The Pregnancy Glow Is Real Thanks to These Skincare Products That’ve Cleared and Smoothed My Skin While I’m Expecting

When I stopped taking birth control, all hell broke loose on my face. I was dealing with a new level of acne I never had before—not even as a teenager—with pustules and swelling included. Then I found out I was pregnant. I had to change up my skincare routine to something more pregnancy-safe, and a few months in, my skin drastically changed. Of course, the shift in hormones surely had something to do with it, but I still have to give credit to the pregnancy-safe skincare routine that I now have perfected.

Of course, I’m no expert, so I reached out to Rachel Lozina, New York State Licensed Master Esthetician, Laser Technician, Oncology Esthetician, and Founder of Blue Water Spa in Oyster Bay, NY. She vetted all the skincare products included below to ensure all ingredients are truly pregnancy-safe. 

“While these are widely considered safe for pregnancy use, I would still use them at low strength and minimal dosage because we don’t test these ingredients on pregnancy so we don’t quite know all of the potential harm,” Lozina advises. Ingredients that should be avoided, though, include tretinoin/retinols, benzoyl peroxide, hydroquinone, and alpha hydroxy/beta hydroxy acids, some of which can potentially cause fetal harm and other complications when used at high doses. She also recommends opting for physical, mineral sunscreen over chemical sunscreens, “because there’s been some studies that connected to hormonal imbalances utilizing zinc oxide.” Plus, “Titanium dioxide is always a better option, because it’s a physical sunscreen and it prohibits the sun from even entering into your skin.”

While we reached out to our own expert for their advice, remember to always consult your doctor before adding any new products to your skincare regimen. Keep scrolling to shop my pregnancy skincare must-haves below, with prices starting at $12.

Shop Pregnancy Skincare Routine Essentials 

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Face Wash, $14 (was $16); amazon.com
• La Roche-Posay Toleraine Purifying Foaming Cleanser, $15 with coupon (was $18); amazon.com
• Numbuzin No.4 Hydrating Glow Mineral Toner, $18; amazon.com
• Santorini Grape Velvet Skin Drink Serum, $37 (was $52); korres.com
• Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream, $14 (was $17); amazon.com
• MediHeal Teatree Trouble Facial Toner Pads, $22; amazon.com
• Grace & Stella Moisturizing Eye Masks, $19 with coupon (was $22); amazon.com
• Alastin Skincare HydraTint Pro Mineral Sunscreen SPF 36, $78; amazon.com

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Face Wash

I’ve reached for Cetaphil cleanser in just about every season of life and since this soap- and fragrance-free version is made for dry to normal sensitive skin, it’s still my go-to even during pregnancy. For a regular AM cleanser, I’ve yet to find one that’s better than Cetaphil, and, according to its more than 8,300 five-star ratings on Amazon, I’m not the only one who thinks so. It’s perfect for pregnancy since it’s pH-balanced and gentle on sensitive skin (and any mama-to-be knows that pregnancy skin means sensitive skin). I also love that it’s hydrating, so my skin doesn’t feel tight after washing, and is tough on makeup—it melts mascara and foundation right off!

La Roche-Posay Toleraine Purifying Foaming Cleanser

When I purged through my pregnancy-safe skincare, La Roche Posay luckily made it out alive, as it’s deemed safe by the Environmental Working Group. Before I found out I was pregnant, I used Effaclar Medicated Acne Face Wash in lieu of Cetaphil cleanser at night, but I’ve discontinued it (for now), since it contains a small dose of salicylic acid. However, this pregnancy-safe, foaming alternative from La Roche-Posay is just as good. Instead of salicylic acid, which anything larger than 2 percent can cause complications, it uses niacinamide to reduce oil on the skin’s surface and lighten hyperpigmentation, scars, and discoloration. As someone who’s dealt with discoloration since she was 24, I’ve found this especially helpful since pregnancy increases the risk of hyperpigmentation and other issues like melasma. I use it nightly and love how it protects my face from breakouts preventatively, too.

Numbuzin No.4 Hydrating Glow Mineral Toner

After months of using witch hazel as a toner—and it doing absolutely nothing for me—a colleague of mine who is a self-proclaimed Korean skincare fanatic recommended this toner to me. I couldn’t have anticipated loving this toner as much as I do. In fact, I didn’t even know I could love a toner, but this one, which promised a hydrating glow and even complexion, made me realize that not all toners are equal. It contains 89 percent of thermal water and five layers of the pregnancy-safe ingredient hyaluronic acid, which is a polyhydroxy acid (PHA) that is less invasive than other acids like AHA or BHA. Not only does it smooth the skin’s texture and offer some gentle exfoliation, but it also brightens the skin with ingredients like niacinamide and prepares your skin for the next step in your routine.

Santorini Grape Velvet Skin Drink Serum

One word: underrated. I can’t even remember how this Greek-born skincare line fell onto my radar, but I’m glad it did. (Although, after using this velvety serum for about a year, I visited Athens and saw this brand everywhere.) When Korres says “velvet,” they mean it. I truly have never tried a serum so soft and so hydrating. The words “skin drink” are appropriate, too, because I can literally feel my skin barrier gulping it up when I apply it twice daily, unlike some other serums that have either a too-sticky or too-watery consistency. This serum feels like gently rubbing your thumb on a flower petal—no, I’m serious—and it’s best for rough-looking skin that has a depleted, uneven texture. It hydrates, smoothes, and adds a glow (but not unwanted shine) and the result is so glowy. I’m convinced it’s the serum and not my hormones that are responsible for the so-called “pregnancy glow.”

Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream

I was first introduced to Vanicream when my niece was diagnosed with eczema all over her arms, legs, and stomach. The dermatologist recommended this drugstore brand and it worked wonders for her. Although I don’t deal with eczema on my face, I really like how clean the product is; not only is it dermatologist-tested, but it’s also non-comedogenic, fragrance- and dye-free, and formulated without common irritants (including parabens and sulfates) that can agitate sensitive skin. If it’s good enough for highly sensitive-skinned people with eczema and allergies, then it’s good enough for me during pregnancy and beyond.

MediHeal Teatree Trouble Facial Toner Pads

I (thankfully!) have not had to use these facial toner pads since I’ve been pregnant as my breakouts have been very under control. But during the few occasions I have had a zit or two, these have come in handy. Another Korean skincare favorite that came recommended to me, I love how soothing these are, especially in comparison to spot creams and other alternatives. Previously, I’d always put Mario Badescu Drying Lotion on spots, but that’s too heavy-duty to use while pregnant. These vegan toner pads, though, are saturated in skin-calming, inflammation-reducing tea tree oil. It feels cool to the touch when worn—kind of like you would a sheet mask—and strengthens the skin barrier, eases redness, and soothes irritated skin. After you’ve kept it on for a while, you can wipe any remaining serum on the affected area to tone and moisturize the area before the next step in your skincare routine. 

Grace & Stella Moisturizing Eye Masks

I’ve been obsessed with Grace & Stella for a long time, and though they just came out with new retinol-based eye masks, I’m not going to use retinol until after giving birth. Luckily, I still have my pick of the litter with the gold, pink, and blue eye masks, which are all pregnancy-safe and so, fair game. The pink is designed to moisturize and reduce dark circles, puffy eyes, wrinkles, and under eye bags. (And as a Sicilian-Italian woman, the under eye bags are a real struggle.) I recommend these to everyone and even buy these as gifts for friends and family because they truly give my under eye area a boost on days when I’m feeling extra tired (especially in that first trimester). Plus, they’re cool to the touch and feel like jelly!

Alastin Skincare HydraTint Pro Mineral Sunscreen SPF 36

I’m not really one to spend a ton of money on skincare (or makeup either, for that matter), but I will go broke for a tinted moisturizer with SPF. After all, wearing SPF year round is crucial to protecting your skin from sun damage—even when it’s cold or cloudy. Alastin was initially recommended by my esthetician, and I quickly became obsessed with the brand’s tinted mineral sunscreen that contains SPF 36 and ectoin, an ingredient that shields the skin from blue light and pollution. It also gives me a slight glow while providing broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection, and the all-mineral formula is so lightweight that I barely remember it’s on my face. I also love that I can wear it under makeup (if I want to apply makeup that day). Plus, because it’s mineral-based, it also wards off signs of aging and melasma, which anywhere from 50 to 70 percent of women develop during pregnancy. 

The products featured in this article have been vetted for pregnancy-safe ingredients by Rachel Lozina, New York State Licensed Master Esthetician, Laser Technician, Oncology Esthetician and Founder of Blue Water Spa in Oyster Bay, NY. Always consult your doctor before adding new products to your skincare regimen.