Lately I’ve had readers requesting to know what products I would chose today for a skincare routine if I was pregnant, or for my picks for a pregnancy skincare routine when dealing with rosacea. Since I have (mild) rosacea, that’s pretty much the same question! I’m including a few choices under each product, so you have options at different price points.
How to Request a Product Review
If your product is not here, please look for the brand in my list of brands that I have reviewed for pregnancy and nursing safety. If the brand is listed, ask about your product on the brand page. If not, please ask on the main brand page. Note, the brand pages are usually the most up to date, the round ups do not get updated routinely. So in the case of a conflict, the brand page should win. I will not review products for safety on this post. If you ask I will be deleting your comment.
Core Trio Products for Rosacea
I strongly recommend starting with a core trio of products, and then adding or swapping out additional products as needed to deal with the continual hormonal changes (and changing skincare issues) throughout pregnancy. I go into this in detail in my free pregnancy skincare eBook, you can sign up for my newsletter and get it there.
Cleansers
I tend to go for very gentle cleansers, since more harsh cleansers tend to really dry out my skin. My current go-to products are:
• Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash (at Dermstore, SkinStore)
• Lancome Bi-Facil Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover (at Sephora, Nordstrom)
Alternatives that also work well for me:
• Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser (at Target, ULTA)
• Kate Somerville Gentle Daily Wash (at Sephora)
• Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Cleanser & Waterproof Makeup Remover (at ULTA, Amazon)
Moisturizer
I look for a moisturizer that has some gentle anti-aging ingredients such as peptides. They’re pregnancy safe and won’t irritate my skin at all.
• Kate Somerville Age Arrest Anti-Wrinkle Cream (at Sephora, ULTA, DermStore)
• Kate Somerville Age Arrest Eye Cream (at Sephora)
Alternative:
• CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream (at ULTA)
Sunscreen
• Supergoop! Mattescreen Sunscreen SPF 40 (at Sephora)
• Aveeno Positively Mineral® Sensitive Skin SPF 40+ Sunscreen Face Milk (at Amazon, Walmart)
Problem Solvers
Rather than starting with an all new routine, I usually recommend swapping out 1 product at a time or adding in a targeted treatment. Most people’s skin (and mine is especially like this) doesn’t appreciate drastic changes quickly. And given all of the hormonal fluctuations of pregnancy, I swear I was dealing with a different issue every month of my pregnancies. Sticking with the core basics and then using a targeted treatment to address that day’s issue worked really well for me.
Dryness
Rather than swapping out for a heavier moisturizer, I love to apply a few drops of a hydrating oil into my routine. I do this at night, usually after serum but before a moisturizer. This gives me more flexibility than swapping out my moisturizer for a heavier product.
• Kiehls’ Midnight Recovery Concentrate Face Oil (at Sephora, Nordstrom)
• Kora Organics NONI GLOW FACE OIL (at Sephora)
• The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil (at Sephora)
Acne
I admit that I don’t really have issues with blemishes currently. However, if I did these are the products I would be reaching for:
• Kate Somerville ERADIKATE® DAILY FOAMING CLEANSER (at Sephora, ULTA, DermStore)
• Kate Somerville ERADIKATE®MASK FOAM-ACTIVATED ACNE TREATMENT (at Sephora)
Also check out the Averr Aglow brand, they have a lot of pregnancy safe products that target acne! I also used a lot of mud masks while pregnant. I recommend the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Mask or Origins Clear Improvement® Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores.
Serum
Since the “gold standard” ingredients for anti-aging (retinoids) are off limits during pregnancy, this is a great time to check out alternative ingredients. My recommendation is to check out Vitamin C, which targets hyperpigmentation and helps fight aging. I also really like peptides to help build collagen without irritation.
• Kate Somerville KX ACTIVE CONCENTRATES BIO-MIMICKING PEPTIDES SERUM (at Sephora, DermStore)
• Kate Somerville KX ACTIVE CONCENTRATES VITAMIN B3 + VITAMIN C SERUM (at ULTA)
Exfoliation
One thing I am asked about a lot, is for the best way to exfoliate your skin during pregnancy. I recommend avoiding chemical exfoliation such as peels or exfoliating cleansers, they usually contain ingredients that should be avoided during pregnancy.
Instead, I recommend using physical exfoliation. I used to recommend use of a Clarisonic (sadly, out of business during the pandemic), similar devices like PMD and Foreo offer exfoliation gentle enough that you can use them daily. A scrub mitt or even just a washcloth also work. Be careful not to overdo it!
If you really need to feel like you’re chemically exfoliating, Cure Natural Aqua Gel is a decent compromise. You can also look for a purely lactic acid form of exfoliation, The Ordinary has a product that works, it comes in 2 different strengths.
• The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA (at Sephora)
• The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA (at Sephora)
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 was wondering if these 2 products from Glycelene are pregnancy & breast feeding safe please.
Glycelene Rejuvenation Crème
Ingredients
Certified Organic Orange Water, Certified Organic Fair Trade Shea Butter, Certified Organic Sunflower Seed Oil, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Certified Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Squalane, Caprooyl-Tetrapeptide-3, Hyaluronic Acid, Red Algae Extract, Brown Algae Extract, Canadian Willowherb Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Cucumber Extract, Ricebran Oil, Rosemary Extract, Sunflower Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Sorbitol, Dextran, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol.
Glycelene The Beauty Ointment
Ingredients
Certified Organic Vegetable Glycerin, Certified Organic (Fair Trade) Shea Butter, Proprietary Olive Oil Blend, Açaí Pulp Oil, CoEnzyme Q10, Babassu Seed Oil, Rosemary Leaf Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) Sunflower Seed Extract, Rice Bran Oil, Wild Crafted French Lavender Essential Oil, 100% Vegetable derived Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride.
Both are ok for nursing and pregnancy
Thank you so much!
Hi! So CANADIAN WILLOWHERB is safe but willow bark isn’t? I just want to make sure. Thank you!
Yes, it’s a different plant.
Hello Doctor,
Could you tell me if this kiehls product is pregnancy safe?
Calendula & Aloe Soothing Hydration Masque:
AQUA / WATER • ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE • GLYCERIN • PROPYLENE GLYCOL • PROPANEDIOL • 1,2-HEXANEDIOL • PENTYLENE GLYCOL • CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE • TRIDECYL TRIMELLITATE • HYDROXYACETOPHENONE • HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER • ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER • POLYACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER-6 • DIMETHICONE • ISOHEXADECANE • CALENDULA OFFICINALIS FLOWER • POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE • CARBOMER • CENTELLA ASIATICA EXTRACT • SQUALANE • TOCOPHEROL • DISODIUM EDTA • CALENDULA OFFICINALIS FLOWER EXTRACT • POLYSORBATE 60 • SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT EXTRACT • POLYGONUM CUSPIDATUM ROOT EXTRACT • BISABOLOL • GLYCERYL POLYACRYLATE • HEDERA HELIX EXTRACT – IVY LEAF/STEM EXTRACT • SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE • GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA ROOT EXTRACT / LICORICE ROOT EXTRACT • CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT • CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA FLOWER EXTRACT / MATRICARIA FLOWER EXTRACT • ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS LEAF EXTRACT / ROSEMARY LEAF EXTRACT • POTASSIUM SORBATE • SODIUM BENZOATE • ZINGIBER OFFICINALE ROOT EXTRACT / GINGER ROOT EXTRACT (F.I.L. D249967/1).
Are you going to show us some hair care products for pregnancy too?
Thank you for your time
Ok for nursing but not pregnancy due to licorice root
Pregnancy safe products from Kiehl’s
Please refer to the Pregnancy Safe brand list, there are a LARGE number of hair care brands there.
I was so excited to find this article on your site. It’s exactly what I’m looking for right now! It appears as though the moisturizer and sunscreen links are down, and I am unable to find the Kora Organics and Coola products on the Sephora website. Do you have alternative products that you recommend? Thank you for your help and for this helpful website!
Something wonky happened with this post (Of course!!) when I moved to a new web server this fall. I’m in the process of an update, all new recs coming this week!
Hi Dr, when can you review product from Exuviance that are pregnancy safe? Thanks
I’ll add that brand to my to do list
HI, I’m so bummed because I LOVE my Clarisonic Mia 1 but it got discontinued and now I can’t buy any replacement bristles. I am also pregnant so I need to be careful with what type of devices I use on my face. What would you recommend to place the Clarisonic for someone who is pregnant?
The brand fully went out of business. I managed to snag a few bristles myself but things went FAST 🙁
I would recommend the foreo cleaner. Their mask thing with electricity isn’t safe, but the bristle cleaning one is fine.
Is Lash MD eyelash serum safe during pregnancy/ nursing? Thanks!
I have a post on those, pregnancy safe lash serums
Yes, I guess I never got the memo about Clarisonic going out of business until now! UGH!
Which mask thing with electricity isn’t safe? And which bristle cleaning one is fine? Are you talking about the Foreo cleaner for both?
No, Foreo has 2 machines. Bear and UFO use electric current to work with masks and serums, the other is the Clarisonic competitor, the Luna. Luna is fine, I would avoid Bear and UFO
Hi, my dermatologist recently prescribed soolantra, a cream used to treat rosacea. I am currently breastfeeding and wondered if it is safe to use. I have read things saying that it is not recommended during pregnancy and not enough information for breastfeeding. The dermatologist told me it would be safe for both pregnancy and breastfeeding. The ingredient list is: SOOLANTRA cream contains the following inactive ingredients: carbomer copolymer type B, cetyl alcohol, citric acid monohydrate, dimethicone, edetate disodium, glycerin, isopropyl palmitate, methylparaben, oleyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, polyoxyl 20 cetostearyl ether, propylene glycol, propylparaben, purified water, sodium hydroxide, sorbitan monostearate, and stearyl alcohol.
Your derm is right, it’s ok
Thanks for all the work you put into this! It has been so helpful to me and to so many others.
Hi, you mentioned Cure Aqua Gel is a good compromise. Are all the ingredients in the aqua gel safe for pregnancy? Or should I opt for The Ordinary lactic acid instead safety wise? Many thanks.
Cure Aqua Gel is fine for pregnancy and nursing. It’s very gentle and not a big exfoliating treatment, I haven’t tried the ordinary lactic to know how it compares.
Hi! I notice a product you recommend that has Lactic Acid, Is that AHA okay to use during pregnancy? Thanks so much!!
It’s fine. There’s discussion about why lactic acid is ok under the AHA section of this post: skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy
But basically, since it’s already found in your body, it doesn’t make sense to avoid applying a little topically. I check blood levels of this all the time in kids, we make it on our own.