5 Skin Care tips during pregnancy
Do I need to change skin care products during pregnancy?
Have you just found out about your pregnancy and are wondering if you need to change your skin care routine?
Here are some tips on how to keep safe and get your “Mom-Glow” during this special time of your life.
As natural hormonal changes happen, the appearance of your skin can change as well. You might notice acne, increased skin sensitivity, occasional dark spots, stretch marks, dryness, hyperpigmentation, spider veins, and linea nigra – a dark line that runs from the naval to the pubic area of the body. This is normally when you find the need of hosting new products inside your bathroom cabinet, then you realize your old or new skin care products aren’t the safest for your baby.
Fortunately, the Environmental Working Group’s database has safety ratings for over 87,000 hygiene products. This tool also cross-references the ingredients in each product with more than 60 toxicity and regulatory databases.
A fact about me and the many hats that I wear: Besides being a Professional Photographer, I am an Economist who holds an active license in the state of Colorado as a Professional Aesthetician! I used to own a skin care studio in my home for a decade, before I had my own baby and started my full time dedication to photography.
I have put a few hours of research into it, to help you come up with a no-brainer further research.
1. Basic facial hygiene during pregnancy
Daily skin care routine, even when you feel really tired to go to bed, is really important and leaves no future regrets when you look at the mirror and see your hard work paid off.
a. Use lukewarm water when washing your face or bathing.
b. Apply a gentle, alcohol-free cleanser with the fingertips.
c. If using a body scrub, gently massage it into the skin in circular motions, always when your skin is wet! Do not dry rub your face.
d. Rinse your face with lukewarm water.
e. Pat, rather than rubbing, the skin dry with a clean towel. A good idea is to have stacked small towels and use them individually, every time you perform your daily basic skin care routine.
f. Apply moisturizer and do not tug at the skin around the eyes.
g. Apply mineral-based sunscreen to any area exposed to the sun.
2. The Good list of safe ingredients of skin care products to look for, during and after pregnancy, while breastfeeding your baby are:
Aloe vera, shea butter, coconut oil, cocoa butter, and antioxidants (such as vitamin E or C).
Safe sunscreens are the Mineral sunscreens are the best bet, as the skin does not absorb them.
Safe non-mineral sunscreens containing titanium dioxide and zinc oxide
Moisturizer: A heavy moisturizer is highly recommended during pregnancy. This will keep skin soft and avoid the appearance of stretch marks that can even crack and cause discomfort. The heavy moisturizer is recommended by the ACOG – American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
3. The Bad Ugly list of unsafe ingredients during pregnancy:
In accordance to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), these no-no chemical ingredients to avoid in your products and can cause adverse effects to the development of the fetus are:
Retinoids, Hydroquinone, Formaldehyde, Salicilic Acid, Phthalates, Benzoyl peroxide, Soy, Parabens.
It is always a good idea to read the label of your beauty product and try to spot any of these bad guys during pregnancy. Taking your time to read safety reviews on a new product is very important to consider too.
When used on a daily basis, these harmful chemicals can lead to: preeclampsia, preterm birth, growth restrictions, shortened distance between the anus and genitals in newborns, maternal glucose disorders, infant cryptorchidism – when the testicles are not in the correct position, and infant hypospadias – when the urethra is not in the correct position in the penis.
Pregnant women should avoid the following acne treatments containing:
Isotretinoin, tazarotene, spironolactone, adapalene, tretinoin, triacontane, doxycycline, minocycline or tetracycline.
Some of these chemicals can stain the teeth of the fetus and other can cause more serious damages. Stop using them, during the entire pregnancy.
Chemical sunscreens, on the other hand, absorb UV rays. They usually contain one or more of these ingredients:
Oxybenzone,
avobenzone,
oxalate,
octocrylene,
homosalate
octinoxate.
4. Safe list of Skin Care products to use while pregnant.
Lastly here is my bonus tip, of top 13 recommendations, for your peace of mind regarding the use of skin care products during pregnancy of non-comedogenic, paraben free and lacking harmful ingredients.
These products make the top list of best beauty and skin care products for pregnancy in 2023, mentioned in top trends magazines and online resources.
Feel free to copy and paste individual suggested items, on your Amazon browser and check the list of safe products it brings to you.
1. Allure best moisturizer for pregnancy: Beauty counter melting body balm
2. Best body oil: Kneipp Lavender
3. Best body and foot wash: Art Naturals Bath and Body
4. Best belly butter: Glow Organics
5. Best for stretch marks: Earth Mamma
6. Best bust cream for pregnancy: Palmer’s Cocoa butter bust cream
7. Best for acne: LED face mask
8. Best facial cleanser: Aleavia Purifying
9. Best Face Wipes: Burts Bees Towelettes
10. Sunscreen: Sun Bum Original Moisturizing Lotion
11. Anti-Blemish: Belli Anti-Blemish Facial Wash
12. Best for rehydrating: Neutrogena Hydro Boost
13. Best Anti-Aging Cream: LilyAna Naturals Eye Cream Moisturizer
5. APPs for Safe Skin Care ingredients when you are on the go:
Keep these APPs handy to use for checking products while pregnant, and feel free to continue to use them as reference for a sustainable life for your children too!
Environmental Working Group: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
Also, check out these 3 Hair Care tips while pregnant:
Thinking about Booking your Maternity and Newborn Sessions?
Maternity Photography Sessions
Congratulations for being on this journey and soon to experience the most wonderful feeling of having your newborn baby in your arms, for the very first time. Having photographs taken to remember this amazing journey is something very special to consider.
My maternity sessions are offered in two ways:
1. Three sessions: one milestone celebration, storytelling every trimester of your story. “This is what I did when expected my son.”
2. One single session: if your option is only one session, my best recommendation is between weeks 32 ~37, when you have reached a beautiful sized bump and you are still feeling mostly comfortable for posing. My posing system is personalized in a way that respects your anatomy for a gentle experience!
Newborn Photography Sessions
Newborn Sessions are preferably, scheduled in advance. I promise to keep my agenda flexible to accommodate your baby in the very first days of a grand entrance into this world!
My newborn sessions take place withing the first 10 ~ 12 days, when they are reaching the deepest sleep and their bodies are still as flexible as if they were in the womb and not experiencing cramps, due to the natural adaptation to the exterior environment.
Do not panic if you haven’t booked a newborn session in advance! I also offer family lifestyle sessions for siblings and parents.
コメント