Whether you’re currently expecting a baby or are trying to conceive, chances are you’ve had some adjustments to make — and that can include changes to your beauty products and overall skincare routine.
Whether you’re in your first trimester, breastfeeding, or somewhere in-between, it makes sense to take a look at whether or not Hyaluronic Acid has a place in your regular routine with a baby in the picture.
While you should always speak with your healthcare provider about any concerns you may have about your baby, we’re here to help shed some light in the meantime about using Hyaluronic Acid when pregnant, and how else you can safely hydrate and nourish your skin for a little extra oomph on top of that pregnancy glow!
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a sugar molecule your body actually makes on a regular basis. It’s a big part of what keeps your skin looking full, firm, and youthful thanks to its powerful ability to moisturize and make for a smoother skin texture. It’s similar to collagen in terms of aiding skin’s elasticity and suppleness, but also like collagen, your body’s HA stores tend to deplete with age.
If you’ve experienced a change in skin tone or have noticed an increase in dark spots, you may have reached for an anti-aging formula that boasts Hyaluronic Acid as a main ingredient. Since Hyaluronic Acid is available in a wide range of skincare products from lotions to face washes to topical serums, it’s easy to find.
But, not all forms of Hyaluronic Acid are made equal — more on that in a bit!
How Does Hyaluronic Acid Work?
Hyaluronic Acid is a humectant. Humectants are substances that retain moisture. HA molecules are capable of holding over one thousand times their own weight in water. In fact, this is why HA should be combined with water before topical application.
Unlike many of the ingredients you’ll find in traditional cream moisturizers that are simply an addition to the moisture in your skin, Hyaluronic Acid is effective because it actually draws in and retains moisture from the environment, as well as moisture from the other products in your skincare routine.
This is exactly why we use HA in both our Chebula Extreme Cream and our Chebula Active Serum, which are both MADE SAFE® Certified, vegan, cruelty-free, sustainable skincare offerings you’ll want to keep using long after you’ve welcomed your little one into the world!
Our Chebula Extreme Cream utilizes an optimum concentration of both low and high-weighted HA molecules. Two sizes of molecules offer the best hydration benefits. Why? The smaller sized molecules easily absorb into your skin to deliver hydration and help minimize the look of wrinkles for a plump, nourished complexion, while the larger molecules help to smooth and soften skin.
Our Chebula Active Serum is a hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and pregnancy-safe product that offers similar benefits to our cream moisturizer, but packaged into a moisturizing formula with a Hydra-Cocktail of protein rejuvenators, humectants, emollients and breathable occlusives that quench and nourish skin all day and night.
On top of HA’s powerful moisturizing abilities, Chebula Extract works hard to fight five signs of aging while giving your skin barrier the support it needs to encourage glowing, nutrient-rich, youthful-looking skin!
Chebula is also 60% bioactive — to put that into perspective, natural fruit sources are only around 10% bioactive. That upswing in bioactivity allows this breakthrough antioxidant skincare ingredient to address five signs of aging including fine lines and wrinkles with greater potency.
By using Chebula Active Serum alongside Chebula Extreme Cream, you’ll be able to get pregnancy-safe, anti-aging benefits thanks to deep hydration and nourishing antioxidants that work to support your skin barrier.
Chebula Active Serum is so effective that in clinical trials, 100% of women reported softer and smoother skin after just one week of use.*In a randomized, comparative, double blind 6-week trial
Is Hyaluronic Acid Safe For Use While Pregnant?
Yes, Hyaluronic Acid is generally safe for use during pregnancy.
Hyaluronic Acid naturally occurs in your skin cells, and has a low likelihood of causing negative skin reactions, pregnant or not. This makes it great for all skin types, even sensitive skin, plus moms-to-be.
In fact, if you don’t already use Hyaluronic Acid to give your skin that hydrated, plumping effect, pregnancy may be a great time to start. Pregnancy hormones shift and change other hormones in your body, ultimately affecting your skin in the process.
While some people are lucky enough to get that famous pregnancy glow, many more people experience an increase in dry skin, breakouts, and even a patchy-like darkening of the skin called melasma.
If you have a pre-existing condition such as eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea, pregnancy may affect your symptoms — for better or worse.
Because Hyaluronic Acid is safe to use during pregnancy, incorporating it into your skincare routine could help to give your skin barrier the support it needs, helping you feel good in your skin in one of the most feel-good times of life!
What About Other Common Skincare Acids and Anti-Aging Ingredients?
If Hyaluronic Acid is safe for use during pregnancy, you may be wondering if other common skincare acids like Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) and Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHAs) are safe for use, too.
Unfortunately, that isn’t necessarily the case. Chemical exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs can be safe in lower concentrations, but it’s best to consult with your doctor or dermatologist first since safety can be a case-by-case basis when pregnancy is a factor.
Some other ingredients you may consider avoiding during pregnancy include over-the-counter and prescription Retinoids, Synthetic Retinol, Retinyl Palmitate, Tazorac, Accutane, Benzoyl Peroxide, and Salicylic Acid.
It’s also recommended to skip fillers or Botox sessions during pregnancy, and switch to a mineral-based, high-SPF sunscreen (i.e. containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as active ingredients, with 50+ SPF), as opposed to a chemical sunscreen. Regularly using sunscreen, pregnant or otherwise, can help you avoid hyperpigmentation (aka dark spots) than can result from continued sun damage.
In Conclusion
Whether you’re about to experience the best complexion of your life for nine months, or your skin needs a little extra TLC thanks to everything finding a new balance, Hyaluronic Acid products from True Botanicals can help lock in moisture and support your skin barrier, safely.
Every product in our Pregnancy Skincare Collection carries the MADE SAFE® seal, certifying that they are made without 6,500 toxic chemicals known to harm human and environmental health.
From our Chebula Extreme Cream and Chebula Active Serum we talked about above, to cleansing balms and body scrubs for the self-care you deserve, our natural skincare formulas are designed to help enhance that skin-brightening pregnancy glow.
Explore the True Botanicals Pregnancy Skincare Collection here.
Sources:
Hyaluronic Acid: A Key Molecule in Skin Aging | Dermato Endocrinology
The Hype on Hyaluronic Acid | Harvard Health Publishing
Common Skin Conditions During Pregnancy | American Family Physician