Photo by Juan Encalada on Unsplash
Being pregnant can be one of the most wonderful (or most taxing, depending on your level of morning sickness!) times of your life. However, it can also be one of the most confusing, thanks to the sheer volume of information out there telling you all of the things that you shouldn’t be doing while you’re expecting a baby. This can make you feel a little like a human incubator, but never fear, you don’t have to let your pregnancy get in the way of a decent beauty routine, if you follow these five simple do’s and don’t’s!
Do Be Cautious With Essential Oils
Essential oils can be hugely potent and some are even strong enough to have truly catastrophic effects on your pregnancy. With this in mind, try to make sure you keep an eye on the ingredients of all of the beauty products you use and try to avoid any essential oils which might be harmful. For the most part, beauty products will have only a small amount of oil in them, but there’s always a chance that the concentration could be quite high.
Don’t Use Retinol
While the skin benefits of retinol are vast, during pregnancy, you ought to stay away. The risks to your unborn baby can be potentially serious and life-long and while there has not been evidence to suggest that topical vitamin A derivatives like retinol cause birth defects, it’s wise to err on the side of caution. The good news is, bakuchiol is a natural retinol alternative and is perfectly safe to use during pregnancy!
Do Use Sunscreen
Melasma is a super-common condition which can be caused by the hormones released during pregnancy and it’s estimated that 15% to 50% of pregnant women get it. One of the best ways to avoid melasma is by wearing a high SPF sunscreen, such as SkinCeuticals Ultra Facial Defense SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen. Since UV rays are a well-known trigger for melasma and can make hyperpigmentation darker, wearing sunscreen can help prevent melasma from flaring up and hyperpigmentation from getting worse
Don’t Forget Your Tummy!
The skin on your tummy isn’t just going to be protecting your unborn child from the outside world, it’s also going to be doing a LOT of stretching to accommodate the growth of your little one. That means that you’re going to want to ensure that the skin is as soft, supple and hydrated as possible, so as to avoid stretch marks. Evolve Organic Beauty Super Berry Body Oil is a moisturising body oil formulated to revive dry/mature skin and improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks.
Do Remember to Take Care of Yourself
Being pregnant may be wonderful but it puts a HUGE amount of strain on your body when growing a whole new person inside yourself. Taking time for self-care is so important when you’re carrying a baby, especially if you’re still working, juggling a family and a social life and dealing with all of the other things that life throws at us. Bloom and Blossom You’ve Got This Mama The Pregnancy Gift Set is a trio of performance body care products to keep your skin toned, hydrated and conditioned through this beautiful rollercoaster. The products can be used to take care of your pregnant body and leave you feeling comforted and cared for.