Did you know that your skin can change dramatically whilst pregnant? With all those hormones buzzing around in your body, it’s no wonder your skin can have a mini freakout. Some pregnant women enjoy the beautiful pregnancy glow, but others can deal with frequent breakouts. Add to that, that many have to change up their routine (ciao retinol) and it can all start to get a bit confusing of what you can even use on your skin whilst pregnant. Keep reading to discover how you can build a pregnancy safe skincare regime and keep your complexion luminous at the same time.
What is pregnancy safe skincare?
Just like you may have to ditch the sushi and French Brie whilst pregnant, there’s unfortunately a host of ingredients in skincare that also aren’t advised you use. It’s important when you find out that you’re pregnant to run a check on your current skincare and see if any of your favourite products need to take a backseat until baby is out. Given your skin is likely to change while you’re pregnant, you will probably want to invest in a few new products too. Pregnancy safe ingredients include glycolic acid (great if you get breakouts), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and mineral based sunscreen.
What skincare ingredients can’t I use whilst pregnant?
During pregnancy it’s advised not to use:
- Retinoids
- Phthalates
- Hydroquinone
- Salicylic acid
- Intense actives
How to create a pregnancy skincare routine?
It really depends how your body reacts to all the different hormones swirling around and the effect they have on your skin. If you’re dealing with pregnancy acne and breakouts, then you’re going to want to follow a different skincare routine compared to if your skin has actually cleared up and is bright and glowy. Most pregnant women experience some level of itchiness too thanks to being dehydrated, so you probably want to invest in a nourishing and hydrating serum or day cream.
5 Essential Products for Pregnancy Skincare
Here’s our roundup for great pregnancy skincare products to invest in.
1. Vitamin E Face Oil
Beautifully nourishing, we love a Vitamin E face oil whilst pregnant. This one is ideal if you’re experiencing dry or dehydrated skin as it helps to soften and moisturise the skin, but also provide calming and soothing effects, promote wound healing and support the skin barrier. Lovely andlightweight, it works well with moisturisers, sinking into the skin like a dream and creating a juicy base for makeup (or for going makeup free).
2. Vitamin C Serum
If melasma strikes during your pregnancy, or you simply missed out on a glow and want to inject some life into your skin, try a vitamin C serum. It helps promote collagen, protects skin cells from damaging free radicals caused by UV exposure, reduces pigmentation, prevents fine lines and generally boosts the appearance of the complexion. This formula is particularly great for sensitive skin.
3. Hyaluronic Serum
Another great product to invest in if you’re experiencing dehydration (even with breakouts!) or itchy skin is a hyaluronic acid serum. It has the unique and powerful ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water, can bind water to skin cells and therefore infuse the layers of skin with moisture. Hyaluronic serum is an absolute game-changer to help your skin stay hydrated and glowy.
4. Fruit Enzyme Exfoliating Scrub
Get that pregnancy glow you’ve been dreaming of, and tackle any breakouts with a regular exfoliating scrub in your routine. We like the fruit enzyme scrub when pregnant. Natural fruit enzymes work with scrub particles to deliver brighter, healthy skin. Use it a couple times a week to make sure you’re removing any dead skin cells off your face, preventing future breakouts and allowing new skin cells to shine through.
5. Glycolic Acid
It’s really important to keep exfoliating whilst pregnant to allow dirt and debris to exit the skin. If you’re suffering congestion or breakouts, glycolic acid is essential. In fact, glycolic acid is considered the “holy grail” ingredient for exfoliation. It is made up of small molecules which allow easy deep penetration and exfoliation of the skin. It even has an incredible capability of penetrating deep into the hair follicles and releasing built-up sebum and proteins that lead to blackheads and breakouts.
Feel a little more empowered with your skincare now? Discover more great pregnancy skincare now at La Clinica.