Pregnancy can be a magical experience and pregnancy glow is a real thing. But with a raging surge of hormones, not everyone (read: mostly no-one) enjoys perfect skin for the nine-month duration. Pregnancy can cause skin issues like hormonal acne and hyperpigmentation, although it is nothing to worry about, and is a temporary thing.
The main thing to remember is that your skin is your biggest organ, so being careful with skincare – both face AND body - around pregnancy is always a good idea. While it’s difficult to say how much of a topical solution is absorbed into the bloodstream, as a general rule, it’s best to “Avoid A and B, and say Yes to C”:
Vitamin A, which include retinol, retinoids and retin-A should be avoided. Same for Botox and other injectables. Hydroquinone, a common skin lightening and brightening cream, should also be avoided.
So what can you use? You can say a resounding YES to antioxidant vitamins (C and E) and hyaluronic acid, while SPF is always a good idea, pregnant or not!
Treat your body to Vitamin C and E, which are packed with antioxidants
Vitamin C boost collagen and elastin production – helping keep skin bouncy and youthful, it also inhibits the overproduction of pigmentation.
Try the Q+A Vitamin C Body Cream (€12.00) Expertly formulated with ingredients that promote moisturisation by mirroring the makeup of your skin, the Vitamin C Body Cream delivers instant nourishment and feeds the skin barrier. Enriched with Shea Butter and Ginger Root, this cream is designed to help hydrate, protect, and rejuvenate dry and dull skin.
Vitamin C: A potent antioxidant which can help to brighten skin, even out skin tone, and boost collagen production to keep your body looking radiant.
Shea Butter: Provides your skin with deep nourishment, moisturising even the driest skin. The high concentration of natural fatty acids makes it an effective skin softener.
Ginger Root Extract: The perfect ingredient for lacklustre skin, Ginger Root renews and smooths your skin. It’s known for its protective capabilities that help to even skin tone
Link to purchase here.
Use the right SPF daily
Shielding your skin from UV damage will help ensure melasma doesn't get any worse, however, you should avoid chemical sunscreens and use a physical (mineral) sunscreen instead.
Chemical sunscreens absorb into the skin in order to soak up UV rays and releases them from the body. The active ingredient, oxybenzone, should be avoided in pregnancy. Physical sunscreens sit on top of the skin and reflects the sun's rays, so there's no concern around chemicals being absorbed. These usually have titanium dioxide or zinc oxide in the ingredients.
NeoStrata DEFEND Sheer Physical Protection (€39.95) is a tinted, mattifying mineral sunscreen with SPF 50. Formulated with antioxidants and PHAs to protect and strengthen skin’s moisture barrier against environmental aggressors. Link to purchase here.
Treat your skin to some extra TLC
Pregnancy is the perfect time to treat your skin with extra TLC, so stick to gentle ingredients that add moisture and hydration back to your skin. If you do have a case of hormonal acne or congestion, a gentle PHA (polyhydroxy acid) is pregnancy-friendly and is gentler than glycolic acid. PHAs have a larger molecular size, so they penetrate into the skin at a slower rate. This means no skin irritation, while still being super effective at exfoliating and renewing skin.
Used daily, the lightweight formula of NeoStrata PHA Daily Moisturiser (€49.95) improves skin texture and radiance by gently exfoliating dull and tired skin cells. Link to purchase here.
Remember during your pregnancy, less is definitely more, so it’s wise to stick to gentle ingredients and add nourishment back to your skin.
