As if skin care isn’t usually confusing enough, once you’re pregnant it becomes even more difficult. There are hormonal fluctuations giving you acne, dry skin, and where is that pregnancy glow everyone talks about? Throw in needing to avoid certain skin care ingredients while pregnant and it gets even more difficult. Here I’m sharing dermatologist advice for pregnancy. They’re the best experts to run to if you are having any issues. Is a product safe? How to deal with all of these blemishes? Do not feel timid, a dermatologist is the best expert to have in your corner!
“They have to avoid salicylic acid and any retinoids. It’s very important to use a broad spectrum sunscreen to avoid melasma the mask of pregnancy.”
Debra Jaliman, MD is a board certified dermatologist with a private practice in New York City.
“I always recommend that our pregnant patients check with their OB with regard to any product that they use. This is because everything you apply or come into contact with may affect not only you but your baby. During pregnancy it is always wise to avoid products that contain retinoids or salicylic acids.”
Avery Kuflik, MD is a board certified dermatologist with a private practice in New Jersey.
“Pregnancy is a time when special care should be taken to keep the skin healthy. While most commonly used products are completely safe, there is handful of ingredients considered harmful to a growing baby. Some of those include Retinoids and Salicylic Acid.”
James C. Marotta, MD is a double board certified ENT and Plastic Surgeon who practices in Long Island.
“Your skin care routine is likely to change when you are pregnant. Since hormones are changing during pregnancy, you can develop skin issues that you never had before. Some women tend to break out more and get oily skin when pregnant. You should start to use a mild cleanser and keep your skin moisturized so it will not get dried out.
“You should avoid any products with salicylic acid and retinoid when you are pregnant. High forms of salicylic acid has been known to cause birth defects, in small doses it can be okay but it is probably best to just avoid it while you are pregnant. Always check with your OB/GYN before starting any new products.”
David E. Bank, MD from The Center for Dermatology in Mt. Kisco, NY
“Stick to the basics-a gentle cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen; stop all products with retinols, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or hydroquinone unless directed by a doctor.”
Rahat Azfar, MD of Vanguard Dermatology in New York City.
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Don’t forget to check out the other articles in my Pregnancy and Nursing Skin Care Guide!
I’m a doctor, a mommy and a bit of a beauty addict. If you let me, I can take 2 hours to get ready in the morning. Really. I'm on a quest for faster beauty that works!
Hi, I just came across your blog and some of the ingredients on the avoid in pregnancy list have scared me as I’m already 16 weeks pregnant. I have been using glycolic acid and also false tan,. The nhs website says it’s comsidered safe to use false tan when pregnant but I note you say you have seen conflicting info on this? I haven’t found anything to say it’s unsafe.
Could u please tell me if the following are safe in your opinion
Vital Balm Cream
star star star star star 55 Reviews
$45.00
DESCRIPTION
INGREDIENTS
HOW TO USE
*Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, *Mango Seed Butter, *Honey, *Indian Senna Seed Extract (Botanical Hyaluronic Acid), *Shea Butter, *Olive Oil,*Avocado Oil, *Jojoba Seed Oil, *Borage Seed Oil, *Evening Primrose Oil, *Sea Buckthorn Oil, *Vitamin E, †Broccoli Seed Oil, *Witch Hazel, *Ashwagandha, *Turmeric, *Rose Hips, *Goji Berry, *Calendula, *Black Cohosh, *Elderberry, *Bladderwrack, *Marshmallow Root, *Ginger, *Fenugreek, *Chickweed, *Licorice, *Raspberry Leaf, *Dandelion, *Sage, *Eyebright, *Milk Thistle, *Rose Petal, *St. John’s Wort, *Cat’s Claw, *Cinnamon, *Lavender, *Ginkgo Biloba, *Gum Arabic, §Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, †Blue Tansy Essential Oil, †Ylang Ylang Essential Oil, †Lavender Essential Oil, *Vanilla Extract.
Our Indian Senna Seed/Cassia Angustafolia extract is made in-house along with all of our herbal extracts and infusions.
*CERTIFIED ORGANIC
†ORGANIC
‡WILDCRAFTED
§NON-GMO PLANT SOURCED
No Animal Testing
Made in the USA
We do not include the natural essential oil constituents breakdown as listed on product boxes or bottles on our website. This list of possible allergens is present on product boxes or bottles because it’s required for sales in the European Union only. For your information, these are components of natural essential oils on our product boxes, they are not synthetic isolates added to the formulations, they are already within the essential oils that are in the products. The EU requires these constituents to be listed out separately on product p
Josh rosebrook Active infusion serum
*Avocado Oil, †Marula Oil, *Jojoba Oil, *Hemp Seed Oil, *Sunflower Oil, *Apricot Oil, *Evening Primrose Oil, *Almond Oil, *Grape Seed Oil, *Sea Buckthorn Oil, *Goji Berry, *Raspberry Leaf, *Black Cohosh, *Rosehip, *Calendula, *Milk Thistle, *Bladderwrack, *Ginger, *Licorice, *Chickweed, *Elderberry, *Marshmallow Root, *Fenugreek, *Cats Claw, *Lavender, *St. Johns Wort, *Cinnamon, *Gingko, *Vanilla extract, †Ylang Ylang essential oil, †Rosemary essential oil, †Eucalyptus essential oil.
Sunday Riley good genes
Agave Tequilana (Blue Agave) Leaf, Cypripedium Pebescens (Orchid), Opuntial Tuna (Prickly Pear) Fruit, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract & Saccaromyces Cerevisiae (Yeast), Glycyrrhiza Glabra Extract, Lactic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut Oil), Butylene Glycol, Squalene, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer, Stearic Acid Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) extract , PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-75 Meadowsol, Lemongrass Extract, Arnica Extract, Triethanolamine, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Steareth-20, DMDM Hydantoin.
Drunk elephant Marula oil
Virgin Marula Oil: Helps nourish and rejuvenate skin for a youthful glow while providing critical antioxidants and omegas 6 and 9, thanks to its super-absorbent qualities.
100% Unrefined Sclerocraya Birrea (Marula) Kernel Oil.
I’ve found a few sites here and there that say it’s ok to fake tan while pregnant, but my OB didn’t consider it to be safe and as it accumulates in your body (such as your liver) I’d need convincing evidence to say it is fine to fake tin while pregnant.
Most of these brands can be found in my list of pregnancy safe skincare products. Drunk Elephant and Sunday Riley specifically are included there, if your product is NOT listed, then it isn’t safe. I have already reviewed the entire lines.
Vital Balm Cream and the serum are not safe due to licorice.
Hi there,
What are your thoughts about deodorants? Do you recommend any or feel that any would be unsafe to use?
So, I’ve started looking at them and the problems is that they’re pretty much all fine. The aluminum salt is actually safe according to the research, and I haven’t found a deodorant/antiperspirant yet that I would recommend avoiding during pregnancy. So use your favorite, you’re probably fine!
This website is awesome!!
I have 2 products that I’m wondering if they are safe in pregnancy….
Biotherm Skin Best Wonder Mud
AQUA, KAOLIN, GLYCERIN, ALCOHOL DENAT., ISONONYL ISONONANOATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, PRUNUS ARMENIACA SEED POWDER, PHENOXYETHANOL, GLYCERYL STEARATE CITRATE, CETEARYL GLUCOSIDE, CAPRYLOYL GLYCINE, STEARYL ALCOHOL, XANTHAN GUM, STEARIC ACID, TOCOPHEROL, PALMITIC ACID, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, LIMONENE, VITREOSCILLA FERMENT, LINALOOL, GERANIOL, MYRISITIC ACID, MOROCCAN LAVA CLAY, CITRIC ACID, HAEMATOCOCCUS PLUVIALIS EXTRACT, SODIUM BENZOATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, PAEFUM, (+/-CI 77891, MICA, CI 77491, CI77510).
Guerlain Abeille Royal Eyetech Eye Sculpt Serum
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Pentylene Glycol, Mel (Honey), Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Royal Jelly, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Sorbitol, Tetrasodium Edta, Tocopheryl Acetate, Algin, Caffeine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Peg-8, Laureth-7, Sodium Citrate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Adenosine, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, Siegesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide.
Both look ok to me
Hello doctor,
I am really happy I came across your blog. I love every article.
Could you, please, tell me if these ingredients are safe?
AQUA / WATER
BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII BUTTER / SHEA BUTTER
GLYCERIN
DIMETHICONE
NIACINAMIDE
PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM / MINERAL OIL
CETEARYL ALCOHOL
BRASSICA CAMPESTRIS OLEIFERA OIL / RAPESEED SEED OIL
AMMONIUM POLYACRYLDIMETHYLTAURAMIDE / AMMONIUM POLYACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE
PEG-100 STEARATE
GLYCERYL STEARATE
PEG-20 METHYL GLUCOSE SESQUISTEARATE
CERA MICROCRISTALLINA / MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX
PARAFFIN
SORBITAN TRISTEARATE
DIMETHICONOL
MANNOSE
DISODIUM EDTA
CAPRYLOYL GLYCINE
VITREOSCILLA FERMENT
XANTHAN GUM
PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRA-DI-T-BUTYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE
SODIUM BENZOATE
Thank you!
Looks ok
Hi there
I am interested to know your thoughts on shampoo and conditioner/mask use during pregnancy. I have walked into a minefield I realise where my kerastase shampoo has salicylic acid in it, and my favourite hair mask Retinyl Palmitate and malic acid. What is your advice on using these?
Many thanks
I’ve been told by derm and OB not to worry about hair products, though I’m more of the mind that if you’re applying them just to your hair they’re fine, the ones that you leave on your scalp for any period longer than a few minutes I would worry about.
https://www.oxoorganic.com/how-it-works/
Ingredients listed in link
This says pregnancy safe hair straightening please advise thank you
I don’t comment on hair products.
Hi, what would you recommend for seborrheic dermatitis while pregnant? I had been using Betaderm for my scalp, and Ketoderm for my face before I was pregnant. Thank you in advance.
If you’re at the point of needing steroids like that, I would go and talk to your dermatologist for sure. Some of the ingredients we say to avoid are ok when used under a doctor’s supervision.
Hello, your blog is amazing! When I read that hyaluronic acid is ok in skincare products, I wondered if doing face fillers with it would be ok too? I booked an appointment to have it done for the first time but just found out I’m pregnant…
I would likely recommend against fillers while pregnant, but talk with the physician about their recommendations as that is their specialty.
Are all makeup remover wipes safe to use during pregnancy? I always wash my face after using them, but I still worry they could be harmful in some way. I can’t seem to find much on this topic, and I would definitely appreciate some advice on it!
Thank you!
It depends on the brand, some are fine and some are not. You can find a list of products organized by brand here.
Hi!
Searched your site for these first; are any of these foundations safe for pregnancy?
1) Kjaer Weis Cream Foundation:
mica, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) seed oil*, caprylic/capric triglyceride, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil*, zea mays (corn) starch*, cera alba (beeswax)*, copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, camellia sinensis leaf extract, tocopheryl acetate, glyceryl stearate, talc, gallic acid
May Contain: ci 77891 (titanium dioxide), ci 77491 (iron oxides), ci 77499 (iron oxides), ci 77492 (iron oxides)
2) Kosas Tinted Face Oil:
coco-caprylate/caprate, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, octyldodecanol, persia gratissima (avocado) oil, silica, kaolin, mica, oryza sativa (rice) bran extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, helianthus annuus (sunflower) extract, tocopherol, limnanthes alba (meadowfoam) seed oil, camellia oleifera (tea) seed oil, rosa canina fruit oil, rubus idaeus (raspberry) seed oil [+/-:titanium dioxide (ci 77891), iron oxides (ci 77491, 77499, 77491, 77492)]
3) Vapour Soft focus foundation:
camellia oleifera (camellia) seed oil*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, silica‡, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil†, cera alba (beeswax/cire d’abeille)*, isocetyl stearoyl stearate†, tocopherol (vitamin e)†, commiphora myrrha (myrrh) oil†, citrus bergamia risso (bergamot) oil (bergaptene-free)†, wildcrafted boswellia carteri (frankincense) gum†, ocimum sanctum (tulsi/holy basil) leaf extract*, nelumbo nucifera (lotus) leaf extract*, propanediol†, pentylene glycol†, phenethyl alcohol†, polyglyceryl-2-caprate†, glyceryl caprylate†
May Contain:
mica, ci 77891/titanium dioxide, ci 77491, ci 77492, ci 77499/iron oxides
All 3 look ok for pregnancy and nursing
Hi Doc- thanks for all of this incredible information. I just found out I am pregnant, and I’ve been living on this site the past few days!
I’d like to hear your thoughts on fragrance as an ingredient. It’s in a lot of my skincare products – some of which are listed as safe for pregnancy on this site – however I’ve read a few articles which state it’s unsafe. Below is a clip from a Byrdie article I recently came across. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks so much!!
“Fragrances are usually made up of other harmful chemicals, like parabens, benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and more that are linked to cancer and nervous system issues,” says Dendy Engelman, MD. “Short-term, they can cause irritation and redness on the applied area. Look for these terms to clue you in that a product contains a fragrance: parfum, perfume, linalool, limonene, eugenol, citronellol, geraniol, or cinnamal. Fragrance-free products are mostly labeled as so.”
You don’t need to worry about them in pregnancy except for the sensitization issues, as it’s a great time for developing allergies or just reacting to ingredients. Some of these (eg- linalool, limonene) are just things found in orange peels.
You need an insane exposure to start worrying about things like cancer from a fragrance ingredient from a topical product. Yes, they’re linked to cancer and other issues, but it’s a link and not a causation. It also takes very high doses you won’t get with a normal product that you’re using correctly.
I wouldn’t worry greatly about these ingredients, but in general I recommend avoiding things that are very fragranced due to the allergy/reaction issues as there’s a much higher risk of that being an issue.
Note, for the same reason but even more so, chose your baby’s skincare products very carefully, they’re super sensitive to fragrances. There’s a well known baby brand (often at Target, the first name is a big state on the west coast…) that has a huge number of fragrances and extracts. Babies will also react with rashes to fragrances in their laundry detergent. Go for a fragrance free product (we use All Free and Clear at my house, Tide also makes a good Free and Clear version) rather than the “baby detergent” that comes in the pink container (it’s a super fragranced product, often grandmas try to buy it for you. Just say no.). I’m trying to be circumspect in my brands to avoid here, but you likely know the ones I mean 🙂
Opte Brightening Concentrate okay for nursing? Ingredients are water, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-4, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-7, Disodium EDTA, Polyacrylamide, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol
It’s fine for pregnancy and nursing.
Thank you!!
Hello,
Is it safe to take collagen supplements while breastfeeding?
The ingredients are:
Glycine, Seven Berry Concentrate Powder [Dextrin, Seven Berry Concentrate {Blackberry Concentrate (Germany), Blackcurrant Concentrate (Germany), Blueberry Concentrate, Strawberry Concentrate, Raspberry Concentrate}], DL-Malic Acid, Blueberry Fragrance (Sugar, Synthetic Fragrance), Fruit Mixed Concentrate Powder [Dextrin, Fruit Mixed Concentrate (Israel)], Beetroot Powder, L-Ascorbic Acid, Strawberry Fragrance (Dextrin, Lactose, Synthetic Fragrance, Pectin), L-Proline, Enzymatically Modified Stevia, Silicon Dioxide, Nicotinamide, Hyaluronic Acid Concoction (Dextrin, Hyaluronic Acid), Elastin Hydrolysate (France), Sucralose (Sweetener), Vitamin A Concoction (Dextrin, Arabic Gum, Corn Starch, Vitamin A Acetate Powder, DL-α-Tocopherol), Lactobacillus Mixed Powder, Dried Yeast
I don’t comment on supplements at the request of my malpractice insurer. Please discuss with your physician.
Hi! First I want to say I’m so glad I found your website! <3 However I wish I had found it earlier when I was pregnant and so worried. Have not seen anything as good and informative as this (and with a source as good). Now I’m ”just” breastfeeding but hopefully I will get pregnant again soon and than I will use this site for sure. Your website is so helpful! Have spent more than 6 hours reading and searching on it already, in two days. Now I hope I write at the right place, read this was very important. Did not find were to write a comment about Safe/not safe Nursing ingredients at first, I could just read other people’s comments, so I apologize if I’m doing it in the wrong place now (pleace don’t block me if so, have really been trying doing this right).
A nursing question crossed my mind while reading, I hope that someday you will have time to answer them:
While nursing: Why do you consider Glycolic Acid (AHA) as safe? I was so confused by this, because I thought Glycolic Acid (and every other A-vitamin) was UNSAFE while pregnant AND nursing! Or is specifically Glycolic Acid a ”nicer/safer” A-vitamin? And how about Malic Acid, Mandelic Acid and other acids in the same category A-vitamins), is it just Retinol/retinoid that is unsafe while preg./Nursing, in so: why? When I google ”what is Glycolic acid” all the Swedish answer is ”Glycolic acid is the smallest molecule of all AHA acids”… so this confuses me a lot when you wrote that Glycolic acid is okey while nursing. Could it be other recommendations in Europe? But the fact about the molecule would be the same? Would be SO glad if you had time to answer this.
Sorry if my English isn’t perfect, I’m from Sweden (and bad in English, I think).
All of that is discussed in these posts:
skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy
skincare ingredients while nursing