If there’s one thing I’ve learned about pregnancy, its that your body will change in the most unexpected ways. One of the first signs I was pregnant was the change in my skin. My beautiful, clear skin quickly became covered pimples and I had no idea what to do. Luckily, I made it through my teenage years with just the occasional pimple around my menstrual cycle so this was a whole new world for me. So I was on a quest to find the perfect skincare routine and knowing I was pregnant I wanted to try and use natural products that were free from harsh chemicals.
It took me more than half of my first trimester to find products that I liked and that actually worked. I tried more products during those first couple of months than I had my whole life. I even when out and spent over $150 on a blue light spot treatment device…that did nothing. This acne seemed to be a whole different beast all thanks to my hormones.
What Causes Pregnancy Acne?
During pregnancy, your hormones surge and your body starts to produce more progesterone. Progesterone causes your glands to increase sebum, an acne-causing oil secretion. This can clog your pores and cause bacteria to build up which then leads to more breakouts. Your body also retains more fluid while you’re pregnant and that fluid contains toxins which may also lead to breakouts.
For a while, I was trying to actually fight my acne. I was too harsh with my skin, always trying to scrub away all those pimples. I also loved to try and pop any pimple that appeared on my face and that didn’t help either. Through my many trials of products I realized I needed a mild cleanser, only needed to exfoliate twice a week and a good moisturizing lotion. Ironically, if you remove too much of your skin’s naturally occurring oils that will also lead to more breakouts. So I finally a group of skin care products that I loved and that worked for me. Below is a list of the products I use on a daily basis:
1.) Previse Marine Cleanser
I wash my face only in the morning and night and if I did a sweaty midday workout. This cleanser contains a blend of botanicals and a powerful marine algae extract that hydrates, softens and soothes your skin. It is naturally unscented and fragrance-free, which makes it ideal for sensitive skin.
2.) Foxbrim Naturals Orange Blossom Water & Exfoliating Cotton Rounds
I only use this toner at night and it is the first step after washing my face. It removes excess dirt while it purifies and soothes the skin. According to Foxbrim Naturals, orange blossom water can stimulate healing and skin regeneration, smooth and soothe skin while reducing pore size, and balance pH with natural acidity and provide perfect skin moisture. I apply this toner with an exfoliating cotton round and let me tell you, that was a game changer. Whenever I don’t use the exfoliating cotton round I can almost immediately recognize a change in my skin.
3.) Acure Radically Rejuvenating Facial Toner
I use this toner in the morning and during the day when I feel like my skin needs a pick-me-up. The light mist feels super refreshing and helps restore healthy moisture and oil balance without drying out the skin. The organic witch hazel and rooibos it contains can help calm and soothe your skin while providing anti-bacterial support.
4.) Amareta Pure Peace Clarifying Serum
I found this company to be so cool, they created a line of products that work with the different hormonal phases of women. This serum was created to be used during the third and fourth weeks of your cycle when progesterone and testosterone levels increase, putting skin at risk of hormonal breakouts. Since we know our progesterone skyrockets during the pregnancy, this was a great addition to my skin care routine. I use this right after applying the toner both in the morning and night.
5.) Drunk Elephant Lala Retro Whipped Cream and C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream
The Lala Retro Whipped Cream is one of my most favorite products! I love how moisturizing it is without that heavy cream feeling. I swear this moisturizer brought my skin back to life. It contains a blend of six rare African oils that can help recover and lock-in intense moisture. I also use the C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream and only because I’m afraid of aging and don’t want wrinkles (haha). Drunk Elephant is a great company that focuses on high quality, natural ingredients and almost all of their products are pregnancy friendly.
6.) Ole Henriksen Transforming Walnut Scrub
As I mentioned, I use an exfoliant two times a week and I have been using this one since before I became pregnant. It is a two-in-one, lightly foaming scrub that exfoliates and cleanses to purify your pores. I definitely feel the difference after using it and can tell that it helps smooths and brighten my skin.
7.) Glow Organics Belly Butter
I know this product has nothing to do with pregnancy acne but it is part of my daily skincare routine. As many moms-to-be, I want to try my hardest to prevent stretch marks. I’m well aware that sometimes they are unavoidable, but I am going to do whatever I can to raise my chances of not getting them. I feel in love with this belly butter because of how thick and nourishing it feels. That being said I only use it at night since putting clothes on afterward can be slightly uncomfortable. This belly butter is organic, vegan, and gluten-free. It’s also free from parabens, dyes, sulfates, phthalates, and synthetic.
I hope this list is helpful to any mamas-to-be who are either dealing with pregnancy acne or just looking for some natural skin care products to use during their pregnancy. Even if you’re not pregnant but dealing with some acne issues, many of these products could be helpful to you as well!
