Your whole world is basically flipped upside down and back to front when you find out that you’re expecting. You’ll learn to say goodbye to your favourite wine (sobs), certain foods and even some types of exercises - but what about your skincare shelf?
Your skincare line-up may need a little bit of a shakeup when you find out that you’re pregnant. And for good reason. Certain ingredients in topical skincare products can be absorbed into the bloodstream and body, and into bubs body too, so it’s important to avoid any harmful chemicals.
To make life a little bit easier, we thought we’d share a comprehensive guide on the do’s and don’t of pregnancy skincare.
DON’T: Use Retinoids
Commonly found in acne and anti-aging treatments, those cheeky little retinoids can be listed under lots of different names in the ingredient list: look out for retinoic acid, tretinoin, palmitate and retinaldehyde. It’s widely advised to avoid retinoids during pregnancy and breastfeeding and has even been linked to severe birth defects.
DO: Research Products & Companies
Louder for the people in the back: triple-check ingredient lists. Make sure you’re spending time doing some research about your skincare products, what’s in them and how they are made. Don’t hesitate to contact the company and ask any questions you may have. And if you still have questions, it’s always a good idea to ask your practitioner's advice.
DON’T: Use Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is another harmful and commonly used skincare ingredient that can be risky for you and your baby. While there is conflicting information about small concentrations of salicylic acid (less than 2%) being okay during pregnancy, we wouldn’t like to take any chances so it’s on our no-go list.
DO: Avoid Parabens and Phthalates
This dirty duo can be found in everything from makeup, haircare, and body products. Parabens and phthalates are harsh chemicals used to preserve a wide range of products. Both are known endocrine disruptors (meaning that they can negatively affect the reproductive system) and should be avoided by everyone, not just expecting mothers! DON’T: Try and Be Perfect
It can be so overwhelming to try and wrap your head around everything that people tell you you should or should not be doing when you’re pregnant. While it’s great to take on advice, stick to your own values and keep educated and informed on your own personal pregnancy journey. After all, no one can be absolutely perfect 100% of the time.
DO: Wear Sunscreen (a natural one!)
We should all be protecting our lovely skin from the sun, but if you are experiencing Melasma during your pregnancy it’s even more important that you take extra caution in the sun. Of course, we think everyone should be opting for a natural sunscreen, but if you’re pregnant, avoiding nasty chemical-based sunscreens is a must. The safest sunscreens are mineral-based (look for titanium dioxide or zinc oxide on the label). We love this one from Life Basics.