Together with the changes that occur in your body while you’re pregnant, the needs of your skin change as well. It requires special care so that you can head off some unwanted blemishes such as stretch marks for example. At the same time, you need to care for it very gently not to harm yourself or the baby.
The right choice of products becomes very important when you find out you’re pregnant. Not just because the needs of your skin change as a result of hormonal changes. You are also aware that many cosmetic ingredients may do harm to your child. That is why you should check through your beauty bag and decide what stays and what goes. It’s time to replace your cosmetics with mom-to-be-friendly products.
Cosmetics for moms-to-be: ingredients
Some cosmetic ingredients might have a bad impact on the baby’s weight or the due date. Seemingly simple things like the choice of cosmetics largely affect the pregnancy. Some cosmetics may entail unwanted consequences, even premature labor! Therefore, the first thing you must look at while shopping is the INCI.
Here’s a list of cosmetic ingredients that are absolutely forbidden during pregnancy:
- Retinyl palmitate, retinol (vitamin A).
- Phthalates, parabens.
- Dibutyl phthalate.
- Triclosan (antibacterial agent typical of household chemicals).
- Oxybenzone (ingredient in sunblock).
- Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA).
- Diazolidinyl urea.
- BHT, BHA (synthetic antioxidants).
- Phenylmercuric salts, acetate, nitrate.
- Hydroquinone or glutathione.
- Fragrance/parfum.
Let’s choose products that have suitable ingredients and are free from the above substances. Simple composition and minimalist formula are better for the health. A short list of ingredients means a lower risk of being harmed because of some combination of substances. It’s also easier for you to decide if a product works for pregnant women or not. It should be free from preservatives, artificial colorants, mineral oil, aromas, etc.
Natural cosmetics – ideal for moms-to-be
We already know what products to avoid. By checking the composition you can learn if a given cosmetic is good for moms-to-be. Hands down, natural cosmetics – abounding in plant ingredients, vitamins, minerals – that have hypoallergenic formulas make the best choice. Still, natural doesn’t always mean good. Plenty of plant-derived substances e.g. oils may trigger allergic reaction in pregnant women and you can never be sure about your body’s reaction to a given product. That is why moms-to-be should do a patch test before using a new cosmetic, even if it’s all-natural.
Moms-to-be must-haves
Beauty products that every pregnant woman should have:
- anti-stretch mark cream
- chest skin cream
- cooling foot gel
- sweet almond oil (it’s all-purpose)
- makeup for camouflaging imperfections
Beauty products to be avoided during pregnancy
You should give up on some cosmetics while pregnant. They don’t belong to the group of essentials and may cause unpleasant consequences. The simplicity is advised as far as composition of cosmetics goes and so is the minimalism of your beauty kit – the quality counts, not quantity. Sometimes less means more.
What products should be avoided by moms-to-be?
- Nail polish – its harmful effect on a fetus has not been proven, however, a high concentration of formaldehyde should make you give up on them. Caution is always welcome. While pregnant, you can replace a nail polish with a nourishing oil, bringing out the natural beauty of your hands.
- Anti-acne products – acne during pregnancy is caused by increased level of estrogens and it usually fades after you give birth. That is why you don’t need to use anti-acne treatments. They may easily irritate the skin and trigger allergic reaction.
- Slimming lotions – all products containing caffeine, chestnut extract, cayenne pepper and other substances that warm up and stimulate blood flow shouldn’t be used when you’re pregnant. Such cosmetics may increase the risk of varices.
- Self-tanners – even though they color only the outer skin layer, they often include harmful substances that may penetrate the deeper layers of skin, causing irritations and harming the baby. You should give up on them during pregnancy.
- Soy oil and soy extract – even though both ingredients are natural, they shouldn’t be used by moms-to-be because they have oestrogenic effect. You should check your creams and makeup removers for them because they may discolor the skin.
- Some scrubs – if you search for cosmetics made for pregnant women, you rarely see scrubs. The skin of moms-to-be is very delicate and sensitive so you can easily irritate it, especially if you use physical scrubs or salicylic acid peels.
