Our Sustainable Guide To Pregnancy Safe Skincare

Ingredients To Avoid

During this time, it’s especially important to prioritse natural and organic ingredients wherever possible! By doing so, you can make sure that you’re using products that are free from harmful chemicals…

A Few Ingredients To Check Your Skincare For:

• Aluminum (Found in antiperspirants) 
• Formaldehyde (Used as a preservative in synthetic skincare) 
• Chemical Sunscreens (Opt for mineral-based or natural sunscreens) 
• Retinoids (Found in anti aging and acne treatments) 
• Parabens (Used as preservatives in synthetic skincare) 
• Phthalates (Used in as fragrance ingredients in synthetic skincare products) 
• Glycolic Acid (AHA found in exfoliating treatments)
• Salicylic Acid (BHA found in acne or exfoliating treatments, its best to avoid using in high concentrations) 

Consciously choosing clean skincare during pregnancy supports the wellbeing of both you and your baby – a lot of people actually discover green beauty products during pregnancy and never go back!

Changes In Your Skin During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, hormonal fluctuations can lead to significant changes in the skin’s appearance and texture. While some women may well get the radiant pregnancy glow, others may develop sensitive or reactive skin, and be exposed to more other skin issues such as acne-breakouts or hyperpigmentations. Developing blemish or acne-prone skin is incredibly common mainly due to elevated levels of androgens which can stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, leading to clogged pores and breakouts. Hyperpigmentation can also be caused as a result of changes in your hormones, triggered by an overproduction of the skin’s melanin. 

Our bodies are amazing vessels, in their ability to nurture and grow new life, but they also undergo some physical changes to accommodate the growth and development of a baby. Due to hormonal shifts which affect the skin’s elasticity and collagen production, almost all Mums experience stretch marks throughout their pregnancy. We must stress that we’re all for embracing stretch marks, they’re absolutely normal and serve as beautiful reminders of the human body’s resilience, adaptability and the journey of motherhood.

A Gentle Routine And Lots Of Hydration

Our two biggest tips for your skincare during your pregnancy is to focus on lots of hydration and using products that are gentle on your skin. Fluctuations in your hormone levels (particularly increased levels of estrogen and progesterone), can affect your skin’s natural moisture barrier. It’s also common for your skin to become a lot more sensitive. Products that you’ve used prior to your pregnancy may be too harsh or reactive for your skin to tolerate while you’re pregnant. We’d therefore recommend using gentle, more hydrating products with the best natural ingredients that won’t cause irritation to your skin.

Our Favourite Brands For You During Your Pregnancy

Bathtime Skincare: Wilder and Well Kept 

Taking baths during your pregnancy can be a wonderful way to relax and reduce stress levels. It can provide relief from any aches, pains and swelling, as well as being a great way for your body to absorb moisture, helping to hydrate the body.

Wilder’s Healing Spirit Soak is a healing and transformational blend of heavenly scented Vetiver and Rose Geranium holds and uplifts the spirit. The Pink Himalayan Salts and fine French Kaolin clay nurture and cleanse and Wilder’s unique 42 day double infused Calendula oil soothes the skin and releases any stagnant energy from the solar plexus area, our powerhouse chakra connected to the adrenals. A truly healing experience.

Another favourite for bath time during pregnancy is using one or two drops of Well Kept’s Natural Bath Oil in Drift as an easy way to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy. It’s made with a coconut oil base to help hydrate your skin and a soothing blend of bergamot, rose and clary sage essential oils.

Skincare For Your Body

Wilder Botanics

While you may not always find the time for post-bath moisturizing, it’s a perfect indulgence for those moments when you have a little extra time in the evening. We love Wilder’s body oils including their Flower of the Sun Body Oil for some woody & floral nourishment but we especially love their Goddess of Protection Body Oil, because who wouldn’t want to feel like they are being swept up and protected by a loving Goddess of skincare. This is oil is infused with Sea Buckthorn and the protective powers of Wilder’s unique 42 day double infused Sencha Green Tea oil. This soothing blend breathes new vitality into the skin, especially if damaged by environmental factors such as central heating or the sun, restoring the body and mind with the earthy and uplifting notes of Bergamot and Vetiver.

The Golden Secrets

Another product perfect for any prenatal or postnatal Mammas is the Womb Wisdom Skin-Toning Oil by regenerative skincare brand The Golden Secrets. It’s ethically crafted with incredibly effective, organic ingredients such as cocoa seed butter, olive oil, tamanu, frankincense, sweet orange oil and vitamin E, which safeguard from damage and quickly melt deep into the skins layers. This creates a protective barrier that seals in moisture to relieve itchy, stretchy skin while preventing and reducing stretch marks. It encourages natural elasticity and boosts skin regeneration for a smooth, clear and ageless glow.

Use the code ‘REV15’ for 15% off your first purchase with The Golden Secrets!

Be Here Farm + Nature

Our Head of Brand Partnerships, Taylor, used and loved Be Here Farm + Nature throughout her pregnancy journey! Their collection is made entirely out of whole medicinal foods and botanical plants, each planted, nurtured, grown and harvested by hand in the wild or on their three hundred acres of family owned land atop Spring Mountain in Saint Helena, California. There are no lab-derived ingredients or preservants other than biodynamic olive oil, raw honey and sea salt. 

Their Lavender Hydrating Essence is made entirely from natural ingredients and is great for giving your skin that extra boost of hydration often needed during pregnancy. Lavender has natural calming and soothing properties making it a great option for sensitive skin while its antimicrobial properties work to combat acne-causing bacteria on the skin, managing and preventing blemishes due to changes in hormones. Its calming and relaxing scent can help to reduce stress, anxiety and promote better sleep. It can be applied liberally to your body and face! Another product we love by Be Here Farm + Nature is the Restorative Body Serum, made from wild St. John’s wort, German chamomile and stinging nettle, infused into olive and avocado oil to nourish your whole body.

Facial Skincare

Irene Forte

Irene Forte have a beautiful range of gentle skincare products made using natural ingredients which are grown on an organic farm at Verdura Resort in Sicily. Each product is clinically approved for sensitive or dehydrated skin. One of our favourite products is their Aloe Face Cream, proven to increase the skin’s hydration levels through a combination of pro-vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid and aloe leaf juice. The organic olive oil, shea butter and avocado oil work to replenish the skin’s natural barrier while preserving and protecting its moisture levels. 

Also featured is their Rose Face Oil, a lightweight and fast absorbing serum-oil designed to nourish the skin, replenishing the skin’s barrier while boosting natural levels of protective vitamin E within the skin. Its powerful blend of nutrient-rich oils including avocado, sweet almond, sunflower, olive and jojoba hydrate and smooths while the rich wild rose conditions and protects the skin.

Team Dr Joseph

Team Dr Joseph’s curated range of skincare products for specific concerns are handmade in Italy, by a team of skin experts, herbalists and cosmetic formulators. They’re developed using natural raw materials such as wild growth collections, plants from organic farming and biotechnically refined botanicals with clinically proven efficacy. They offer several products which are ideal for sensitive and reactive skin, which is common to develop during pregnancy.

Team Dr Joseph’s plant based and organic Skin Calming Cream is ideal for reactive, stressed, sensitive or dry skin. Made using rhodiola, St John’s wort, panethnol and shea butter, it works to reduce redness, irritation while strengthening and rehydrating the skin’s natural barrier. Throughout your pregnancy, changes in hormone levels and physical discomforts make it challenging to get a restful night’s sleep. One of the areas that may be particularly affected by lack of sleep is the delicate skin around the eyes, leading to dark circles, fine lines and puffiness. The Hydrating Eye Cream is ideal for adding an extra boost of moisture to the under eye area, helping to hydrate this area of sensitive skin, reducing puffiness and improving the appearance of dark circles.

FāTH Skincare 

FāTH Skincare launched in 2021 and is made with the world’s finest botanical ingredients, free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic fragrance and synthetic preservatives (the ingredients you want to avoid during pregnancy). Their range is professionally formulated by a small team of chemists specialised in herbalism, emulsification and skincare delivery systems. 

The Infinity Cream is an overnight treatment that aids the skin’s natural regeneration processes for smoother, firmer and brighter skin. The use of camellia seed oil makes it super moisturising with high levels of plant collagen that improve the appearance of fine lines and ward off hyperpigmentation. The borage seed oil helps to rebuild the skin’s natural barrier while sea buckthorn oil promotes elasticity and brightness! Also featured is The Mage Oil, a deeply nourishing and restorative oil made with botanical ingredients such as pomegranate seed oil, cypress leaf oil, prickly pear oil and arnica extract. The combination of these natural ingredients work to retain moisture, improve discoloration while helping the skin’s natural rejuvenation process!

Skincare for you and your little one

Mini Bloom has a carefully curated line of mother and baby friendly skincare products. From seed to skin, Mini Bloom offers only the most effective, safest ingredients for your baby and the Earth. Their products are free of parabens, sulfates, silicones, toxins, synthetic fragrances or harsh ingredients, and use plant-based, natural and organic ingredients with your baby and the planet in mind. These are 100% non-toxic, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-developed, tested and approved as well as being certified cruelty-free.

Featured here is the Mom’s SOS Essentials Kit. This includes the Toot Toot Balm, a relief cream which instantly calms irritated skin and provides a thick barrier of protection against diaper rash. This magical cream deeply yet gently nourishes any irritations with butters, oils and botanicals, providing soothing relief to sore skin. The Hallelujah Nipple Balm, also included within the kit, is specifically developed to soothe dry, cracked and sensitive nipples. Infused with hydrating oils, nourishing butters and botanical extracts, its skin nurturing and ultra calming! It’s also worth noting our USDA-certified nipple balm doesn’t need to be removed before breastfeeding, and also works wonders to treat chapped lips and dry cuticles! 

Mini Bloom’s sulfate free 2-in-1 Fresh N’ Clean Hair and Body Wash is also filled with nourishing botanicals including aloe leaf, chamomile extract and lavender leaving the hair and skin cuddly soft, smooth and hydrated.

Choosing gentle and safe skincare products during pregnancy prioritises the well-being of both you and your baby.

Skincare is also a great self-care ritual and can offer you a new sense of confidence during this transformative journey!

We hope that this editorial has been helpful for any expecting Mammas!