When you’re pregnant, you’ve suddenly got another human’s health to think about when deciding what to put in and on your body. Since your skin is your body’s largest organ, finding pregnancy-safe skincare ingredients is a pretty important health issue for expectant moms.
Some chemicals—which, let’s face it, skincare is full of—can be absorbed through our skin and into our bloodstream (and thus into the baby’s blood), especially if there are certain other chemicals present. For example, ethanol is a common skincare ingredient that can increase the body’s absorption rate because of the way it breaks down the skin’s natural barriers. Fortunately, there are plenty of pregnancy-safe skincare ingredients women can make while pregnant. Read on for more on the best pregnancy skincare products, what’s unsafe, and where the FDA comes into play.
Don’t panic… yet!
If you’re not one to read the entire list of ingredients on your skincare products, and now that you’re pregnant you’re realizing some of those chemicals may have made it into your bloodstream, don’t worry yourself into a frenzy. It’s just time for a quick reality check.
Some things will naturally absorb into our bloodstream, yes, but usually other chemicals (like ethanol) have to be present for that to happen. Ethanol, when combined with your favorite skincare products, can break down the chemical compounds found in your skincare and make them small enough to make it into your bloodstream.
Fortunately, most skincare products are made to penetrate the deeper layer of your skin but aren’t easily broken down into small enough chemical compounds to make it all the way to your bloodstream and actually impact your growing baby.
Ingredients to avoid during pregnancy
If you have a holy-grail skincare product that you can’t live without, do some research on its active ingredients to see if it has any ingredients that increase absorption or are otherwise contraindicated with pregnancy. Such ingredients include:
- Retinol/vitamin A: These ingredients can lead to dangerous birth defects and are found in many over-the-counter products.
- Benzoyl peroxide: BP can be a powerful acne fighter, but it’s a bit too powerful for baby. When used even in small amounts, benzoyl peroxide can pose risks to a developing fetus.
- Salicylic acid: When ingested during pregnancy, salicylic acid may increase the risk of intracranial bleeding of the fetus.
- Tetracycline: This common antibiotic can have negative effects on both mom and baby.
- Hydraquinone: Studies show that as much as 45 percent of this skin-lightening ingredient is absorbed into the skin after topical application. Though no studies have been conducted on its risk to pregnant moms and babies, err on the side of caution and avoid this product while pregnant.
- Formaldehyde: Commonly found in nail polishes and some chemical hair straighteners, this chemical has been linked to cancer and nervous system problems. Look for nail polishes labeled as 3-free or 5-free instead.
- Dihydroxyacetone: This ingredient found in self-tanners can be inhaled during tanning and is unhealthy for pregnant moms and babies.
- Parabens: These chemicals have been linked to breast cancer and other reproductive issues.
- Phlalates: Look for terms ending in -phlalate to avoid this ingredient that’s been linked to liver, kidney, lung, and reproductive issues.
- Botox: No studies have tested the effect of Botox on a developing fetus (for obvious reasons!), but no physician would recommend or perform Botox on a pregnant woman.
While you’re probably safe, it doesn’t hurt to be cautious and make educated decisions when choosing the best pregnancy skincare products for the sake of your and your baby’s health.
Safe skincare swaps for pregnant women
If you are looking for some safe swaps for your skincare when pregnant, these are a few of our absolute favorite pregnancy-safe skincare ingredients that will work well for your skin and be safe for baby:
- Try hyaluronic acid instead of alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAS): AHAs and BHAs are likely found in your anti-aging or anti-acne skincare products. They act as an exfoliant that removes the top layer of dead skin cells. Common AHAs and BHAs are salicylic acid, willow extract, beta-hydroxybutyric acid, or citric acid. Try swapping these potentially harsh ingredients out for hyaluronic acid, a chemical that’s naturally found in your body. Hyaluronic acid replenishes moisture in your skin by helping skin hold on to water. When we’re younger, skin holds on to water naturally, but as we age, our skin loses its ability to do that. Hyaluronic acid comes in to save the day by retaining moisture and helping our skin look supple and firm. If you’re looking for a safe anti-aging treatment, find a serum with hyaluronic acid.
- Moisturizers: If you’re looking for a pregnancy-safe moisturizer with anti-aging properties, try SkinCeuticals’ Triple Lipid cream. Cerave is a brand developed by dermatologists to help strengthen and repair the skin’s natural barrier, and it has a plethora of moisturizers that are deemed to be safe skincare when pregnant, from facial moisturizers to full-body lotions that are good for different kinds of skin types.
- Gentle cleansers: One of our favorite gentle skin cleansers with pregnancy-safe skincare ingredients is Tatcha Cleansing Oil. It cleanses your skin of makeup and dirt gently, without stripping your skin of its natural moisture. Renew Nourishing Cleanser is perfect for dry or aging skin because, like it says in its name, it nourishes while it cleanses. If you’re looking for a gentle cleanser for sensitive skin, you can’t go wrong with Tammy Fender Cleansing Milk. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly gentle skin cleanser that is also a best seller and fan favorite, try Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.
- Vitamin C products: If you’re looking for a product to keep environmental stressors out of your skin, you need a vitamin C product. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum is a holy-grail product that will firm and brighten your skin, leaving your skin glowing.
- Mineral SPF products: We all know by now that sunscreen is one of the most important skincare products in your routine, so finding a safe pregnancy sunscreen is of the utmost importance. Elta MD has an SPF product for every season of the year. If you’re looking for a gentle mineral sunscreen that’s both hypoallergenic and water-resistant, try Neutrogena Zinc Sunscreen. It’s even suitable for people with sensitive skin conditions like eczema. And if all else fails, baby sunscreen is a safe pregnancy sunscreen for both baby and mom!
Your skin goes through a lot of changes when you’re pregnant, whether it’s a change in hormones, new stretch marks, itchy skin, or rashes. Safe and healthy skincare is probably going to be a top priority during your pregnancy, and we’re here to help you navigate through all the serums, moisturizers, and safe pregnancy sunscreens on the market!
Where’s the FDA in all this?
The reality is that the FDA doesn’t approve specific ingredients or formulations—which means things can hit shelves before being reviewed by the agency—but it does regulate the cosmetics industry. Under the law, manufacturers are not required to register their businesses, which means consumers need to be sure they trust whom they’re buying from. Unfortunately, there are a lot of instances of counterfeit goods on the web, so paying attention to the approved distributor matters during this season.
The FDA does give a bit more guidance where skincare blurs into drug categories, that is, when the active ingredients in cosmetics are actually drugs, like retinols and vitamin A. The conventional wisdom for pregnant women is to avoid those ingredients that are made to disrupt the barrier on your skin, like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or retinoids/vitamin A. As discussed, those products will make it easier for your skin to absorb some of the chemical compounds in your skincare into your bloodstream.
At a high level, the FDA restricts the worst offenders for everyone, especially ingredients that are easily absorbed into your bloodstream. But what that restriction looks like in practice varies. That’s why it’s important to arm yourself with knowledge, because in many cases, active ingredients need to be disclosed—but not omitted or contextualized.
Like this piece? Subscribe to our newsletter for real stories about women on their journey to motherhood.