COMPLETE GUIDE TO PREGNANCY – How to take care of the face during pregnancy? It is one of the questions you ask us the most, so today we want to leave you a guide with all the cosmetic products suitable for pregnancy and clarify which ingredients are the ones we should avoid as pregnant women (and why).

As a general rule, we can maintain our usual routine as long as our skin continues to have the exact needs because the skin changes a lot in these months; you may need to adapt your routine, not to eliminate “forbidden” ingredients but to include products intended to treat the current needs of your skin.

Although the truth is that, with some exceptions, cosmetics cannot penetrate intense layers of the skin, let alone the bloodstream.

But during pregnancy, the skin changes a lot due to hormones. It is more prone to spots and can tend to dryness or acne. In addition, it becomes more permeable, which is why avoiding certain cosmetics (depending on their ingredients) is recommended. This is because by being more absorbent, there is a greater chance that some elements in our cosmetics will enter the bloodstream and cross the placenta barrier. That is why we must ensure that the products in our beauty routine do not include any ingredient that is contraindicated for our baby’s development.

Now yes, we get into the matter of what and what we should not include in the facial routine of a pregnant woman; but remember that every woman and every pregnancy is different, so we recommend you consult your gynaecologist first.

What ingredients to avoid in pregnancy?

As we have already mentioned, certain ingredients take advantage of the increased skin permeability during pregnancy and can reach the bloodstream, so their use is not recommended during pregnancy. So, if you are expecting a baby, check the ingredients of your cosmetics well, and replace those that include any of these:

  • Retinol and derivatives of vitamin A, such as retinaldehyde or retinoic acid, can produce malformations in the fetus.
  • Essential oils are likely to cause allergic and skin reactions. It is recommended not to use them because treatments to treat these allergic reactions are usually contraindicated in pregnancy.
  • Hydroquinone, present in some depigmenting cosmetics, could also harm the fetus.
  • Salicylic acid in high percentages (>2-4% BHA). Being a fat-soluble acid, it is easier for it to enter the body. In addition, its composition is very similar to aspirin, which also contraindicated in these cases.
  • Oxybenzone is present in some sunscreens and could affect the quality of the milk or cause fatal damage.

Cosmetic ingredients suitable for pregnancy:

Because of fame or its name sounds “irritating”, there are some ingredients that we believe are not safe during pregnancy, and yet they do not pose any danger at this stage. Moreover, many can be great allies in treating the changes our skin suffers from hormones. So, here we leave you the ingredients that you can continue using:

Vitamin C or E

Vitamin C is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, depigmenting, and promotes collagen production. While vitamin E is an antioxidant, it helps regenerate the skin and keep it properly hydrated.

Niacinamide

It is a complete ingredient: bioregulator, depigmentation, protector of the skin barrier… and it does not pose risks to the health of your baby, a must for any facial routine during pregnancy!

Hyaluronic acid

It is a highly moisturizing ingredient that is very useful in case your dry skin becomes even tighter; it helps prevent moisture loss and keeps skin hydrated for longer hours.

Depigmentation agents (tranexamic or azelaic)

There are no studies that contraindicate them during pregnancy, and they will help avoid the appearance of spots.

AHA  (lactic, mantellic acid…)

They are exfoliating acids that, in turn, contribute to the renewal of the skin, and that, in average percentages, do not irritate.

Almond or rosehip oil

These vegetable oils perfect for moisturizing and regenerating the skin, giving it elasticity, which why they widely used to prevent stretch marks.

Physical sun protection

As for susceptible skin or children, in pregnant women, it usually recommended using physical sunscreens since they provide a protective screen against solar radiation and because physical sunscreens tend to cause less irritation and allergies and do not easily penetrate the skin. The skin. In our sun protection section, you can find various physical sunscreens with a light texture and no trace of white.