If you’ve been a skin care girlie, you might have just perfected your skin care routine but now you’re pregnant. Pregnant people go through hormonal changes. Some get a pregnancy glow, but a lot face struggles with our pregnancy skin. For one, you might experience more skin irritation, sensitive skin, or dryness. Also, you probably have heard that there are skin care ingredients that are not safe to use during pregnancy. So it is important to know what options you now have. We show you our top picks to help you find the best pregnancy safe face moisturizer for you. This is not professional medical advice and we recommend you always check in with your doctor to get the clearance to use any products during pregnancy.
Ingredients to avoid
Retinols/Retinoids
This includes isotretinoin, tretinoin, adapalene, and tazarotene. It is often used to treat acne and decrease fine lines and wrinkles. It has been known that these cause serious birth defects so please be sure to completely avoid them.
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is used for skin brightening for example for hyperpigmentation or pigmented acne scars. It is considered unsafe for pregnant women, it is often the second highest mentioned as being potentially dangerous to your fetus.
Arbutin
Arbutin is a derivative of hydroquinone so it is also recommended to stay clear of it as well.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is often used to treat acne. While potentially only high doses might be dangerous to your baby, it is best to be safe. As moms to be, ask your doctor if they can look at the level of it in a product to make sure they think it is safe for your developing baby.
Benzoyl Peroxide
This is also often used in acne treatments. Experts aren’t exactly on the same page, some consider it safe, while others do not. Since you don’t want to strip your skin too much with already likely dry or sensitive skin, it might be best to avoid products with this or ask your doctor.
Pregnancy Safe Face Moisturizers
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
La Roche-Posay works well for all skin types, especially sensitive ones. It is gentle and fragrance free. It will keep your skin hydrated and your skin feeling soft.
This moisturizer is formulated with niacinamide (helps reduce the appearance of discolorations, great for an even skin tone) and ceramide (helps your skin barrier to retain skin moisture). Personally, it is on my favorite pregnancy safe skincare products and has helped with acne prone skin.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
This moisturizer is more affordable with amazing key ingredients: Niacinamide (helps with skin discoloration), peptide complex, and deeply moisturizing hyaluronic acid.
You can use it for dry skin or oily skin. This pregnancy safe moisturizer is thick and very hydrating! It supports skin elasticity.
Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer
This is an amazing lightweight option perfect for sensitive skin. Active ingredients include ceramides, hyaluronic acid, squalane and glycerin. Your once dry skin will thank you.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Face Moisturizer
If you like gel cream, this might be perfect for you. It absorbs quickly and won’t clog pores.
The active ingredient is hyaluronic acid for extra dry and itchy skin. It might even reduce the appearance of fine lines. It is fragrance-free and oil-free.
For the best pregnancy safe skincare try to look for less harsh ingredients so they won’t irritate sensitive skin.
While some of the popular ingredients and therefor skin care products used for things like acne are out of your routine, you can still use some other pregnancy safe ingredients to address your skin concern.
Vitamin C
You could use a vitamin c serum, which is great for brightening the skin, reducing hyperpigmentation and dark spots, and promoting collagen production. Make sure to use it in the morning and apply sun protection to avoid sun damage.
Mineral Sunscreen
Look for a mineral sunscreens with ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide which are safe to use during pregnancy.
Azelaic acid
This is a great ingredient to use as a pregnancy safe skin treatment for pimples.
