Ahh the pregnancy glow. Everyone’s favorite part about pregnancy, at least for me. I think my skin gives away my pregnancies before I can ever announce we are expecting. This is my second pregnancy and I am pregnant with our baby boy. At the time of writing this, my daughter Oakley is 15 months old. I am almost 6.5 months into this pregnancy and I get asked almost daily on social media what my skin care tips are during pregnancy.
I want to get a few things out of the way- I am not a dermatologist or medical esthetician. I am simply sharing products I use plus what is recommended by skin care professionals during pregnancy. Please always consult with your doctor if you have questions during your pregnancy regarding skin care or supplements. I also keep this blog ad free through your support of sales by clicking and using the affiliate links below- as I do earn a small commission.
The Inside Out
It’s no secret during pregnancy that you need to be extremely conscious of your vitamin, mineral, and nutrient intake. Our skin is our largest organ and if we are lacking in the basics, our skin will reflect it (not just during pregnancy). I recommend drinking at least a gallon of water per day, getting at least 10,000 steps, and supplementing with a high quality prenatal, fish oil, and probiotic on top of your pregnancy nutrition (I have an in depth blog, broken out by trimester, that can be found here).
Products I Use
Ingredients to Avoid
These are the handful of ingredients that doctors and dermatologists agree should be avoided during pregnancy:
- Retinol/retinoids, vitamin A derivatives commonly found in prescription (retinoid) or over-the-counter (retinol) anti-aging or anti-acne products
- Salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid often used in exfoliating and acne-fighting products
- Benzoyl peroxide, another common ingredient in many over-the-counter acne treatments
- Hydroquinone, a skin-lightening ingredient used in brightening products
- Botulinum toxin, a.k.a. Botox
Please check your current skin care products if you suspect you may be pregnant or if you know you are pregnant.
Stretch Marks
Obviously our face skin is not the only area of concern during pregnancy. If you are looking for information on how to avoid stretch marks (whether on your stomach, breasts, hips, or all of the above), plus the products I use and recommend, check out this in depth blog I have, here.
Other Skin Concerns
- Melasma
- Melasma is not something I have dealt with for either pregnancy but it simply is a darkening of hyper pigmentation- usually around the forehead, upper lip, and cheeks. In order to brighten the skin, products high in Vitamin C are recommended. Several dermatologists also recommend rose hip oil and barbary fig seed oil to help with dark spots as well
- Acne
- Hormones fluctuating can be thanked for the change in skin- mainly acne. An organic solution to acne is rose hip oil. I also recommend acne patches to prevent one pimple from spreading to multiple pimples!
I hope this blog helped alleviate any stress you may be having over skin issues during pregnancy!
I CAN NOT thank you enough for this blog. I am on baby #4 and I didn’t know any of this! Definitely checking my skin care routine now.