Pregnancy Safe Beauty Care
Pregnancy is that time of life when you are most careful and mindful and need that extra reassurance of what is safe for you and your baby.
As a longtime clean beauty follower, I reckoned I needn't worry about my beauty products the moment I got pregnant. Clearly I was oblivious to the fact that sometimes natural ingredients are not deemed safe, notably during pregnancy.
Ingredients to avoid and why
Our skin is the largest organ in our body and absorbs a high percentage of what
you put on it, which can eventually enter your bloodstream. During pregnancy, the toxins absorbed through your body can in turn be transmitted to your growing fetus, so erring on the cautious side is advisable.
There are three clean cosmetic ingredients that should be avoided during pregnancy.
Salicylic acid -defined according to EWG Skin Deep Database as “a naturally occurring and synthetically produced beta hydroxy acid used in skin treatment products” and contains a chemical called salicin that is similar to aspirin (Source Web MD), which is generally advised against during pregnancy.
Willow bark - The natural equivalent of salicylic acid has similar effects to its synthetic counterpart in a gentler form. Given the lack of evidence of its safe use during pregnancy it ́s best avoided.
Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) - this natural soothing antioxidant ingredient has great benefits for the body yet has not been proven safe or unsafe by any studies. Hence, for the cautious mothers it is best to steer clear from it during pregnancy, as high consumption during pregnancy has been tied to increased risk of early delivery (Source Web Md).
Consulting with your doctor or dermatologist is advisable to ensure your beauty products are safe during pregnancy and beneficial for your skin.
Where to buy
I live in Spain, so I mainly use brands that ship to Europe and buy most of my products online on Cult Beauty, Content Beauty or Netaporter UK websites. Check my post Clean Beauty Starter Kit for stores in the UK, US, Portugal and Spain.
My pregnancy beauty routine
To keep things simple I have focused only on my favourite brands and have listed them in order of use in my beauty routine.
Cleanser- Brand Tata Harper - Product Nourishing Oil Cleanser. Multivitamin soothing cleanser to be used night and day and as a makeup remover.
Serum- Brand Pestle & Mortar - Product Pure Hyaluronic Serum. Super hydrating and lightweight serum that instantly plumps your skin, very little quantity needed.
Vitamin C - Brand Nue Co - Product Topical C. To be mixed and applied with the serum.
Eye Cream - Brand Tata Harper- Product Iluminating Eye cream. Soothing botanical eye cream that masks eye circles and gives you that extra light.
Moisturizer - Brand Tata Harper - Product Hyaluronic Gel Moisturizer. Incredibly lightweight hydrating moisturizer for oily or combination skin.
Sunscreen- Brand Salt & Stone - Product SPF30 Mineral Sunscreen. Nourishing lightweight SPF cream easy to apply.
Premium Sunscreen - Brand Josh Rosebrook - Product Nutrient Day Cream SPF 30. I personally haven't tried this yet but it has been highly recommended by several clean beauty shops.
Stretch marks cream
Another important beauty concern during pregnancy are the beloved stretch marks.
Starting early with hydration is beneficial to help avoid getting these nasty marks that can be difficult to get rid of at a later stage. I recommend applying the cream in the mornings and the oil at night with a gentle massage to help stimulate x and provide a deeper hydration. The more hydration, the better.
I have been trying several stretch marks cream during my first trimester and so far my favourite pick are Pai and regular almond oil.
Pai Stretch Marks Kit - Brand Pai - Product Skincare Pomegranate & Pumpkin Stretch Mark System. Great combo to use day and night.
Regular Almond oil - You can buy this at your local health food store.
More on that to come soon, stay tuned!