There are a lot of ingredients that pregnant women are warned to steer clear of. Two that are mainly found in skincare and cosmetic products are:
Retinoids
Retinoids can be found in anti-ageing moisturisers and are most commonly used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin tone. They contain vitamin A which speeds up cell division and prevents collagen in the skin from breaking down. However, many experts believe that high doses of retinoids may be harmful to an unborn child.
Salicylic acid
This mild acid is used to treat skin disorders, including acne, and can be found in a number of skincare products, such as cleansers and toners. Salicylic acid is part of the aspirin family, which has been known to cause a number of pregnancy complications when ingested in the oral form. Therefore, it would be best to avoid topical applications as it is unknown whether they may result in difficulties for the mum to be.