Finding out that you’re expecting can change a lot — not to mention the not-so-short lists of things you’ll end up adjusting, from your dietary habits to your beauty products and skincare routine.
Let’s talk about how to maintain that pregnancy glow safely while combating common skin issues and giving your skin the nourishment it’s craving!
How Does Skin Change During Pregnancy?
For many women, one of the biggest changes during pregnancy is a shift to more sensitive skin. So while your skin used to absorb those Glycolic Acid or Alpha Hydroxy Acids just fine, they may prove irritating and drying to your skin as the weeks pass by.
You may also experience hormone-based breakouts even though your skin has been clear since high school. There are a lot of hormonal changes occuring in your body, so a few pimples aren’t entirely unexpected. It’s also possible to get what’s known as the mask of pregnancy, aka melasma, which is a discoloration caused by changing hormones.
While you could luck out and have nine months of the best pregnancy skin ever, there’s no need to worry if you don’t. There are still ways to keep your skin happy from the first trimester and beyond — even if you have to make a few changes (which may be easier than you think!).
Our Calm Pure Radiance Facial Oil is just one of many pregnancy-safe, natural-biocompatible skincare formulas we have right here at True Botanicals.
It’s formulated to comfort sensitive skin while still offering 27 powerfully nourishing, nutrient-dense plant-actives for your glowiest skin yet. Calendula Oil, Ginger Root Oil, Cucumber Seed Oil, Organic Hemp Seed Oil, and Jojoba Oil are just a handful of the potent botanicals that support a resilient skin barrier.
What Should a Pregnancy-Safe Skincare Routine Look Like?
There are certain skincare ingredients that pregnant women should avoid — unfortunately, they’re fairly common in everyday skincare products, from makeup remover to toners to body wash and lotion.
Here are just a few often-synthetic ingredients worth staying away from:
- Synthetic Retinol
- Retinoids, even Prescription Retinoids
- Retinyl Palmitate
- Benzoyl Peroxide
- Hydroquinone
- Parabens
- Oxybenzone
- Avobenzone
Fortunately, our better-for-you formulas use sustainable, naturally-derived, vegan ingredients.
With the MADE SAFE® seal on every product, you can enjoy your self-care routine knowing everything here at True Botanicals is made without 6,500 toxic chemicals known to harm human and environmental health.
Read: you don’t have to sacrifice effectiveness for safety.
1. Cleanser: Ginger Turmeric Cleansing Balm
Our Ginger Turmeric Cleansing Balm is a gentle yet effective cleanser crafted to remove makeup and sunscreen, without drying or sensitizing your skin in the process. Unlike most face wash formulas made with synthetic ingredients, our Ginger Turmeric Cleansing Balm is pregnancy-safe, so you can take care of your skin without any toxins lurking in the formulation that might impact your baby-to-be.
Our facial cleanser is also a great option if you’re experiencing pregnancy-related dry skin — it effectively uses Lactic Acid and Azelaic Acid to remove impurities while moisturizing and nourishing the skin so it’s left perfectly clean, glowy and pillow-soft. With ingredients like Yucca Extract, Ginger Root, Mango, and Turmeric, your skin will be cleansed and clean while also being hydrated and nourished.
2. Serum: Chebula Active Serum
That’s right — there’s no reason you need to forgo a targeted topical serum with a bun in the oven. If your skin could use brightening and hydrating all with one serum, our Chebula Active Serum is here to help.
The Chebula Active Serum is pregnancy-safe, and it outperforms two of the top-leading anti-aging serums on the market when it comes to evening skin tone (which is why it’s our #1 subscribed product, too).*Based on 6-week single blind comparative clinical study of 30 women aged 35 – 65 with twice daily use.
Our Chebula Active Serum is the last anti-aging serum you’ll ever need thanks to its spotlight ingredient: Chebula. This breakthrough extract fights five signs of aging, including roughness, fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone, skin firmness, and skin dullness. Paired with both low and high-weighted Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe Vera, this serum works to deeply hydrate and soothe for a youthful-looking complexion.
3. Moisturizer: Chebula Extreme Cream
Since pregnancy hormones can really dry out your skin, maintaining a consistent moisturizing routine is key. It’s also important if you’re finding that pregnancy is causing breakouts.
Lock it all in with a generous amount of our Chebula Extreme Cream, the perfect cream moisturizer to keep your skin feeling quenched and hydrated all day and night.
In an independent scientific clinical study, 100% of participants showed a significant improvement in moisture both immediately and over time, 97% saw in increase in skin moisture after just four weeks, and 93% said they would switch from their current moisturizer.*Based on a 4 week clinical and consumer third party study on 32 people.
Our Chebula Extreme Cream is one of few moisturizing formulas in the world that contains zero pore-clogging waxes. It’s a triple threat with deep hydration, rejuvenating antioxidants, and skin barrier optimization you can soak your skin in without fear of instigating breakouts or congesting your pores. The result is soft, dewy, and supple-feeling skin.
Most fruit ingredients are 10% bioactive. Chebula is a whopping 60% bioactive, which means it works harder and more efficiently to nourish your skin without causing any side effects like redness, breakouts, or irritation (which you might experience with less biocompatible products).
Our Chebula Extreme Cream also includes Hyaluronic Acid. It’s not an exfoliator like Alpha Hydroxy Acids or Beta Hydroxy Acids; it’s a humectant. Skin care ingredients that act as humectants help to attract and bind water to your skin, which is a major help in helping skin stay moisturized.
4. Eye Cream: Resurrection Radiance Eye Cream
Our Resurrection Radiance Eye Cream. While most eye creams contain silicones, waxes, fillers, toxins, or even shimmer to help fake the appearance of results, our eye cream is formulated using only real, purposefully-included ingredients.
The Resurrection Plant (aka Selaginella lepidophylla) provides a bioactive, moisture retention complex that intensely hydrates and works alongside other natural biocompatible ingredients like Tree Bark Extract, Turmeric, and Coffee and Licorice extracts help to dramatically reduce the appearance of swelling, dark circles, fine lines and wrinkles. Goodbye, puffy dark eyes!
5. Sunscreen
Though chemical sunscreens should make a move from your beach bag to the trash bin, this doesn’t mean it’s time to let UVA and UVB rays get the best of you. Look for a mineral sunscreen that offers pregnancy-safe sun protection. SPF products that use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the main ingredient are often a good choice.
While it’s not ready quite yet, you can click here to get on the list for Early Access to True Botanicals’ very own safe, sustainable mineral sunscreen with anti-aging skin benefits!
In the meantime, if you’re not sure where to start, speak to your doctor or dermatologist for safe and effective recommendations.
In Conclusion
Although you may need to make some changes to your routine with a little one on the way, pregnancy-safe skincare products may be something you stick with in the long run.
The Mama Glow Set is an easy way to maintain your glow by moisturizing and brightening your skin — it contains our Calm Pure Radiance Oil, Vitamin C Booster, and Moisture Lock Overnight Mask so you’re ready for a little extra self-pampering when you need it most.
Looking for even more recommendations? Explore the True Botanicals full Pregnancy Skincare & Body Products collection here, (or drop the Mama Glow Set to a loved one as a little hint for the coming baby shower!).
Sources:
Safety Information | National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy
Pregnancy and Skin | Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care