Your Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy Safe Skin Care

Not sure about the ingredients in your skincare products during pregnancy?

Here are the best pregnancy-safe skin care products, tried and tested by real moms.

So you knew you had to pack away the wine and sushi for the next nine months, but what about pregnancy-safe skincare?

When your baby is happily floating around in their amniotic fluid bath, it might be hard to imagine your night cream causing them any harm.

While research on safe skincare during pregnancy is few and far between (who’s going to offer themselves up for that clinical trial?!) we’ve taken a deep dive into the world of dermatology to find what’s up.

In this article: 📝

What’s the deal with pregnancy skin?

You’re patiently waiting for your celebrity-style pregnancy glow to show up, but in the meantime, you’re dealing with acne, oily skin, dry patches, stretch marks, linea nigra, dark spots ‒ the whole shebang.

Skin irritations are a common part of pregnancy and can last the whole nine months (and sometimes into your postpartum life too).

One particular skin condition, the very easy to pronounce pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (aka PUPPP) may only show up in the third trimester, but it can be a whole world of itchiness, too.

So what can you do about these skincare catastrophes?

Keep reading to find out our favorite pregnancy-safe skin care products and the best pregnancy-safe skincare brands.

P.S. ‒ other Peanut mamas might have their own skincare tricks up their sleeve, so don’t forget to ask around!

What skincare to avoid during pregnancy?

So, while we want to get down to the good stuff and talk about pregnancy-safe skin care products, it’s just as crucial to know what you might want to avoid.

These are top of the naughty list:

1. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs)

Generally used as chemical exfoliants, some can be safe at low dosages, but are generally best to avoid.

2. Retinol and retinoids

Derivatives of vitamin A, retinol and retinoids are often found in prescription acne and anti-wrinkle products.

If you routinely use these products, it’s advisable to stop the treatment before trying to conceive.

Is it safe to use products containing retinol while breastfeeding?

No, it’s best to avoid products containing retinol, which can also be listed in ingredients as vitamin A and retinoids, until you have fully weaned your baby.

3. Oxybenzone

Along with a whole host of other scary-sounding chemical names, this is commonly found in sunscreens.

4. Salicylic acid

While it may be safe to use products containing salicylic acid topically (i.e. creams or lotions) for acne, it’s one to avoid in high-dose facial peels.

5. Hydroquinone

Regularly an ingredient in skin-lightening treatments, this is readily absorbed by the skin, which can pose a threat to your baby in utero.

6. Formaldehyde

A known carcinogen, this can still be found in some nail hardeners and polishes.

7. Benzoyl Peroxide

Commonly found in acne treatments, some will say it’s safe to use topically, but it does pose a possible risk, so probably best to avoid.

8. Parabens and phthalates

Ingredients in cosmetics to stabilize and preserve products, the most commonly used compound to look for on the ingredients list is diethyl phthalate (DEP).

9. BPA

An unstable chemical used in plastics, BPA can leach into the product held within, so it’s worth checking the packaging of your products too.

Those are the big ones, but this list is by no means exhaustive (we’d probably need a whole other website for that!).

So, if you’re concerned about any of the products in your usual skincare line-up, speak to your doctor, dermatologist, or OB-GYN.

Another great source is the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database, where you can search for a safety rating for your skincare products. Amazing!

What skincare is safe during pregnancy?

So now we’ve covered what’s not so safe, here’s the good stuff.

Thankfully there are still lots of options for skin care products safe for pregnancy.

Generally speaking, products that are naturally derived and fragrance-free, with sensitive formulas, will be good.

If you’ve got a particular pregnancy skin care woe, we’ve got your back.

And your front.

And, well, all of you.

Acne and hyperpigmentation

If you’re getting pimples to rival your 15-year-old self, we feel ya.

And developing dark spots, or “the mask of pregnancy” known as melasma, can make you feel like you don’t even look like you anymore.

But it’s not the end.

Products containing vitamin C and azelaic acid, which is derived from the wheat plant, can help brighten and clear up your skin tone.

Dry skin

Whether or not you’ve suffered from dry skin or eczema before getting pregnant, now can be the time for a giant flare-up of dry, itchy skin that keeps you up at night.

It’s best to run this one past your doctor, and you may need a prescription, but low-dose cortisol steroid creams can sometimes be used.

If not, natural ingredients like aloe vera can help.

It’s also important to keep your skin well moisturized to prevent dryness and chapping.

Anti-aging

While your usual go-to products might not be pregnancy-safe, formulas including hyaluronic acid, vitamins E, K, and B3 are usually good to go, as is green tea, a great natural antioxidant.

Stretch marks

It’s heavily debated whether you can avoid stretch marks using moisturizers alone, but there’s no harm in trying.

Cocoa butter, shea butter, and coconut oil are all super hydrating, but so is a big old glass of water, so don’t forget to drink up!

And if you’re after a product recommendation from our Peanut moms-to-be, they love the Mama Mio Tummy Butter Rub ‒ some credit it with preventing stretch marks entirely!

Sunscreen

Thanks to a surge in melanin-stimulating hormones (like estrogen) you might find yourself catching a tan much easier than usual.

Mineral-based sunscreens (look for zinc oxide and titanium dioxide) act as a physical barrier, reflecting UV rays right off the surface of your skin, and should be liberally applied before heading out, as should the ever-stylish wide-brimmed sun hat.

Yes, you look like a movie star.

Further reading Can You Tan While Pregnant?

Which skincare brand is safe for pregnancy?

Look for natural brands specifically catering to the pregnant and nursing mama sector of the market.

Some faves include Belli Skincare, Burt’s Bees, Earth Mama Organics, Palmers, and, our Peanut Community’s favorite, Mama Mio.

So there you have it ‒ the essentials of pregnancy-safe skin care.

If you’re after more product recs or someone to talk to who gets it, you’re always welcome to join our Peanut moms-to-be.