The Pregnancy Skincare Routine I'm Recommending to Everyone
Being pregnant is a magical experience, fraught with hormonal acne, constant urination, and everyone from your nail tech to your dry cleaner giving you unsolicited advice on how to breastfeed. For me, the joy of finding out I was going to be a mother was followed quickly by the panic of figuring out what I was putting on my body.
It doesn’t take more than a quick Google search to make you want to toss out your entire medicine cabinet and drink nothing but organic coconut water for the next nine months. Balancing caution with common sense, I took my late-night internet findings and consulted my OB/GYN as well as my aesthetician about what cosmetic ingredients were actually worth kicking to the curb.
The list included retinoic acid, hydroquonine, and really any ingredient that was labeled as category C, meaning harm to a developing fetus couldn’t be ruled out. Other category C ingredients include salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide -- both of which are, ironically, great acne fighters when your pregnancy hormones are out of control.
Armed with a newfound knowledge of what not to put on my face, I created a new skincare routine that cut out the toxins while giving me the clear (dare I say glowing?) skin I had been chasing since before I peed on a stick.
Cleanser:
Drunk Elephant Pekee Bar
This mild cleanser goes the extra mile by ditching the harsh chemicals while still doing your face a solid. Think of it as a much cleaner Cetaphil bar.
Exfoliator:
Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling - Lemon
This weekly, natural-ish exfoliator keeps the pimples and pregnancy mask at bay without the use of Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA), a.k.a. salicylic acid.
Toner:
Thayers Witch Hazel - Rose Petal
There's a reason this toner is a cult favorite. Its straightforward formula keeps pores clear without stripping your already parched pregnant skin.
Serum:
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum
I'm crediting this for my pregnancy glow. It evens out my skin tone while helping me fight against any hormone-induced skin discoloration.
Daytime Moisturizer:
Tatcha The Water Cream
Tatcha keeps it light and clean with this oil-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free moisturizer. It's perfect for those with oily/combo skin or anyone facing a summer pregnancy.
Nighttime Moisturizer:
Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream
At night, I give my sensitive combo face the no-frills TLC it needs. Because nothing fucks with your skin's pH like pregnancy hormones.
Sunscreen:
Coola Mineral Sunscreen - Cucumber Matte Finish
The general consensus out there about pregnancy and sunscreen is: When in doubt, make it mineral. Mineral sunscreen means less chemicals for you and baby. And while Coola has a lot of options to choose from, this one doubles as a great primer.
