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Congratulations on your pregnancy! Now that you are pregnant, you might be wondering if the ingredients in the skincare products you are using are safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding.
It may seem natural for moms-to-be to get the pregnancy glow, but more often than not, youβll go through periods of difficult skin issues because of the rapidly changing hormones. Dry skin, dull skin, sensitive skin, breakouts and the βpregnancy maskβ are all potential symptoms of your pregnancy.
Below you will find a list of pregnancy safe skincare products for your face and your body to help you achieve that pregnancy glow. The key is having a great routine and being consistent! My routine truly takes less than 10 minutes each day, but I feel so much better (and look better, too!) because of it. I’ve also provided some tips on purchasing these pregnancy safe skincare products, and key red flag ingredients to avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
If you are not yet pregnant, my best advice is to start using these pregnancy safe products BEFORE you are pregnant so you are really prepared when the time comes! I use most of the products listed below all year round and beyond pregnancy. Get to know your skin and know what it needs to be healthy and glowing.
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Purchasing Tips
Before I start with my tried-and-true product recommendations, I’d like to give you some tips on how to save money on these items. I don’t ever cheap out on skincare because I believe in quality formulation and ingredients. Not all quality skin care is expensive, but generally speaking, you get what you pay for.
I like to make most of my skincare purchases through Shoppers when they have 20x points events, and collect these points. When they have redeem the points events, I would fully utilize my collected points and redeem for these products to stock up. You can collect optimum points through Shoppers and Superstore.
You can download their mobile app and keep track of all of the offers and promotions. Very convenient!
Shoppers is also great with specialized gift sets as well as gifts with purchase, so I highly recommend you looking into this avenue when shopping to save some money but also to get more products out of it!
Another overlooked website is iHerb. I frequent this website for some of the skincare products and vitamins at one of the best prices available.
I’ve listed the places you can get the products below, with the best prices available listed first.
My Skin Type
Everyone’s skin is different and will react differently to the various products out there.
I personally have dry to normal skin. I opt for “dry skin” and “sensitive skin” products most of the time. Although I don’t have typically sensitive skin, I find that the ingredients are generally gentler and cleaner in these formulations.
Know Your Ingredients
While not everyone might be interested in knowing all of the ingredients in your skincare and products, it’s important to know which ingredients are NOT recommended at least during pregnancy.
Below are the most common ingredients to AVOID if you are pregnant (italicized ones are ones to avoid also during nursing):
- Salicylic acids and Benzoyl Peroxide (for acne prone, troubled skin)
- Tazorac and Accutane (usually prescription only for acne prone, troubled skin)
- Retinol, Retin A, Retinoids, Vitamin A (for anti-aging products)
- AHA/BHA (for skin brightening, exfoliating)
- Hydroquinone (for skin lightening, pigment lightening products)
- Parabens (preservative)
- Tetracycline (antibiotic skin treatment)
- Dihydroxyacetone (if you use self tanners)
- Formaldehyde (in nail and hair products)
- Aluminum Chloride (in your deodorant)
- Hemp/Cannabis (anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant)
- Certain essential oils (jasmine, clary sage, rosemary, cinnamon, aniseed, basil, birch, mogwort, oak moss, and more…!)
Remember that if certain ingredients aren’t listed at the top as a “key ingredient” and you are only applying it topically, it may be ok but proceed with caution. The skin is a powerful barrier and many of these ingredients will be filtered out before it gets penetrated too deeply.
If you still aren’t certain about your current skincare routine and want to check out if a specific product is safe for pregnancy and nursing, check out this website 15minutebeauty and you can search by brand. This website is very comprehensive and has a specific tab on pregnancy beauty including makeup and hair products, as well.
Application
It is incredibly important to apply the routine in the order I’ve set out below. You’ll see that I’ve listed my morning and night routines separately with a numbering system. Always work your way up from the thinnest consistency to the thickest, and never forget your neck!
Another really important reminder I want to give you is that skincare is meant to be used. Apply generously for the skincare to be truly effective, and use it up before the expiration date! You can check the expiration after opening directly on the bottle. There should be a small product sign with number of months on it. Most of these products should be used within 6 to 12 months of opening.
Take some time between each product to let it soak in, and always use clean hands to apply your products. Each routine takes roughly 10 minutes from cleansing to the final step if you are doing it properly.
If you wear makeup, thoroughly double cleanse and really work the cleanser into the skin and all crevices of your face and neck to lift all of your makeup and dirt off before applying the skincare routine. Proper cleansing is more important than skincare or makeup!
Body
Body wash:
- Body Wash: Shiseido Senka New Perfect Bubble for Body
- Get it in person from Tnt
- Get it on Amazon
If you are looking for a moisturizing bubble wash, this is the one for you. Note this has fragrance and not suitable for very sensitive skin.
- Body Wash: Naive Peach Body Wash by Kracie
- Get it in person from Tnt
- Get it on Amazon
I like to alternate my products so this is another one of my go-to. It comes in many different fragrances and may not be suitable for those with very sensitive skin. It is formulated with more natural ingredients.
- Body Wash for sensitive skin: Curel Japan Foam Body Wash
- Get it in person from Tnt
- Get it on Amazon
For those sensitive to fragrances and additives, this one is the one for you. Specially formulated even safe on baby skin.
Body Moisturizer and Oils:
Stretch mark oil: Weleda Mama Stretch Mark Oil
This is the ONLY stretch mark oil I swear by. If you’ve read my other posts, you already know how much I love Weleda products. I have no stretchmarks (other than my butt area during my first pregnancy when I didn’t think I would get stretch marks there and I didn’t apply this oil there) in part thanks to this oil (but know that it is also largely genetic). It is formulated for all skin types, especially those of you with sensitive skin. Unlike the popular bio oil, it doesn’t leave an oily cast and its not sticky. I layer this with the body cream below and apply it daily. One bottle lasts 1 trimester.
Body Lotion: Derma:B Daily Moisture Body Lotion
- Get it from iHerb
- Get it in person from Korean Supermarkets
This one is my favourite body lotion. I use this all year round, but especially when I am pregnant. It absorbs into the skin very well and has a light pleasant scent that doesn’t linger. I like to mix this with the Weleda oil for all the stretch mark prone areas. Formulated with clean ingredients and made in Korea.
Body Cream: Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Balm Body Cream
If you have ultra sensitive skin or is sensitive to fragrance, this is the body cream for you. This body cream was formulated to be safe for everyone in the family, and especially for those with eczema. It works wonders on dry skin without being overly thick. I highly recommend it for everyone in the family!
Hand Cream: Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream
I find my hands and cuticles get extra dry when I’m pregnant, so I take extra precautions. This cream is very nourishing with nail strengthening properties. I use it everyday at night before I go to bed. Note it does have fragrance, but it’s not overpowering and does not linger.
Face Routine (Day Time)
1. Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Foam Wash
- Get it in person from Tnt or Korean Supermarkets
- Get it from Amazon
You don’t want to use any stripping or harsh face wash in the morning. You want to retain some of your natural face oil and skincare from the night before. This facewash is super gentle and is formulated with hydrating hyaluronic acid and no fragrance.
2. Nuxe Paris βVery Roseβ Refreshing Toning Mist
Effective skincare starts with layering the right products. You want to start with the thinnest consistency product and work your way up. Rose water has beenuxn used for thousands of years. It helps improve your complexion and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to reduce puffiness.
3. LancΓ΄me Advanced GΓ©nifique Youth Activating Serum
Having this serum in my routine makes a noticeable difference in my skin texture. The formulation is safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding, so I highly recommend you try this out if you haven’t already. I’ve also tried the Estee Lauder serum that is often compared to this and I personally prefer the Lancome serum way more with more effective results.
4. Clarins Multi-Active Day Cream (All Skin Types)
I use the “all skin types” version even though I have dry skin because we are layering different skincare products. You don’t want to overwhelm your face during the day especially if you are going to apply makeup afterwards. Alternatively you can also use the “normal to combination skin” for the lighter formula. Note that although this cream is formulated with Glycolic acid (which is an AHA), it is considered safe in pregnancy as the concentration of this ingredient is low. I HIGHLY recommend this line from Clarins. I use both the day and night creams.
5. Laneige Hydro UV Defense Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50
- Get it from Sephora
While it is said to avoid chemical sunscreens during pregnancy and nursing, it is really the ingredients that matter. This particular sunscreen does not have oxybenzone. The only concerning ingredient would be butyloctyl salicylate which applied topically, should be safe. I would say if you are concerned or are extra sensitive to chemical sunscreens, opt for a mineral sunscreen instead. I layer this on top of all of my skincare so I don’t stray away from this while I am pregnant/nursing.
Face Routine (Night time)
a. Shiseido Perfect Cleansing Oil
- Get it from Shoppers
- Get it from Sephora
- Alternative: Sekkisei Treatment Cleansing Oil (Amazon)
This is my favourite cleansing oil for double cleansing on days I wear makeup. It melts away all makeup on my face and does not strip my natural face oil. It is gentle and really “perfect” for the first step of your double cleanse routine.
b. Foreo LUNA 3 for Sensitive Skin
I use this only at night with my facial cleanser. It greatly improves skin texture and helps you with ensuring you are really washing your face by setting timers on different parts of your face. I don’t use any exfoliating products because of this device. This device is made of silicone so it is 35x more hygienic than nylon facial brushes, and the sensitive version is gentle for everyday use.
c1. Shiseido Clarifying Cleansing Foam
One of my favourite cleansing foams for double cleansing because it is super effective for taking makeup off and leaving your skin feeling refreshed. It has a slight fragrance so if you are extra sensitive, you can try my other option below. Note that the “Deep Cleansing Foam” from Shiseido is NOT pregnancy safe due to its licorice root ingredient.
c2. Pyunkang Yul Cleansing Foam
This is an extremely gentle and fragrance free cleansing foam that is highly nourishing and effective. I use this cleanser on days when I am double cleansing or just by itself. If you have sensitive or dry skin, this would be the perfect cleanser for you during and after pregnancy.
1. Nuxe Paris βVery Roseβ Refreshing Toning Mist
Effective skincare starts with layering the right products. You want to start with the thinnest consistency product and work your way up. Same as my daytime routine, I use this morning and night while my skin is damp right after washing.
2. LancΓ΄me Advanced GΓ©nifique Youth Activating Serum
Having this serum in my routine makes a noticeable difference in my skin texture. As you see in my daytime routine, I use this morning and night. Make sure to give your neck some love, too!
3. Clarins Total Eye Lift Anti-aging Eye Cream
You will need a great eye cream for those sleepless nights both during pregnancy and after the arrival of your bundle of joy. My eye area is prone to milia so I’m extra cautious when I’m picking my eye creams. I highly recommend this one if you are looking for non-greasy and quick absorbing formula that is effective. Formulated to be safe for pregnancy and nursing.
4. Nuxe Merveillance Lift Firmness Activating Oil-Serum
I use this oil-serum every other night, especially on those days I feel like my skin needs extra nourishment. This is a true “oil” consistency but it is very lightweight. I use it to massage my face and neck, do some lymphatic drainage and reduce some of the puffiness that we all know too well in pregnancy.
5. Clarins Multi-Active Night Cream (Normal to Dry Skin)
This one is one of my holy grail night creams. Again, although it has glycolic acid, it is a safe AHA to use in pregnancy (see my note on the day cream above). I really do see a difference when I use this cream at night. I prefer to use the “normal to dry skin” version of this one since the slightly thicker formula acts as a great barrier to seal all of the skincare in throughout the night.
6. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask
I’m sure most of you already know this lip sleeping mask. This will come in especially handy during your hospital stay as it will be super dry there. I don’t use this throughout the day, but it really makes a difference when you apply it at night and wake up with hydrated lips.
This blog post was all about my personal routine with pregnancy safe skin care and skincare ingredients to avoid while breastfeeding. It is crucial to understand which products contain pregnancy safe ingredients to ensure a smooth pregnancy.
If you are thinking on your Trying to Conceive journey, I would highly recommend you switching to these pregnancy safe skincare products and adopt this routine so that you are ready when you do conceive.
Skin is your largest organ and it reflects a lot about your overall health. Taking great care of your skin is going to help you create a relaxing self care routine (even if it’s less than 10 minutes) and looking great will help you feel even better!
Best of luck and let me know if you’ve tried any of these products, or your experience in trying these products!
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Rosa M Flores says
Thank you for this post! Iβm breastfeeding a 2 yo. Baby. Are products marked as pregnancy safe also breastfeeding safe?
timevalueofmommy says
Hi Rosa! Thank you for your question. Not all pregnancy safe products are breastfeeding safe. I’ve italicized the common ingredients to avoid during nursing (under Know Your Ingredients). Hope this helps. π
whoiscall says
Great article!
timevalueofmommy says
Thank you so much for reading!