When you’re expecting your body goes through a lot of changes, and one of those changes, is of course hormones. This somewhat roller-coaster ride that your hormones take during pregnancy can have a major impact on your skin, and not always in the way you’d like (a la pregnancy glow) with breakouts, dryness and hyper-pigmentation being the main culprits.
That’s why it’s important to prepare and adapt your skincare products and routine if you’d like to keep the effects of hormones under control. While it’s always advised to undertake your own research with a healthcare professional during pregnancy, we’ve taken some of the guesswork out of your pregnancy routine and ingredients to get you started.
Pregnancy safe skincare for dry or sensitive skin
When you fall pregnant you may find that your skin becomes overly sensitive and less tolerant to certain ingredients. If you notice your skin is becoming red, irritated or inflamed, it’s recommended that you change up your skincare routine and avoid ingredients that cause irritation such as essential oils and perfume. If your skin starts to become dry and tight, you should look to incorporate hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and oils that are naturally rich in vitamins such as jojoba oil.
Luna Vitality: Restoring Moisture Cream is a luxurious moisturiser that contains a mixture of cocoa and shea butter, oils (including jojoba) and hyaluronic acid that all work together to rehydrate dry skin and lock in moisture by creating a protective barrier. This protective barrier will also help to prevent moisture loss and irritation too.
Pregnancy safe skincare for oily or breakout-prone skin
Changes to your hormones during pregnancy may also cause your skin to produce more oil and therefore breakout. Although it isn’t ideal, it’s totally normal and can be controlled safely! If this is you, it’s recommended that you switch to a gentler type of cleanser and exfoliant.
To effectively cleanse your skin and remove excess oil, use a cleanser such as Purified: Purifying Cleanser which contains a vegan lactic acid to gently polish skin build up that can cause breakouts, as well as green tea that helps to soothe skin and calm breakouts too.
When taking it one step further to exfoliate, use a gentle and non-abrasive mask such as Canvas: Resurfacing AHA & BHA Treatment which contains alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), an acid that will work to resurface your skin and remove excess oil without stripping your skins natural barrier. Lactic acid is a popular type of AHA that is effective in exfoliating the skin while still leaving it hydrated and plump.
Pregnancy safe skincare for hyper-pigmentation
Often touted ‘the mask of pregnancy’, melasma is a common by-product of pregnancy hormones due to a steep rise in estrogen and progesterone levels that stimulate excess melanin production, known more commonly as hyper-pigmentation. Affecting 50-75 percent of expectant mothers, you might like to consider a product high in vitamin C to help lighten patches of pigmentation without leaving your skin barrier compromised.
Including Kakadu plum (one of the world’s most potent sources of vitamin C) The Limelight: Brightening Probiotic Lotion can assist with pigmentation while also hydrating the skin and soothing redness and irritation too (making this the perfect all-rounder to address the aforementioned pregnancy culprits of dryness and breakouts).
Ingredients to avoid while pregnant or breastfeeding
To ensure safety or yourself and your baby, it’s recommended to remove particular ingredients while pregnant and throughout breastfeeding.
Ingredients such as retinol (vitamin A) and other topical prescription products should be avoided. Although retinol is great for plumping and smoothing skin, there is research to suggest that high doses of vitamin A can be potentially harmful. Small amounts used on your skin are unlikely to cause damage however it’s still advised to avoid using retinol altogether until you have finished breastfeeding, just to be safe.
Similarly, it’s also recommended to avoid fragrances, benzoyl peroxide and chemical sunscreens that contain possible hormone disruptors like oxybenzone or avobenzone.
If you’re unsure about a product or cannot find an ingredients list, it’s best to avoid it altogether and look for an alternative. If you’re still unsure, consult with your healthcare professional.
Ingredients to avoid:
- Vitamin A and vitamin A derivatives (including retinol)
- Hydroquinone
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Oxybenzone
- Avobenzone
And;
- Fragrances
Ingredients considered pregnancy and breastfeeding-safe
Luckily, there are still plenty of skin-loving ingredients that are considered safe to use while pregnant and breastfeeding that do wonders for your skin!
Popular ingredients such as vitamin C, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and peptides are all considered safe which is great news considering their spanning ability to cleanse, hydrate, smooth and brighten the skin. It’s also quite common for expectant mothers to make the switch to an all-natural, vegan skincare product while pregnant however this is always a personal choice.
Safe ingredients:
- Vitamin C
- Niacinamide
- Hyaluronic acid
- Peptides
With exception of The Foundation: Flawless Retinol & Vitamin C Lotion, all RAWKANVAS products are considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. All of our products are made with high-quality natural and vegan ingredients.
