We all have an idealized, perfect pregnancy. You will have the cute baby belly (and just the belly, the rest of you stays the same size), eat all of the organic foods and do pregnancy yoga. And the glow, you definitely expect that you will have the pregnancy glow!
As a mom of 2, I can tell you that this dream pregnancy doesn't exist. Your favorite clothes no longer fit, your favorite drink is a no-go (for me that was a giant coffee, it might be something else for you), and your skin starts acting up.
But forget about using your go-to acne spot treatment. Why?
Pregnancy Safe Skincare is Not the Same as Normal Skincare
There are ingredients in your night cream and acne spot treatment that have not been proven safe for use during pregnancy, or even worse, have been linked to birth defects. However, it is very difficult to find out exactly which skin care ingredients you should avoid during pregnancy or while nursing. Can you use benzoyl peroxide? What about salicylic acid? And what is the deal with that hyaluronic acid that's all over the place lately?
Where to Start?
I have two posts about the ingredient I recommend avoiding. Pregnancy and nursing do not treat ingredients the same way. The placenta does screen things out, but in general it lets a lot more get through than when your body is creating breast milk. In addition, since the baby is still developing, there are some crucial points for organ development during pregnancy. Pregnancy is much more restrictive than nursing with which ingredients you can and can not use. When in doubt, discuss with your physician.
• Pregnancy Skincare Ingredients to Avoid
• Skincare Ingredients to Avoid While Nursing
When you're first starting out, I recommend reading my my Pregnancy Skincare eBook. Yes, you need to subscribe to my newsletter to get it, but it is otherwise free! I promise, I don't email often, and when I do it is with helpful pregnancy beauty updates. The eBook describes my approach to pregnancy skincare, why I think you need a "core" of products that you use throughout your pregnancy.
The Pregnancy Beauty FAQ addresses a lot of questions that I get asked, please check it out.
Pregnancy Safe Beauty Brands
When you're ready to check your specific products for pregnancy and beauty safety, you can check the list of Pregnancy Safe Beauty Brands.
If your products aren't included in the brand list, check this post: How to ask if your product is pregnancy and nursing safe?
In general, the brand posts are the most up to date (more so than the product type round up posts). So, when in doubt defer to a brand list. The brand lists review products for the US market, as that is where I live and the information I have access to online.
Here are some of the most recent brand posts:
Pregnancy Safe Skincare
Are you looking for a specific type of skincare product or advice? These are the posts you should check first!
Specific pregnancy skincare routines. I've included routines for some of the most popular pregnancy safe brands as well as a few posts showing routines that I would use now if I was pregnant. (Note, the products I used while pregnant have all been discontinued or reformulated, so I can no longer recommend them.)
When creating your own routine, I recommend starting with my Pregnancy Skincare eBook. Yes, you need to subscribe to my newsletter to get it, but it is otherwise free! I promise, I don't email often, and when I do it is with helpful pregnancy beauty updates. The eBook describes my approach to pregnancy skincare, why I think you need a "core" of products that you use throughout your pregnancy.
Bath and Body
Looking for pregnancy safe bath and body products? These round ups have some of my favorites!
If you are looking for a specific product, please check the big list of pregnancy safe beauty brands. Don't forget to read about how to ask if your product is safe for pregnancy and nursing if it is not included.
Pregnancy Safe Makeup
You should worry about your makeup as well as your skincare, but you do not need to check the ingredients of all products. There's more information in my pregnancy safe makeup post, but you really only need to worry about creams and liquids. Powders, wax based products (like eyeliner) and mascara aren't things you need to worry about.
If you are looking for a specific product, please check the big list of pregnancy safe beauty brands. Don't forget to read about how to ask if your product is safe for pregnancy and nursing if it is not included.
• What Makeup to Worry About While Pregnant
• Pregnancy Safe Foundations
• Pregnancy Safe Foundation Primers
• Pregnancy Safe Concealers
• Pregnancy Safe Tinted Moisturizer, BB and CC Creams
• Pregnancy Safe Setting Sprays
Hair During Pregnancy
You do not need to worry about hair products. I'm going to say it again you do not need to worry about most of your hair products.
Personally, I screened products that would sit on my scalp for a few minutes (aka- shampoos, scrubs, etc). My thought process was that those products would be similar to a face wash, even if washed off right away it sits there for a bit. So, I would only worry about products that sit on your scalp. That means shampoo, scalp treatments and root styling products. Other styling products should just be on the hair shaft, and if you're worried about sprays being inhaled, I recommend holding your breath while you spray and then step away a few feet.
Note, that I have now started to review all hair products, even when they aren't meant to be used anywhere near the scalp. I had readers who were very rude, insisting that I needed to review the split end mender they depend on, in case it somehow was absorbed. I am reviewing these products simply to avoid these unpleasant interactions. I still believe that you don't need to screen products that aren't at or very near to the scalp, as the basic function of hair hasn't changed and it is still unable to absorb anything.
If you are looking for a specific product, please check the big list of pregnancy safe beauty brands. Don't forget to read about how to ask if your product is safe for pregnancy and nursing if it is not included.
• Haircuts during Pregnancy
• Overview of postpartum hair loss
Fragrances/Perfumes
There are a lot of perfumes out there than contain salicylates, and therefore shouldn't be used during pregnancy. This is pretty easy to get around, you should spray your perfume onto your clothes instead of your skin. Due to this easy work around, I do NOT review perfumes (I'm already overwhelmed with reviewing everything else).
Nail Polish and Products
Sunless Tanners
I feel the need to have a special section on sunless tanners, because I have to answer this a lot.
There are no safe sunless tanners. Both active ingredients (DHA and Erythrulose) are absorbed, and many physicians do not feel comfortable stating they're safe for pregnancy as we have no safety studies. There's more discussion in my post on skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy.
Despite this, readers frequently ask me to review sunless tanners and to find them "less dangerous" sunless tanners. If you dig through my brand list you'll find some mentioned. But as a general rule I don't review them. None will be pregnancy safe, so I consider it a waste of my time. Please don't ask.
If you want an alternative, I have a post with pregnancy safe body bronzers and makeup.