Skin Care Routines : For the Ever-glowing Mama-bears!

A lot changes when you bring home that little bundle of joy: your daily routine, your sleep routine, even your skin routine. Although time to yourself dwindles (or even disappears completely), you should remember that self-care is just as important as caring for others. It’s like a much less dramatic version of the oxygen masks popping down from the ceiling of the airplane. You’re always instructed to take care of yourself first before assisting others, and for good reason — you’re a bigger help to others once you’ve helped yourself. We’re outlining a quick and easy skin care regimen for you to use even if you only have a few minutes to spare.

Which Product Ingredients Are Safe For Skin Care During Pregnancy?

Skin care products to avoid during pregnancy.

Skin care treatments to avoid during pregnancy.

Answers for frequently asked skin problems during (&) post pregnancy.

Popular daily skin care routine.

When to consult a dermatologist?

1. There are a few ingredients that you must keep in mind when selecting products to use while you are pregnant. They have been tested and are safe for you and your baby!

For acne: If you are facing pregnancy related acne due to the changes in hormone levels, you can use products that contain rosehip seed, lactic seed, azelaic acid, and alpha hydroxyl acids.

For hyperpigmentation: Melasma is caused by staying out in the sun and the change in hormone levels during pregnancy. You can use products that have azelaic acid or topical vitamin C.

For wrinkles: The remedy for wrinkles and fine lines are products with hyaluronic acid or vitamin C. Most doctors will recommend that you do not opt for Botox treatments while you are pregnant.

For free radical damage: The best way to correct free radical damage is by using products that have topical vitamin C or E.

2. There are a few products that are best avoided when pregnant. Some of the common ones are:

Sunscreen

While many people will tell you otherwise, you must use sunscreens every day irrespective of the weather. Some dermatologists will tell you to use them even if you are staying indoors all day. However, some sunscreen ingredients which one must avoid while pregnant are titanium oxide and zinc oxide since they get absorbed by the skin.

Soy

Soy-based products are generally preferred by a lot of women as it is a natural product and is vegan. However, the estrogenic component of this ingredient can make melisma even worse. Use products that have active soy as the estrogenic components will be taken out.

Acne Products

With the changing estrogen levels, most pregnant women will experience acne even if they’ve had clear skin before. Your doctor can recommend a topical antibiotic for the same. You must remember that face products to avoid during pregnancy include BHA or retinoids.

Steroids

Topical steroids are recommended for minor inflammations, rashes, and itches associated with eczema, dermatitis, and insect bites. These creams are considered safe to be used during pregnancy. However, do let the person prescribing the medication know that you are pregnant. To be doubly sure, check the safety of the product with your doctor.

Hair Removers & Minimizers

Using creams to remove unwanted hair or to delay its growth can be a blessing especially when your mobility and flexibility is compromised as your pregnancy progresses. Fortunately, you can definitely use these products if you follow the directions. Do an allergy test as you can develop new allergies due to your pregnancy.

3. Self-care, a.k.a self-pampering is every girl’s birthright. But a few treatments you NEED to avoid for your little one are:

Tanning: This treatment could increase the core temperature of your body significantly. The tanning beds use UVA light which could break down folic acid which is important for the development of your baby.

Body wraps: Avoid these as they will increase your core body temperature.

Peels: Chemical peels contain high levels of various chemicals including salicylic acid.

4. Listed below are few of the common questions about skin care. Have a look to get your queries answered!

HOW DO YOU TREAT POST-PREGNANCY ACNE?

If you’ve noticed that your skin seems to be breaking out left, right and center now that you’re no longer pregnant, don’t panic! The elevated levels of hormones in your body produced while pregnant may have affected your complexion, but now that you’re safely post-partum, your hormone levels may be all over the place – which could increase the likelihood of visible spots and blemishes. If imperfections or oily skin are a problem a few months after delivery, a cleanser formulated with salicylic or glycolic acid, can help to tone the appearance of skin while removing excess oil without drying it out too much or irritating skin.

WHAT CAUSES DULL SKIN POST PREGNANCY?

Is that pregnancy glow that got you so many compliments now suddenly a thing of the past? If your complexion’s looking a little duller than it used to now that your baby’s no longer on board: it could be due to lack of sleep. Exfoliating can help to brighten skin, but to get to the root of the problem, it’s important to pay attention to your sleep pattern.

WHY DO YOU SEE DARK SPOTS AFTER PREGNANCY?

Melasma – also known as the pregnancy mask – is the term for those annoying dark spots or patches many women experience during pregnancy. Many expectant mothers report the development of melasma, with exposure to UV rays resulting in more pronounced symptoms. While melasma can fade once your baby’s made their appearance, the condition can recur with subsequent pregnancies or prolonged exposure to sunlight, so make sure your skin is properly protected with the right amount of broad spectrum SPF and reapply every two hours in addition to taking other sun protection measures.

HOW CAN YOU COMBAT DRY SKIN AFTER PREGNANCY?

If you are experiencing dry skin after pregnancy it is important to properly hydrate. If you’ve noticed patches of dry or flaking skin, it’s a good idea to add a hydrating moisturizer to your routine. Day-to-day, hydrating skin with a spritz of Mineralizing Thermal Water can also help to refresh and hydrate skin.

5. One of the easiest and popular daily skin care routine, using super safe and reliable products during pregnancy, which is do-able in a few minutes is listed below. Go peep!

CLEANSE

Morning and night you’ll want to make sure you find the time to cleanse your skin. While there are plenty of steps that you can skip in your beauty routine, cleansing your skin is not one of them. Since time is of the essence look for a cleanser that can save you some.

ANTIOXIDANT SERUM + BROAD-SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN

During the day, to help to shield your skin from the external aggressors that can cause the signs of premature skin aging you’ll want to invest in an antioxidant serum and a moisturizer with broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher. This combination can protect your skin from the harsh effects of the sun’s UV rays—something you’ll want to be diligent about to help prevent any post-pregnancy melasma from darkening—as well as the effects of free radicals. What’s more, by reaching for a moisturizer-plus-SPF you are able to kill two birds with one stone—or, in this case, two skin care routine non-negotiables with one product.

NIGHT CREAM

At night time after cleansing your skin you’ll want to reach for a moisturizer that is formulated to address some of your top skincare concerns. Since sleep is often the first thing to be sacrificed after baby is born, try looking for a night cream that was created to help to hydrate and brighten the appearance of tired-looking skin. We like overnight masks for this very purpose. The mask has an instant cooling effect on contact and upon waking, you’ll look more hydrated and radiant. The mask’s gel-balm-like texture breaks down into tiny water droplets which helps it melt onto skin to deliver moisture as you rest…or while you try to at least.

EYE CREAM

Dark circles under the eyes are a tell-tale sign of fatigue. To help to combat their appearance reach for an eye cream formulated to help brighten the under-eye area. Formulated with phe-resorcinol, caffeine, and light reflective pigments, the cream helps to visibly reduce the appearance of dark circles and brighten the eye contour area.

FACE MISTS

Need a quick midday pick-me-up? While a face mist can’t compare to that much-needed iced coffee, they can quickly refresh your skin on the go. We recommend keeping one stored in your diaper bag so you can use it as needed. Look for face mists that have been formulated with soothing thermal waters like Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water. This thermal spa water boasts the brand’s exclusive antioxidant- and mineral-rich water sourced from the French volcanoes. The water has been shown to both soothe and strengthen the skin against external aggressors, reinforcing the skin’s natural barrier function.

BB CREAM

Finally, these days you may not have the time (or the energy) to put on a full face of makeup, but a layer of BB cream can help to give the illusion of flawless-looking skin. BB creams (or beauty balms) are hydrating formulas that are lighter than foundation but offer a sheer tint to help to conceal any imperfections on the skin’s surface.

6. “Why fear when the doctor is here! “

You should visit a dermatologist for the same reasons you would if you weren’t pregnant. If you have any rashes, itchy patches, flaking skin, or bumps, do not hesitate to make an appointment with a skin doctor.

Most pregnant women know that what they use on their body affects their child’s development. However, what you put on your body is also important. In case of any doubts regarding a product, do not use it until your doctor gives approval.

Adjusting to life as a new parent can be an incredibly overwhelming experience, with many first-time moms feeling as though they’ll never get back to their pre-baby routine. It is important to adopt a new skin care routine to target your new concerns. Whether we’re talking sleep, work/life balance or even simply taking care of their skin. The changes our bodies go through both during and after pregnancy are often wonderful, sometimes surprising and – occasionally – completely unexpected. So our beloved mama-bears, don’t worry, we’re right here for you!