During your pregnancy you will experience a number of changes, but the most common of all, is a change in your skin. You might be one of those women who experience a radiant glow that's synonymous with carrying a baby, but the change in hormones could also cause adult acne, heightened sensitivity and a 'pregnancy mask' of pigmentation. As you start to make healthy lifestyle changes for you and your baby, you might want to alter your skincare routine too to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.
To help you navigate the beauty challenges that pregnancy can present you with, we’ve created a pregnancy skincare guide along with pregnancy beauty tips to introduce to your new routine. As mothers, we give so much to our loved ones, we need to make sure we are also looking after ourselves - and that includes our skin.
Why does our skin change during pregnancy?
Because of the shifts in your hormones, increased blood flow, increase in oil secretion and a surge in pigment-stimulating hormones, pregnancy can cause several changes in your skin. The two main changes to look out for are pigmentation and hormonal acne or breakouts.- Pigmentation changes - This might look like patches of discolouration which appear on your face. For many women, after childbirth, the skin typically returns to its normal pigment after a few months. However, it is possible that some dark patches may never go away. You can reduce the risk of pigmentation by protecting your skin with an SPF daily and looking for natural products that are high in actives - which are great for minimizing pigmentation and evening out skin tone.
- Hormonal acne - Due to the increased production of oil and hormones, some women may feel they’ve returned to their teenage years and experience breakouts during pregnancy, especially around the chin, jawline and cheeks. With your skin more sensitive than usual during this time, it’s important to use products that are natural and gentler on sensitive skin to avoid more irritation.
Using high-quality pregnancy safe skincare products and selecting skin-loving skincare ingredients like Resveratrol, Maca Root & Caviar Lime to name only a few, will help you combat any unwanted skin concerns that develop during your pregnancy.
Our top pregnancy skincare tips
Tip #1: Try natural products
Explore natural skincare during pregnancy as an alternative to your normal skincare routine. You want to feel confident that your products contain pregnancy-safe skincare ingredients so now is a great time to get to know what is in your beauty products, and dispose of any harsh chemicals or ingredients. Rest assured that INIKA’s skincare range contains no toxins, parabens or synthetic substances - making it the perfect place to start building your new skincare routine.Tip #2: Stay away from Retinols
There are a few main beauty product ingredients to avoid when pregnant and breastfeeding, and Retinol is one of them. While Retinol can be great for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, it also speeds up cell turnover and can make the skin much more prone to sun damage and pigmentation. Look for a natural alternative like our Phytofuse Renew Resveratrol Serum which contains no Retinol but uses natural ingredients to help lift and smooth the skin, and help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.Tip #3: Check expiration dates
Pregnancy is the perfect time to do a skincare clean out and get rid of anything that may be well past the expiration date. Take a look at the little container illustration on your beauty products, they usually indicate 6M or 12M indicating the number of months to use them by after opening. If you’re not sure how long it’s been, it’s likely you’ve passed the expiration date and it’s time to freshen up your skincare cabinet.Tip #4: Nourish your whole body
Changes to your skin can happen all over your body, not just on your face. Side effects like reduced skin elasticity and stretch marks during pregnancy can occur but are easily treated with nourishing and natural skincare products. Our hydrating face oil Phyto-Active Rosehip Oil Blend doubles as a nourishing body oil for pregnancy and can be used across all areas of the body including the stomach and legs. It helps provide extra-hydration to your skin, and applying it daily can assist with minimizing the appearance of scars and stretch marks.Shop pregnancy-safe skincare now
INIKA’s skin-loving skincare range makes choosing your pregnancy-safe beauty products easy. Packed full of superfood ingredients, discover our range and order online today!