There’s nothing more miraculous than the process of growing—and experiencing—life, but pregnancy (and other hormonal shifts) can bring on several skin changes, too.
But, with slight modifications to your day-to-day skincare routine, you’ll be able to safely soothe and control some of the unexpected changes pregnancy and other hormonal shifts can bring.
How to Start a Pregnancy Safe Skincare Routine
When your hormones start fluctuating, so does your skin. Breakouts, dryness, and redness are common skin concerns that can occur during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause.
Double Cleansing
We chatted with Dr. Douglas Winger, a board-certified OB/GYN, who told us “It’s best to be proactive in order to stay ahead of any changes.” AKA: Breakouts are very common in the first trimester of pregnancy, so part of your pregnancy safe skincare routine should include washing your face twice a day.
Soothing Oils
You may also notice stretch marks, which are so common they may as well be freckles. Stretch marks, which effect up to 90 percent of pregnant women, are just proof you don’t break easy. If your stretch marks cause a little soreness or itchiness, try our pregnancy safe moisturizer products like our multipurpose ointment and whipped body cream help keep skin moisturized and soothed.
Why Pregnancy Safe Sunscreen is So Important
Pigmentation on your face (known as “melasma” or “pregnancy mask”) is a very common change the body experiences as hormones shift.
“Women can develop melasma when their hormones change,” Dr. Winger reassures us. “It varies person to person.” About six million women develop pregnancy mask, and while it’s called “pregnancy” mask, hyperpigmentation can happen to anyone with hormonal shifts. Luckily, there’re ways to combat it:
If you develop melasma, you should:
- avoid the sun
- use a strong SPF every day, preferably an all-natural, suncare with zinc oxide, which helps to calm irritation.
- (Tip! Look for products with a “clean” beauty seal. You’ll find those on products from respected retailers like Sephora, QVC, and, naturally, Beekman 1802.)
- And please avoid lightening creams! They can contain very harsh chemicals and can have severe side effects. Speaking of harsh chemicals...
Not Safe Skincare Products for Pregnancy
While we suggest speaking with your doctor about specific products, there are a few ingredients known as pregnancy no-no's:
- Vitamin A derivates, like retinol
- Tip: Dimethylphthalate (aka DMP) or dibutylphthalate (aka DBP) are phthalates that are still used in some cosmetic products, so look for them in your ingredient lists!
- Chemical sunscreens
- Benzoyl Peroxide
- Salicylic Acid
Whether you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or going through menopause, it’s a great idea to get product recommendations from your dermatologist and your OB/GYN. They know you better than we do, and they’ll know just what to recommend for whatever you’re experiencing.
Pregnancy Safe Skincare Favorites
Now that you know what to avoid (see: retinol, tretinoin, isotretinoin), let’s highlight some skincare that is safe for pregnancy.
We think natural ingredients are always the best choice, so look for:
- Coconut oil
- Vitamin E
- Omega-3 oils
- Hyaluronic acid
- Lactic acid
Speaking of lactic acid, it’s a gentle exfoliant that works as a great replacement for retinoids during pregnancy and beyond. And because lactic acid is found in goat’s milk, you can experience gentle-yet-effective resurfacing benefits in each of our goat milk skincare.
Is Niacinamide Safe During Pregnancy?
As a refresher, niacinamide is an all-in-one powerhouse ingredient that minimizes enlarged pores, improves uneven skin tone, softens fine lines and wrinkles, and boosts brightness.
If those benefits sound good to you, you’re in luck because the FDA approves niacinamide as a pregnancy safe skincare ingredient. Check out our favorite niacinamide skincare products.
The Ultimate Pregnancy Safe Skincare Routine
Whether you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or menopausal, we have safe-yet-effective skincare products to help you feel your best throughout the many changes your body is experiencing.
Step 1: Cleanse
You always want to start with cleansing. Whether it’s your face or body, you want soap safe for pregnancy. Our entire collection of goat milk soap is safe for pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause, but our favorite pregnancy safe body wash is either our Vanilla Absolut hand and body soap or our Sunshine Body Scrub if you’re dealing with dry skin.
For your face, we recommend our Milk Scrub or Milk Wash. Both offer effective cleans and are full of nourishing, pregnancy safe skincare ingredients.
Step 2: Serums
Women going through menopause may find they have drier skin, so you should treat yourself to lots of hydrating moisturizers, serums, and masks. Here are our best skin hydration products.
For pregnant women, we suggest our Vitamin C-rich serum to target any melasma and hyperpigmentation during the day, and a bakuchiol serum at night.
Step 3: Moisturizer
Finding a good pregnancy safe moisturizer has never been easier because our Bloom Cream is made with everything the doctor ordered. From niacinamide and goat milk to Epsom salt and aloe, this restoring and strengthening face cream is perfect for all stages of life.
Step 4: Sunscreen
Finally, if you’re doing this pregnancy safe skincare routine during the day, you must finish with sunscreen. Like we said earlier, about 6 million women will get melasma or hyperpigmentation during their pregnancy, but using a pregnancy safe sunscreen, keeping out of the sun, wearing a hat, and using vitamin C and niacinamide can help lessen the effect.
Our go-to pregnancy safe sunscreen is our 3-in1 Milk Primer. It blurs pores like a primer, hydrates the skin like a moisturizer and gives a perfect, buildable tint to the skin for the ultimate no-makeup makeup look.
You’re likely to find that a new natural routine makes your skin feel nicer than it did before your body started this incredible journey.