It cannot be denied that pregnancy causes several changes in your body. Not only body size, hair, hormones, skin but there is also a change of thought. Pregnant women tend to think carefully before doing anything because they need to consider the baby. They try their best to eat healthier food, create a more comfortable and cleaner area, do safe exercise to maintain their health, and many more. This also happens in their skincare routine.
Organic and Natural vs Chemical Skincare during Pregnancy
People, especially pregnant women, agree that natural ingredients in skincare are always better than any chemical ingredients. The baby will absorb anything you use and consume. The baby even gets first; nutrition from the food you consume or water you drink. Hence, most pregnant women tend to choose organic and natural skincare to avoid dangerous substances contained in the chemical skincare products.
On the other way around, some people believe that it is never wrong to use chemical skincare products during pregnancy. These people think that using organic and natural ingredients is somehow time-consuming. Take missing ingredients for a face mask for example. Not only costly, but they also consider the hygiene and lack of data for certain ingredients. So, which one do you choose?
Skincare Ingredients to Avoid
Do not expect to use the same skincare regimen as normal people if you are pregnant. There are several ingredients you strongly need to avoid. Using certain ingredients may affect you and your baby inside as well. What are they?
– Retinol
Although retinol is good at boosting cell turnover, it is highly not recommended for pregnant women. Not only making your skin more vulnerable to sunlight, but retinol may also cause a baby defect.
– Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone has skin-lightening formulas that make your skin look luminous but sadly it has the same effect as retinol.
– Parabens
Parabens are commonly used as preservatives in skincare and cosmetics. Absorbing these ingredients during pregnancy may lead to a baby’s weight and the worst can be a baby defect.
– High dose salicylic acid
For pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, using a high dose of salicylic acid can somehow be dangerous, especially during late pregnancy. Taking oral salicylic acid even can cause intracranial bleeding.
Skincare Routine
After knowing the ingredients to avoid, you can start choosing which skin care products you can use or eliminate. It is better of you to not skip your skincare routine but you need to wisely check your products’ ingredients and try to use only the gentle ones. Clean your face with a gentle facial cleanser. Then, due to heightened sensitivity, never forget to use sunscreen to prevent your skin from sun exposure. Apply moisturizers to maintain your skin health. If you are dealing with acne, you can use glycolic acid or lactic acid but please consider the level of concentration. Low concentration is always better for pregnant women. Melasma may occur in late pregnancy. To handle this, citric acid can help.
The most important thing is to supply yourself with nutritious food which contains vitamins and minerals. Drink enough water and stay hydrated for the sake of your body and skin health.
