Pregnancy-safe skin care: Dermatologist-approved picks to add to your routine
Dr. DiAnne Davis shares which skin care picks to buy and avoid while pregnant.
Great skin is always in ... even when you're pregnant.
While pregnancy can come with its own special supernatural glow, it may also mean cutting out some of your beloved skin-enhancing products.
Through the years, experts have continued to agree that powerfully potent ingredients such as heavy-duty retinoids and retinol should take a backseat while you're growing your beautiful bundle of joy.
However, most would also concur that loading up on ingredients such as vitamin C is a safe bet.
"Good Morning America" tapped board-certified fellowship-trained dermatologist Dr. DiAnne Davis for her tips on pregnancy-safe products, as well as ingredients she recommends discontinuing, such as tazarotene, tretinoin and hydroquinone.
"Tazarotene is a derivative of vitamin A and can result in risks of harm to the fetus based on human data we have with oral medication that uses the same ingredients," she said. "Another ingredient [to avoid] is hydroquinone, which can help target discoloration, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or even melasma."
Alternatively, there are a variety of products you can add to your routine that will keep your pregnancy glow going strong.
Just ahead, see and shop some of the top-rated pregnancy-safe skin care products on the market.
Editor's note: Always be sure to double-check with your care provider before adding new products to your routine while pregnant.
By clicking on these shopping links, visitors will leave Goodmorningamerica.com. These e-commerce sites are operated under different terms and privacy policies than Goodmorningamerica.com. ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Prices may change from the date of publication.
Pregnancy-safe skin care products
According to Davis, salicylic acid can be used in limited areas for a limited time to help with breakouts during pregnancy.
She recommends Burt's Bees Clear and Balanced Deep Cleansing Acne Scrub. "It is a great option for cleansing the skin that contains plant-based salicylic acid to treat active blemishes," she said. "It also provides gentle exfoliation while unclogging the prores with soothing cica, so it's not too harsh on the skin."
Shop:
Another ingredient Davis highly recommends is azelaic acid which she describes as a topical ingredient that is safe to use and incorporate during pregnancy. "It helps to fight acne as well as discoloration," she said.
Shop:
More top-rated skin and body products for pregnancy
JOANNA CZECH Body Wash Pads
Give your skin an at-home spa treatment when you incorporate these body wash pads that work to massage and exfoliate, while you luxuriate.
- $48
- Revolve
Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter
This five-star-rated butter is perfect for keeping your growing belly moisturized and shining. Key ingredients include shea butter, vitamin E and lactic acid.
- $25.67
- Burt's Bees
Shea Body Butter
Get your ultimate glow on with this whipped, fast absorbing, rich shea butter that can be used from head to toe.
- $32
- Ulta Beauty
OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright+ Vitamin C Brightening Eye Crème
Pregnancy can be joyful and tiring. Keep the skin around your peepers bright and beautiful with this highly rated vitamin C-packed eye cream.
- $42
- Sephora
In The Clear Acne Serum
This gentle lightweight serum works to keep your skin clear and acne-free with wintergreen-derived salicylic acid, azelaic acid, zinc PCA and niacinamide.
- $30
- Honest Beauty
Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Vitamin-C Day Serum
Keep your skin's texture and firmness in check when you slather on this vitamin C-packed serum. It's also loaded up with antioxidants, nutrients, and fruit enzymes that work to brighten your skin while improving signs of photoaging as well.
- $78
- Sephora
Get more shopGMA! Sign up for our newsletter, and follow on Instagram and TikTok.
Popular Reads
ABC News Live