Skincare Changes I Made During Pregnancy

Skincare Changes I Made During Pregnancy, You Might Want to Make Them too!

Did you just find out you’re pregnant? Well, it might be time to talk to your doctor about changes to your skincare plan. As soon as I realized I was pregnant I knew I needed to change up some items in my skincare routine. Skincare has always been a big part of my life and I’ve done countless hours of research on different products. During this research I kept hearing little tid bits like, “Don’t use this products while pregnant” or “It’s harmful for your developing baby”. I basically ignored all those comments at the time though, because why did I need to know that stuff? I’m not pregnant yet. Well, here we are and I kind of wish I had listened. It’s fine though, because just those memories of research made me realize, “Okay, there is some type of product I’m not suppose to be using while pregnant, what was it again?” I’m going to take you guys through some of the changes I’ve made to my skincare routine during my pregnancy.

A total disclaimer… there are a lot of skincare products out there that could be harmful for a pregnant woman and their growing baby. It’s important that you do some research of your own. I’m only sharing the products I took out and added into my routine. So please, make sure to ask your doctor about the products you’re using.

Bye Bye Skincare Products!

The main ingredient I ditched during my pregnancy was Vitamin A or retinol products. This ingredient can be found in many skincare products since it’s the main ingredient in treating fine lines, wrinkles, and acne. Studies have proven that taking high doses of Vitamin A or oral retinoids during pregnancy can be harmful to the unborn child. There have not been studies showing that topical retinoids have a negative effect on an unborn child, but doctors just want to be extra careful. The products I had to ditch that had retinol in it are:

• Tretinoin
• ROC Retinol Correction Eye Cream
• ROC Retinol Correction Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
• Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Eye Cream

Make sure to check your products for retinol, because it’s hiding in everything. Other ingredients you should be weary of during pregnancy are:

• Aluminum chloride hexahydrate
• Beta hydroxy acids
• Diethanolamine
• Hydroquinone
• Salicylic Acid
• Benzoyl Peroxide
• Formaldehyde
• Parabeans
• Phthalates
• Stearic Acid
• Botulinum Toxin
• Sodium Laurel Sulfate

This list is long and there were even more ingredients I had found that were deemed not safe for pregnant women. I believe this list would be for women that want an all natural skincare routine for pregnancy and that’s great! It’s not necessary though. All women are entitled to their own pregnancy and there is no reason to judge. For example, I was using tretinoin, an acne medication prescribed by my dermatologist. My OB-GYN told me I needed to ditch the product right away, which I did. She did tell me though that using salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide was safe, so I’ve continued to use it. My point is, ask and listen to your doctor, they didn’t go through many years of medical school for nothing.

Skincare Products I Adopted During Pregnancy

Since I had to retire the prescribed acne medication, I knew I had to find some products that were safe for treating acne. The products I traded in were…

• Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment ( 2% Salicylic Acid) (Target $6.67)
• Cerave Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser (4% Benzoyl Peroxide) (Target $11.99)
• The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% (Ulta $7.90)
• Pixie Glow Tonic (Amazon $24.99 or Target $29.00)

The Clean and Clear and Cerave product are the main ways I’m treating acne during my pregnancy. I’m using these products because my doctor gave me the okay. I know that many people still feel weary about using these products and that is fine! If you feel like you want to stay away from these products, I have an alternative for you. The Ordinary brand makes a cream with an ingredient called azelaic acid, which is completely safe for pregnancy and treats acne. I also have been using Pixie’s Glow Tonic, which is basically a liquid exfoliator. It keeps my skin smooth and helps get rid of dry skin that might get stuck in your pores.

I also have been using a new eye and wrinkle cream. The eye and wrinkle creams I was using prior to becoming pregnant had retinoids in them, which is not an ingredient you want to use during pregnancy. So instead I’ve been using…

• Olehenriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream (Amazon $39.00 or Sephora $39.00)
• Burt’s Bees Renewal Intensive Firming Serum ( Amazon $11.99 or Target $19.00)

Skincare Products I Have Loved During Pregnancy

These are a few skincare products I was using before pregnancy and have loved even more during my pregnancy.

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel (Amazon $14.65 or Target $17.97)
• Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum ( Amazon $80.00 or Sephora $80.00)

During pregnancy I have found that my skin is a little more dry than it use to be, so this Neutrogena product is a life saver. It contains hyaluronic acid, which is an amazing agent when it comes to locking in moisture to the skin’s barrier. I’ve also found that my skin has become a little more discolored. I’ve continued to use Drunk Elephants vitamin C serum, because it keeps my skin tone looking even, amongst other benefits.

These are all the skincare changes I have made during my pregnancy, I hope this helped some future or present mommas. I will say that I advise anyone that is pregnant or expecting to have a discussion with your doctor! They know best and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you enjoyed this post check out my other posts such as, What to Do Once You Find Out You’re Pregnant or What I’m Eating While Pregnant.