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The Pregnancy-Safe Skincare Products You Need for Anxiety-Free Self-Care

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Tamara Kraus, Taylor Lane

Pregnancy-Safe Skincare Products
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Image: ClarityRx, Sunday Riley, Glow Recipe, Summer Fridays, SkinCeuticals; Ashley Britton/SheKnows

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Pregnancy involves a lot of changes. Whether it’s the vitamins you take or the foods you eat, many things you used to consume before, during, and after pregnancy may not be suitable temporarily. When it comes to your what you put on your skin, though, we have good news: You can most likely keep the majority of the products currently in your skincare stash. After all, a calming skincare routine is self care, and you shouldn’t have to sacrifice something you look forward to on the daily. There are a few things to avoid, though, so we asked several leading dermatologists  about which ingredients to gravitate toward and which ingredients to avoid during pregnancy.

What Ingredients to Look for in Pregnancy-Safe Skincare, According to Derms

When you’re perusing the beauty aisles while pregnant, “choosing products that contain the right ingredients absolutely matter,” Dr. Ashley Magovern, The Dermstore’s Medical Director told SheKnows. Some ingredients she says are safe to use include alpha hydroxy acids, which brighten the skin, and glycolic acids, which accelerate cellular turnover.

Board-certified dermatologist Dylan Greeney, MD, has a few more ingredients to add to the list. Azelaic acid is “incredible because it can reduce mild acne by reducing inflammation and acne-causing bacteria, and even better yet, it can fade dark marks left behind from old acne spots,” Dr. Greeney says. And glycolic acid or other alpha hydroxy acids (fruit acids) are helpful because they soften the bonds between dull, dead, and dry skin cells. They also decrease pore buildup and “helpgently chemically exfoliate the skin, leading to more radiance on top of that already beautiful pregnancy glow.” Look for products that contain less than 10 percent glycolic acid.

A broad spectrum sunscreen is always important, as “things like sunlight (UV rays) and pollution cause stress on our skin that can break down collagen and other proteins within our skin barrier and lead to signs of aging,” says Dr. Greeney. During pregnancy, stick to a mineral sunscreen with a clean formulation.

“I love the tried and true natural ingredients for skincare in pregnancy- things our skin requires to be healthy, and ingredients it recognizes as natural to its original state,” adds dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian, MD, listing ceramides, squalane and hyaluronic acid as a few of her favorites.

What Ingredients to Avoid (& Biggest Skincare No-Nos) When Pregnant According to Derms

Your anti-aging skincare routine is the first thing that calls for an adjustment when you have a bun in the oven. “Retinol is often a staple of any dermatologist recommended skincare routine, but during pregnancy, we put retinol and prescription retinoids on pause since safety is the most critical factor during that time,” says Dr. Greeney. Luckily, there are effective plant-based ingredients, such as bakuchiol, that make great retinol alternatives.

It’s always a good idea to avoid potentially toxic ingredients like phthalates and parabens, but it’s especially important during pregnancy to minimize skin irritation, adds Dr. Greeney.

“Specific ingredients I recommend be avoided in pregnancy include: fragrances/perfumes, oxybenzone, hydroquinone and tretinoin,” adds Dr. Nazarian. “Oxybenzone is considered a endocrine distruptor,” she notes. “Stronger chemical peels with TCA or  phenol are also not recommended.”

If you’re experiencing acne during pregnancy, you may be tempted to use salicylic acid, but Dr. Magovern says you should leave this one on the shelf for now. The same goes for benzoyl peroxide, which may have potential negative effects on a fetus.

Can I Use Vitamin C Skincare While Pregnant?

Vitamin C helps aid your body in repairing damaged cells, and it’s considered a safe and essential skincare ingredient during pregnancy.

“Not only is it safe, but I also strongly recommend vitamin C because it’s such a multitasker,” says Dr. Nazarian. “Having an ingredient that’s super smart and addresses multiple skin concerns is great for everyone.”

“Vitamin C is entirely safe to use during pregnancy,” confirms Dr. Greeney. “Vitamin C plays an internal role in our immune system and the development of healthy bones, teeth, and gums. It is a vital vitamin for the production and stability of collagen in our skin. Vitamin C, when applied to the skin, serves as an antioxidant, leading to protection from oxidative stressors from the environment [like free radicals].”

“It’s also necessary for creating healthy collagen fibers and protects against collagen degradation,” adds Magovern. “Another reason Im such a fan of vitamin C is that it works to decrease excess pigment production, which can lead to more even skin tone with continued use.”

Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite top safe-skincare picks, which all get the seal of approval rom the dermatologists we spoke with. As always, before trying new products, consult your doctor first to make sure they are suitable for you.

Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. REN Skincare is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

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