within the safe range. I love to get my glycolic in the form of a morning cleanser like this one from Replenix. This cleanser from Dr. Dennis Gross is also a great combo AHA/BHA cleanser for oily skin types!
Low-Concentration Salicylic Acid (Topical): Effective for unclogging pores and reducing inflammation, topical salicylic acid is deemed safe in pregnancy when used in low concentrations (2% or less). Its role in combating acne comes from its ability to penetrate into the pores and exfoliate the skin from within. I love the Salicylic Acid Body Cleanser from Naturium (make sure to leave on for 60 seconds for it to activate)!
Tinted Sunscreens: It is probably no surprise to you that I am bringing up sunscreen right now! Especially in pregnancy, I look for a tinted sunscreen that contains iron oxide (in addition to zinc oxide or titanium dioxide). The tint in these sunscreens not only helps to even out skin tone but also provides additional protection against blue light, further mitigating the risk of aggravating melasma and other types of hyperpigmentation. Elta MD’s UV Restore was an absolute staple for me during pregnancy (tbh it still is).
Now I know all this information might have you wondering what an effective skincare routine during pregnancy actually looks like. I've got you covered! You can read my exact AM Pregnancy Routine & PM Pregnancy routine!
If you have any other pregnancy skin or hair questions, comment them down below or DM me! I am more than happy to write a blog on the topic!
Hungry for more? Check out my Comprehensive Skincare Guide in the Skinthusiast Shop!
**Disclaimer: This post does not constitute medical advice. Please speak to your Dermatology provider before adding any at home procedures or products into your routine!
***This post contains affiliate links.
