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All soon-to-be moms hope they get that pregnancy glow that all the movies talk about, with the radiant, clear skin that comes with it, right? While you might, there’s also the chance a very good chance that your hormones are going to go into overdrive -- with unfortunate results. Women deal with all kinds of skin issues during pregnancy and immediately after birth, like pigment discoloration, adult acne and more sensitive skin than they’re used to, and trying to keep it all under control can prove difficult. Knowing which products to use (and which ones not to) is the first step.
There are some ingredients that experts advise avoiding during those 40 weeks. Retinol (which is annoyingly found in most acne-fighting products) and vitamin A are definite no-gos, and be a little wary of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Dermatologists suggest staying away from hydroquinone as well, even though its purpose is to fight darkening skin. Ditch most of your products that are filled with alcohol or sprinkled with fragrance, just because the less irritants you introduce to your face, the better. And if you’re using essential oils, be cautious of which ones -- some have been linked to encouraging menstruation and are overstimulating.
Good news, though! While it’s recommended to cut back on large amounts of caffeine during a pregnancy, coffee scrubs and the like are fair game and totally safe on your skin. Even if you can’t drink your three cups of joe every day, you can at least use it to wake yourself up in the morning.
Though you don’t have to go too nuts reading every ingredient on every product you grab -- basically all over-the-counter products are safe for baby, according to SELF -- why not use your pregnancy as an excuse to hit up Ulta or Sephora for some retail therapy, right? Of course, remember that sun safety is extra important while you’re carrying a baby, be on the lookout for safe ingredients that boost collagen and make hyaluronic acid your best friend, because your baby is stealing all your hydration.
Here are the top pregnancy skin products you can grab today.