Pregnancy Safe Skin Care

Pregnancy Safe Skincare

by Emily Linehan on March 30, 2020
Updated October 16, 2023

Pregnancy brings a variety of changes to our bodies, including sudden and dramatic changes in our hormones. While every woman experiences different side effects from pregnancy, many of my clients see sudden changes in their skin that require modified skin routines. It’s important to take care of your skin and even more critical that you pay attention to the ingredients in your skincare products! Eating the right diet and taking the applicable supplements for the overall health of your baby is essential, although you also need to be mindful of the products you are applying to your skin. Certain ingredients are contraindicated during pregnancy and while breastfeeding (always check with your doctor about what ingredients you need to avoid while pregnant or breastfeeding).

Products & Ingredients to Avoid

The most common skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy include:

Retinols (prescription and over the counter)
Salicylic acid
Hydroquinone
Resorcinol

Emme Diane Products to Avoid

Pro-Retinol Serum (contains retinol)
Enlightened Serum (contains hydroquinone)
The Pink Potion (contains salicylic acid)
Purifying Serum (contains salicylic acid)
Sulfur Clearing Lotion (contains resorcinol)

In a nutshell, paying close attention to your product labels, and when in doubt, always ask your doctor! If you have questions about a particular product or ingredient please feel free to reach out directly to Emme as well.

BONUS TIP: Biotin, a common ingredient in most multivitamins and prenatal vitamins, is a known acne trigger. Be aware that high levels of biotin in your prenatal supplements may be causing breakouts if you’re acne-prone. Acne is caused by a malfunction of the pore causing it to hyper-shed dead skin cells that can create a clog in the pore. Biotin actually increases how quickly we shed dead skin cells...so this turns the malfunctioning pore into an uber malfunctioning pore --- causing increased and severe breakouts. If your prenatal vitamin contains biotin and you’re acne prone, ask your doctor if there is a biotin-free prenatal you can take.

xoxo, Emme

**Disclaimer, always follow your doctor’s recommendations. Your health, and the health of your baby, is most important.