Skincare I Used During Pregnancy

Let’s talk about the skincare I used during my pregnancy. As someone who loves all things beauty and works in beauty, I know a lot of expecting mothers start thinking about the skincare products they’re using. What ingredients are in the products I am using? Is it safe for my baby? Luckily, many skincare brands are sharing more education and being more transparent about their brand and formulations, so we consumers have more information than ever! I recommend looking for clean skincare brands if you’re looking for products without certain ingredients that may be harmful.

Is my skincare routine 100% clean? Nope. I would say my skincare routine is about 70% clean. It’s a combo of clean + K-beauty products. I absolutely love Korean skincare products and think their formulations are top-notch and effective. Korean skincare research, innovation and trends are way ahead of the game compared to the US, I think. Your skincare routine is so personal so use whatever you’re comfortable with.

I truly believe clean skincare is effective just as other skincare brands that may not market themselves as clean. I love clean skincare because at the core of these brands (mostly), they give consumers options, more education and transparency so we know what we’re spending our money on and know what we’re putting on our skin. I think there is no harm in that, right?

Ok back to skincare! Once I found I was pregnant, one of my first questions to my doctor was, “When it comes to skincare products, is there anything I should avoid during pregnancy?” My doctor recommended 2 things: 1) don’t use retinol and 2) wear sunscreen. I wasn’t using any retinol before pregnancy and I was wearing sunscreen everyday so I really didn’t have to change anything in my skincare routine. Yay!

Here’s all the skincare products I used consistently, personally love and have repurchased. Most of these products are clean and if they are not, I noted that for you!

Yes I know I listed a bunch of different cleaners below. Cleansing is a really important step for me because it really sets the tone for the rest of my skincare routine. Why would I want to lather my face with all these amazing products if my skin is not cleansed properly to absorb all the amazing benefits of the products to come? This is why I double cleanse. I wash my face with an oil-based cleanser (cleansing oil/cleansing balm) then do a double cleanse with a water-based cleanser (foaming cleanser).

Cleansing oil/balm for Makeup Removal

• Biossance Squalane + Elderberry Jelly Cleanser: This cleanser has a really interesting texture, which is why I love it. It comes out of the bottle as a jelly texture. When you add water to wash it off, it turns into a milky texture. It doesn’t foam up like a water-based cleanser so if you’re looking for a foaming cleanser, you may not like this. I like using this as my first step to remove makeup. I use about a dime-size amount and massage it onto dry skin. I think thi cleanser works best on dry skin vs. wet skin. The second reason why I love this cleanser is because my skin feels very soft and hydrated after using. I sometimes use this to wash my face in the morning after cardio/working out.

• Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil: This is the only cleansing oil I’d be willing to pay $48 for. Luckily, one pump goes a long way so this lasts me forever. I love the texture because it feels so luxe, smells amazing and the cleansing experience is great. Have you ever washed your makeup off with a cleansing oil and the product slides down along the sides of your arms? I HATE that. I love Tatcha’s cleansing oil because it’s a thicker oil so I’ve never had that unpleasant experience with this one. I love using this to remove makeup.

Cleansing Oils

• Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil: I love using this in my morning routine. I like giving myself a quick 10-15 second massage using this oil to get the blood flowing in my face. I don’t need to follow up with a double cleanse in the morning. I like using a cleansing oil in the morning because I think it helps get me a deeper clean without stripping my skin. It’s gentle and does a good job getting rid of all the oils, dirt and sweat from overnight. Think of all the sweat, dirt and oil from sleeping on your pillowcase!

  This also works as a makeup removal, but I prefer to only use this in the morning. It’s full of antioxidants and is so nourishing. I don’t like using this to remove eye makeup because it stings my eyes.

Water-based cleanser

• Belif Aqua Bomb Jelly Cleanser: Belif is one of my favorite K-beauty brands and this cleanser is my favorite everyday cleanser to use in my double cleanse for the second step. If you tried their famous Aqua Bomb Moisturizer and love it, highly recommend trying out their cleanser. This foaming cleanser does a great job removing makeup and doesn’t leave my skin feeling stripped/tight after cleansing. This cleanser is also Clean At Sephora, although the brand doesn’t market itself as a clean brand.

• Innisfree Blueberry Rebalancing 5.5 Cleanser: My cousin recommended this cleanser when I was visiting her in Korea last year. I absolutely love this cleanser because as the name says, it is “rebalancing” and pH friendly. What does that mean? It’s a foaming cleanser that leaves skin soft, clean and nourished . So glad this cleanser is now available on Amazon! (This is not clean)

Exfoliator

• goop GOOPGLOW Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator: I love a chemical exfoliator and this one is my holy grail! It’s the only skincare product I would be willing to pay for because the results are amazing. The instructions say to use 2-3x a week, but I only use it once a week the most and I’ll definitely use it before an event or a photoshoot. This product was inspired by professional microdermabrasion. Have I ever received a professional microdermabrasion? Nope, but I can’t imagine what the results would look like if I did because this product is just amazing.

  There is a mini size if you want to try it out! The mini size will last awhile if you don’t use it 2-3x a week.

Hydrating Toner:

• Son and Park Beauty Water: If you’ve been with me for awhile, you know I talk about this toner all the time. It’s a multi-tasking toner that hydrates and preps your skin. I love it because it’s so versatile, hydrating and does an amazing job cleansing and prepping my skin for the rest of my routine.

• Laneige Cream Skin Toner & Moisturizer: I noticed my skin around my cheeks felt dryer during pregnancy, so I started reaching for this toner to help with the dryness. I love the milky texture of this toner. It’s very hydrating, calming and leaves my skin feeling nourished. I also like to layer this for extra hydration if needed. (This is not clean)

Essence

• COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence: An affordable essence that has helps brighten, hydrate and protect the skin barrier. It’s made with 96% snail mucin which is a well-known ingredient in K-beauty products. I love that it’s a gentle ingredient with many benefits for all skin types, even acne-prone and sensitive skin! My skin always looks healthy and plump after applying this! (This is not clean)

Eye Cream

• Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream: A very hydrating eye cream that targets wrinkles and fine lines. I don’t think I have that many wrinkles and honestly can’t tell if it helps, but I love this eye cream because it’s so hydrating. I like using something more hydrating and anti-aging in my nighttime routine. Love its creamy texture and how quickly it absorbs into my skin. This one is also safe to use around the entire eye area (can be used on eyelids).

• Follain Eye Cream Firm + Brighten: Thanks to genetics, I can’t really do much to get rid of my dark circles. I noticed with pregnancy, my dark circles are worse than some mornings depending on the quality of my sleep haha. I like this Follain eye cream because it has ingredients like caffeine to help with puffiness and vitamin C to help brighten. I also love that it comes in a pump so I don’t need to dip my finger into the product. The texture is a creamy gel that gives the undereye area a brightening and glowy look.

Daytime Serum – Vitamin C

• Good (Skin) Days C’s The Day Serum: This is the only serum I will use in my morning routine. Pregnant women are more prone to hyperpigmentation due to all the hormones. Vitamin C is one of my favorite skincare ingredients to help target hyperpigmentation and dark spots, while protecting the skin from oxidative stress and environmental stressors (sun, pollution, etc.). This one is made with 10% pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and some other amazing ingredients like licorice root extract and niacinamide.

  There is no scent to this one and it absorbs so nicely into the skin. The texture reminds me of an emulsion. It’s not too watery like an essence but it’s not too thick. To keep it from oxidizing, I will store it in a drawer vs. having it out on my vanity.

Nighttime Serum

• Biossance Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum: This is a gentle chemical exfoliating serum with powerful results. It’s made with 10% vegan lactic acid that exfoliates and resurfaces for smoother, brighter and more even-toned skin. I can use this serum every night if I wanted to and my skin would not be irritated. I use this 2-3 times a week in my nighttime routine. I highly recommend trying this. If you’re new to chemical exfoliators, I think this is a great product to try and see what the benefits of a chemical exfoliator can do to your skin.

Moisturizer

• Biossance Probiotic Gel Moisturizer: An extremely hydrating gel moisturizer that doesn’t feel heavy on the skin. Absorbs instantly and nicely into my skin and gives my skin a healthy, glowy complexion. It’s truly the best moisturizer for my dry/combo skin. This is made with a probiotic technology that helps keep your skin barrier healthy and balanced. It’s hydrating enough to use at night and sometimes I’ll apply a facial oil like Biossance’s 100% Squalane Oil as the last step for another layer of hydration.

• Belif Moisturizing Bomb: This is the thicker moisturizer to its sister, Aqua Bomb. If I don’t use the Biossance Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer at night, I will use this one as my nighttime moisturizer. It’s a thicker cream but love that it doesn’t feel heavy on my skin.

Sunscreen

• Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF30: If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you probably already know what I’m going to say. 😉 This is my FAVORITE mineral sunscreen. Unlike chemical sunscreens, mineral sunscreens contain active mineral ingredients like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which work by sitting on the top of the skin to deflect UV rays away from the skin. Mineral sunscreens provide protection from both UVA and UVB rays. What is the difference? I differentiate the two types of rays by associating aging (UVA) and burning (UVB).

  I’ve tried mineral sunscreens before but didn’t really find anything because I didn’t like the texture or finish. Mineral sunscreens tend to be thicker/heavier than chemical sunscreens, which I used most of the time. Until I tried Biossance’s mineral sunscreen…

  This sunscreen is extremely hydrating for a mineral sunscreen. I can use a teaspoon worth of sunscreen on my face and it absorbs so nicely into my skin. The finish gives my skin a glowy, healthy look. I have fair skin and this does not leave a white cast on me. It’s made with squalane which adds that boost of hydration. Even though I have been working from home during this global pandemic, I’ve been using this every single day. Pregnant women are more prone to hyperpigmentation so this has been my holy grail sunscreen during pregnancy.

Mask

• Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue Mask: I absolutely love the glow this mask gives me. My skin tone looks so good after using this. This really is a five-minute facial in a jar! This mask is made of a blend of kombu seaweed flakes, red algae particles and lotus seeds. There is some texture to this mask so while applying, I’ll massage gently into my skin for some extra exfoliation.

• Mediheal N.M.F Intensive Hydrating Mask: I love a good hydrating sheet mask. These are reasonably priced, available on Amazon and fit my face pretty well. (This is not clean)

Lip Balm

• Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm: I tried this out during my pregnancy and actually understand why people like this. It’s hydrating, nourishing and glossy without feeling like too much. I prefer to use this at night as a lip sleeping mask vs my go-to whenever my lips feel chapped in between Zoom meetings and throughout the day.

• Sol de Janiero Brazilian Kiss Cupuaçu Lip Butter: My favorite everyday “chapstick.” I love the scent and this is the one I’ll always reach for when my lips are feeling dry. It feels more like a chapstick than a balm like Summer Fridays, which is what I prefer as my go-to lip treatment. It’s hydrating without feeling heavy or looking glossy. I tried using Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm as my go-to chapstick throughout the day, but it was too glossy for me. (This is not clean)

• Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask: Can’t go wrong with this lip sleeping mask. I like using this before I go to bed. It’s thick but doesn’t feel heavy on my lips and glides nicely onto the lips without a sticky feeling. This pot lasts a long time so it’s always something I purchase over and over again! (This is not clean)

BODY CARE

• Biossance 100% Squalane Oil: Hands down this is my favorite body oil. I love this body oil because it doesn’t leave my skin feeling greasy or oily. This squalane oil absorbs into the skin quickly and nicely and leaves my skin feeling hydrated and soft. I love that it is only made of ONE ingredient and does so much for your skin. Did you know your body produces squalene? As we get older, the amount of squalene our bodies produce decreases. I love this one from Biossance because not only does it work, but it can be used on the body, face and hair. In addition, Biossance created a shelf-stable version of squalene using sugarcane-derived squalane that is sustainable.

  Throughout my pregnancy, I slathered this on my body after showering and paid extra attention on my bump, breasts and chest area. I like to leave my skin just a little damp before applying the body oil.

• Beneath Your Mask Heal- Vegan Whipped Skin Soufflé: I read about this product in Allure magazine and was curious to try after reading reviews. I really enjoyed using this ultra hydrating and nourishing body cream on my bump. As its name suggests, it has. a whipped souffle texture that feels thick, but instantly melts when you warm in between your hands. It helps strengthen the skin, combat effects of aging, reduce the appearance of stretch marks and maintain skin’s elasticity.

  It is kind of pricey, but I was able to stretch this out by just applying on my bump and boobs throughout my entire pregnancy. Highly recommend this product!

• Necessaire Body Lotion & Body Serum: I loved adding a pump of the Body Serum to the Body Lotion for extra hydration from head-t0-toe.

• Necessaire Body Exfoliator: I continued exfoliating my skin throughout pregnancy using this product. I continued dry brushing but I avoided my bump since I thought the skin was extremely sensitive considering it was stretching so much. I loved using Necessaire’s Body Exfoliator to continue exfoliating my skin because it was gentle yet effective at leaving my skin smoother and softer.

  And that’s it! All the products I used during my pregnancy. I know it may seem like a lot, but I was using these consistently to keep my skin clean, protected and healthy. . Have you tried any of these products? Got any questions? Leave a comment and let me know!