Which skincare ingredients should I avoid during pregnancy, and what can I keep using?
A short list of skincare ingredients is set aside during pregnancy by most obstetric and dermatology guidance: retinoids in any form (retinol, tretinoin, adapalene and oral isotretinoin), hydroquinone, and high-strength salicylic acid peels, with oral spironolactone and some prescription acne medicines on the same list. Most everyday skincare stays: glycerin, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, azelaic acid, vitamin C, plant oils and butters, and mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are widely considered fine, and low-strength topical salicylic acid in a wash is generally accepted. Pregnant skin is more reactive, so fragrance-free products with short ingredient lists reduce the variables while hormones change what the skin tolerates. Melasma, pregnancy acne and new rashes are for your care provider or a dermatologist to read, since some common treatments for them are the very ones set aside. For any specific ingredient you are unsure about, your care provider or pharmacist can check it against your history.
Ask your care provider or a dermatologist before using any prescription skin treatment, for melasma or acne that is spreading or distressing, and for any rash or itching that is intense, since some of the most common skin treatments are the ones set aside in pregnancy.
Who it's for: reactive, dry or tight pregnant skin, face and body.
Baby Bump Sensory, for changing skin
Baby Bump Sensory is BEB Soothing Serum, Silky Cream and Nurturing Oil in full sizes, fragrance-free, formulated for the most fragile skin, and the set the Good Face Project studied with 72 pregnant participants over eight weeks, in which participants described comfort for stretch marks and itchy skin. Every ingredient in the three formulas is listed and explained on the ingredients page, so you or your provider can check any one of them.
Baby Bump Sensory Bundle
For pregnancy skin, and for the baby after.
4.9 (253)
$144
Questions parents ask
Is retinol safe during pregnancy?
Retinol and the other retinoids are set aside during pregnancy and while trying to conceive, by near-universal guidance. Oral isotretinoin causes birth defects, and the topical forms are avoided as a precaution because the amount absorbed is uncertain. Azelaic acid and, after discussing it with your provider, glycolic acid are common swaps for the same goals.
Is salicylic acid safe in pregnancy?
Low-strength salicylic acid in a face wash or a spot treatment, around 2 percent or less, is generally considered acceptable during pregnancy by obstetric guidance. High-strength salicylic acid peels and oral salicylates are the forms set aside. If acne is distressing, your care provider can suggest options.
Is hyaluronic acid safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid is a water-binding ingredient the body makes itself, and topical use during pregnancy is considered fine by dermatology guidance. Glycerin, niacinamide and plant oils are in the same widely accepted group.
Which sunscreen is best during pregnancy?
A mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, SPF 30 or higher and broad spectrum, is the usual recommendation in pregnancy, because the filters work on the skin's surface and because daily sun protection is the main defense against melasma, the darkening many people notice on the face. Reapply every two hours outdoors and wear a hat.
Why does my skin react to things it used to tolerate?
Pregnancy hormones change oil production, blood flow and the skin's barrier, so products that once felt fine can sting, and dryness, breakouts or darkening can appear for the first time. Fewer products, each fragrance-free with a short ingredient list, give the skin fewer variables while it changes. Most of these changes settle in the months after birth.
What does BEB say about using its products in pregnancy?
BEB formulas are made for the most fragile skin, fragrance-free, with every ingredient and its preparation listed on the ingredients page, and Baby Bump Sensory is the set the Good Face Project studied on 72 pregnant participants over eight weeks. Pregnant skin is fragile skin, so the same standard applies, and the same three products become the baby's Soothe, Hydrate and Seal steps after birth. For any ingredient question specific to your pregnancy, your care provider has the final word.