You Deserve to Feel Hot While You’re Creating Life
The Best Pregnancy-safe skincare
& makeup
When you find yourself “with child” and realize—I mean really realize—that there is another human being growing inside of you, cell by cell, you are likely to feel compelled to do everything possible to help that person-to-be have the best chance possible of being healthy, happy and strong. The urge to ensure that your children have everything they need to thrive starts early and lasts forever.
Photo courtesy Andrej Nihil of Unsplash
When I was pregnant with, and later nursing my son, I was always alarmed when I would discover a new ingredient in makeup or skincare products that was to be avoided (while pregnant or nursing). I would often come across it accidentally while browsing the web or reading a magazine and think: Shouldn’t someone be informing me about this? Wasn’t there some master list my OB could provide?
While I received handouts on issues like mercury in fish and the possibility of listeria in unpasteurized cheeses, there was little formal information shared about harmful ingredients in makeup and skincare products. Possibly this was due to less research on these items or less severity in terms of consequences—I’m not sure. Either way, pampering ourselves can combat feeling unattractive while pregnant and increase our sense of calm and confidence.
Not knowing what is safe and what isn’t when it comes to beauty products can make one want to stop using them altogether. And, while that may be a good option in some cases, it shouldn’t be the only go-to for mommas-to-be and nursing mothers. We deserve to feel our best, and it’s great for our self-confidence to look and feel great while pregnant.
With that in mind, want to learn how to still look hot while pregnant? Read on for my hard-won picks for the best pregnancy-safe makeup and skincare.
Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Pregnancy
The Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Pregnancy was my favorite when it came to skincare that is safe in pregnancy. The reason it’s at the top of my pregnancy-safe beauty list is because it says it is safe right on the label. Of course we should still check the ingredients list and do our own research, but a name like Pregnancy Peel reduces the stress of having to check the safety of the often ten-syllable ingredients.
This peel is also gentle on sensitive skin, at least in my experience. Though a peel is not something you would or should use daily, it’s a nice pampering option that sloughs off dead skin cells and can leave your skin glowing.
Before I use this Juice Beauty peel, I place a hot washcloth on my face to open my pores. After leaving the peel on for the recommended 10 minutes, I finish up with my favorite serum or facial spray.
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Booster Serum
I’ve been a fan of Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Serum long before becoming pregnant. It’s light, non-oily, and absorbent enough that it doesn’t cause breakouts (at least in my experience). Yet it’s also moisturizing enough to work some magic on those fine lines.
While this product is a little pricey at $80, you can often find it a bit cheaper by digging around on the web or waiting for a sale, such as the Ulta Days of Beauty Sale.
When it comes to pregnancy-safe makeup brands, Juice Beauty takes it one step further. They have an awesome page listing all of their skincare and makeup items that are safe to use during pregnancy. You can check that out here.
Mineral Fusion Liquid Foundation and Powder
While there are many foundations that are technically safe to use during pregnancy, I wanted one that was more than just not harmful — I wanted one that was clean. I wrote a more detailed review of Mineral Fusion Liquid Foundation and why I chose it if you want to know more.
I will drop something else here as well—just because one can’t find a study or article stating that a product isn’t healthy, doesn’t mean that it is actually healthy. Many studies that prove harm don’t come out until years after the fact, often once consumers have already experienced issues and the damage is done.
One such example that comes to mind is the lawsuit over Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder. They were sued by women who claimed it caused ovarian cancer.
Pacifica 7 Free Nail Polish, Gloss Top, and Base Coat
When it comes to prettying up your fingernails, the cleanest and cheapest option may simply be not to paint them. Yet giving yourself a manicure or a pedicure is a lovely way to prepare for a big event (like a baby shower!) or simply to provide a little pampering—and look great while pregnant.
So when you do opt for a little lacquer while pregnant, check out the Pacifica brand. While not every color is the cleanest, they do have some healthy options. The Pacifica 7 Free Nail Polish, Gloss Top, and Base Coat earned a 3 on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database.
Since I last purchased the products several years ago, they have a Plant Magic product line with “up to 80% of ingredients that are bio-sourced, originating from renewable vegetable biomass.”
Thanks for taking the time to learn what I enjoyed using as a pregnant and nursing woman—and how to still look great while pregnant. I hope you’ll find some inspiration on what products to use, whether you purchase these items or use them as a jumping-off point in the hunt for your own holy grail picks. Please do your own research and check with your doctor about the safety of any products you choose to use while pregnant or nursing.
