Skincare, Makeup & Pregnancy, Oh, My!
It is no surprise that pregnancy changes your body, but many women don’t know that it changes your skin as well (sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse ). Since the hormones that effect your body also have a direct effect on your complexion, you just don’t know what changes are in store for you until you are there (isn’t that exciting!) Therefore, you should consider reviving your make-up and skincare routine as you progress through your pregnancy.
As a pregnant gal myself, I have had to change my skincare routine quite a bit since becoming pregnant. First off, my skin was usually combo/dry before getting pregnant, and all of a sudden it was a hell of a lot oilier. I had to stop using any creams that were not oil-free or gel based, and I stopped using a hydrating serum underneath my moisturizer. This really helped keep the oil at bay, and balance my skin more. I really did my research to find the best product that was both hydrating, but still oil absorbing, and what I found was a moisturizer by Clinique. I never bought a Clinique skin care product before this one, but I was going to give it a shot.
The moisturizer is called Moisture Surge Intense, and here is what I read about it before buying it: “Rich, oil-free cream gel instantly rehydrates. Skin stays comfortably plumped, even 24 hours after you put it on. Daily use helps fortify and repair skins moisture barrier to keep moisture in, environmental irritants out. Better barrier, happier skin. “ Sounds good, right? Well, it worked beautifully! So good in fact my husband Zack loved it more than I did, and I had to buy another one for him;)
$36.00 for 1.7 oz.
At night, I found that using a cream that had glycolic acid in it (which you are allowed to use while pregnant) really helped prevent any breakouts, and kept my skin looking brighter and smoother looking. I *swear* by glycolic acid, and love the instant results I get from using it. It instantly reduces pore size by getting rid of the dead skin cells, and keeps your skin in tip-top-shape. However, you must use a sunblock the next day after using it since it does make your skin more sensitive to the sun. I use Cane + Austin Retexturizing Cream, and I bought mine at Bluemercury.
$80 for 1.6 oz.
So these two products have been a godsend for my skin, and for helping create that “inner glow” that I love to have…and who doesn’t want that glow when they are pregnant?
As for make-up, I also had to change my routine to fit my new “oily to combo.” skin. I also wanted something very simple to put on since I was definitely feeling more tired and cranky, and the last thing I wanted to do was sit in front of the mirror applying makeup. So, I opted for a tinted moisturizer (thank you NARS), and applied mineral powder with an spf 30 as well, to set it. Voila!!- My skin was not oily throughout the day, and not dry looking at all, but perfectly balanced all day long. SCORE.
I absolutely adore NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer because it is very light, but has wonderful coverage for a t.m. It contains spf 30, and is a treatment too (contains water from Polynesia that prevents wrinkles)…Hello Perfection. Check it out if you have not already. They have a slew of colors for every skin tone. I am in the shade Alaska, in case you are wondering;)
$40
This make-up routine has been wonderful so far this summer, and I feel like I am really protecting my skin from the sun, especially when I am outside in the heat. Being pregnant, you are more prone to skin related disorders, such as Melasma, or Chloasma (also known as ‘the mask of pregnacy’) which appears as a blotchy, brownish pigmentation/discoloation on the face; and being an Esthetician, I have seen a lot of pregnant women who develop this skin disorder. There are several known triggers for melasma, but the main one is sun exposure, which is why I am even more careful than ever before to protect my skin from the sun during this time.
Here is an image of a woman with melasma:
Pregnancy is probably not the best time to jump off the dead end and try various products, so try to resist the urge to go for a completely different look, and just embrace what you got! You have enough changes going on in your body and life to deal with for a while, so opt for simplicity over complexity at this time, in my opinion at least. Also, avoid products with harsh chemicals, including those with Vitamin A (retinol) and Mercury and its derivatives, for these can cause birth defects in large doses.
I hope you found this post informative, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. Thanks for stopping by!!