5 Things To Know About Skincare During Pregnancy
If you're reading this, you're probably pregnant. So firstly, congratulations!
During pregnancy, your skincare routine will require some adjustments to ensure the safety of you and your baby.
Due to the increasing hormonal changes to the body, you might experience dryness, breakouts or extra sensitivity that you didn’t have before. There are also a few ingredients found in skincare that we are recommended to avoid to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Have no fear, we’ll take you through the top 5 things you need to know about creating a pregnancy-safe skincare routine!
1. Jojoba is the perfect skincare multitasker, targeting a wide range of common pregnancy skin concerns
Targeting everything from stretch marks, to pregnancy breakouts and dry patches, our Australian Jojoba is a golden bottle of goodness you’ll be reaching for often during your pregnancy.
Providing vitamins A, D & E as well as omegas 6 & 9, it’s packed with natural goodness to soothe and nourish your skin, hair and even cuticles.
It can be used in many more ways too, including as a massage oil, makeup remover, overnight hair oiling treatment, as a belly balm for stretchmarks and as a moisturiser. When baby comes, it can also be used for baby massage and to treat baby skin conditions like cradle cap.
Our 100% pure Australian Jojoba, along with the rest of our skincare products, are perfectly safe to use during pregnancy. However, we always encourage to consult your GP before trying a new skincare routine, if you’re unsure.
2. Essential oils - in high concentrations - are best to be avoided.
It is recommended that during pregnancy, it is best to avoid essential oils in concentrations larger than 3%.
This is because certain essential oils, such as basil, rosemary and clary sage, are believed to stimulate menstrual flow which can potentially lead to complications during pregnancy.
In our products, essential oils are all in concentrations of 1% or less and we don't use essential oils considered unsafe for pregnancy.
3. It’s recommended to avoid using large amounts of synthetic Vitamin A (Retinol) during pregnancy.
In pregnancy it is recommended to avoid synthetic Vitamin A, including your retinol, retinyl and palmitate. This is because synthetic Vitamin A has been linked to an increased risk of birth defects - especially when applied topically in large amounts.
The hydrating Ultimate Serum is clinically proven to outperform retinol in collagen production*, so if you can't live without your retinol, we definitely suggest giving our Ultimate Serum a go during pregnancy!
The natural form of vitamin A however, such as the vitamin A in our Australian Jojoba, or Beta Carotene in Pigmentation Oil, is considered safe for use. This is because the beta carotene is converted to vitamin A when inside the body. The body only converts what it needs so there is no risk of overdose with beta carotene making our products safe for pregnancy.
*HumaColl21™ stimulates collagen type 1 by 197% vs 117% for Retinol when tested in invitro control group.
4. You may experience a range of skin concerns including pigmentation, acne, increase sensitivity, psoriasis, eczema and stretchmarks
While many experience a ‘pregnancy glow’ - said to be caused by an increase in blood flow and circulation - rapid hormonal changes during pregnancy may also cause your skin to behave in ways that it hasn't before.
But not to worry, we have a guide on how to deal with unexpected skin concerns, including pigmentation, acne, skin rashes and stretchmarks.
Below, we'll share some tips to get you through these changes.
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| Pigmentation | Acne |
|---|---|
| Caused by: A dramatic increase of estrogen, progesterone and other hormones. Ingredients to Avoid: Hydroquinone, a common ingredient found in skin brightening/lightening creams. Products Your Skin Will Love: Vitamin C Glow Potion, Pigmentation Oil, Multi Defence Moisturiser SPF15 |
Caused by: Dramatic hormonal changes, including an increase in sebum, which causes acne. Ingredients to Avoid: High amounts of Retinol, Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid Products Your Skin Will Love: Australian Jojoba, Citrus Gel Cleanser, Clarifying Pore Control Serum, Water Gel Cream |
| Shop Skincare For Pigmentation | Shop Skincare For Acne |
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| Psoriasis, Eczema & Skin Rashes | Stretchmarks |
|---|---|
| Caused by: Hormonal changes during pregnancy may exacerbate existing skin conditions, or they may actually improve. It’s also possible to develop these skin conditions for the very first time during pregnancy. Ingredients to Avoid: Skincare with synthetic fragrances, alcohol, sulfates, parabens, harsh exfoliants. Products Your Skin Will Love:Australian Jojoba, Hydrating Peptide Day Cream, Jojoba Bead Cleanser |
Caused by: The dermis layer of the skin quickly expanding or stretching. Ingredients to Avoid: Harsh exfoliants, alcohol. Products Your Skin Will Love: Australian Jojoba and/or Calming Jojoba. |
| Shop Jojoba Range | Shop Jojoba Range |
5. It might be beneficial to opt for gentle, fragrance free products to avoid discomfort.
To minimise the risk of your skin reacting, or overwhelming your sense of smell (your olfactory senses are also heightened during pregnancy) try searching for fragrance-free or lightly fragranced items that are sensitive on the skin.
Australian Jojoba is a great odorless well-rounder that can be used as a face oil, body oil, hair oil and cuticle oil. It can be used for stretch marks and massage too.
By keeping the above in mind, you can help ensure that your skincare routine supports your skin's needs while keeping both you and your baby safe during pregnancy.
