My Pregnancy Skincare Routine

Since finding out I was pregnant last October, I knew I needed to make some changes in my skincare routine. And while I love getting to test new things, I’m pretty loyal to my skincare products. But when I started talking with my doctor and researching on my own, I learned many of them were not considered “pregnancy safe” due to higher amounts of Vitamin A or Salicylic Acid.

Thankfully my doctor and nurses were very kind and generous with their time and let me send them product labels of anything I was questioning. Since each pregnancy is different, I would recommend asking your doctor and nurses before trying anything new.

When starting my pregnancy skin care routine, I knew I had to cut out my beloved retinol (if you are new to retinol, start with the .05 and gradually work your way up to the 0.1) and acne products. It was tough because my skin went crazy at first. Breakouts, fine lines, dark spots – it wasn’t great. I did a ton of research and talked with my doctor, esthetician and several of my friends who are gurus in the clean beauty department. After a couple of months of testing different products, I found a simple routine that worked for me.

Below are the products I used throughout my pregnancy and are still using while breastfeeding. Like I mentioned above, it’s always a good idea to talk with your doctor, but this is what worked for me. Have you tried any of these?

xx Ashley

MORNING ROUTINE

STEP ONE: Indie Lee Brightening Face Wash *save up to 20% today only with code SUMMER*

I started using Indie Lee pretty early on in my pregnancy. I got a sample of their cleanser and ended up buying the full-size bottle the next day. It was that good! I did another review of this cleanser in this blog post. 

STEP TWO: Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner *save up to 20% today only with code SUMMER*

Finding a toner that doesn’t strip the skin of its natural oils is essential to the pH balance of your skin. The CoQ-10 Toner is one of my favorites. It’s soothing and hydrating while removing every last trace of makeup. 

STEP THREE: Tata Harper Restorative Eye Cream or CosMedix Opti Crystal Eye Serum 

I actually started using the Tata Harper Eye Cream well before I found out I was pregnant. It’s lightweight and gentle around the most sensitive eyes. 

The Cosmedix Opti Crystal Eye Serum is also really nice (honestly, I think I like this more than the Tata Harper Eye Cream). It feels so nice on your skin and has micro crystals to give your eyes a glow. A little goes a long way with this product (I use a dot for both eyes). I start by warming up the product between my fingers. Then, I lightly press the serum under my eyes. You will see an immediate difference.

STEP FOUR: Ole Henriksen Truth Serum

This was the only product that kept my acne at bay during my pregnancy. I don’t even think it claims to help with breakouts, but this serum was everything to my skin during these past 9 months. I used it every single morning and I’m convinced it helped fade dark spots (which all decided to show up when I was pregnant) and blemishes. Highly recommend. 

OPTIONAL – STEP FIVE: JOA Face Cream 

I didn’t really use a moisturizer throughout my pregnancy, but occasionally my skin needed a little extra hydration. I liked the JOA Face Cream (this one claims to be a night cream but it’s great for daytime too). It made my skin feel really soft and hydrated when I used it. 

NIGHT ROUTINE

STEP ONE: DHC Face Oil *save up to 20% today only with code SUMMER*

If I wear makeup, I always double cleanse at night with a muslin cloth. I did a few blog posts on double cleansing here and here if you want to read more! 

STEP TWO: Indie Lee Brightening Face Wash *save up to 20% today only with code SUMMER*

STEP THREE: Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner *save up to 20% today only with code SUMMER*

STEP FOUR: Tata Harper Restorative Eye Cream or CosMedix Opti Crystal Eye Serum

STEP FIVE: One of the treatments below.

TREATMENTS 

BeautyCounter Overnight Peel – PM only 

Why oh why did I JUST discover this? Several of my friends have been telling me about this but honestly, it just didn’t interest me. If you were to only buy one thing from this list, let it be this. It gives you a glow, exfoliates the skin, reduces dark spots/acne scars and was approved for me to use while pregnant. It really works and I noticed results the next morning. I used 2-3x a week. 

Sunday Riley Good Genes – PM only 

I love a good lactic acid treatment. This was great because it also helped with my skin texture and any breakouts that decided to come my way. I used this 3-4x a week (only use at night) after my night routine. My skin does better without a nighttime moisturizer, so I just put this on after cleansing and toning and went to bed.

Summer Fridays Jet Lag – AM or PM 

This mask is hydrating, cooling and ideal for all skin types. I actually took this with me to the hospital when George was born and kept it in the fridge. My face was so swollen after 14 hours of labor and then an emergency c-section…yeah. The cooling effect of this mask felt comforting and I’m convinced it helped minimize the swelling.  

Tan Luxe Super Serum – AM or PM 

I did a big review over tanning products and this face serum here. I would give it a read if you are interested in a face self-tanner!

Product Details  

BeautyCounter Overnight Peel | Indie Lee Brightening Face Wash | Tata Harper Restorative Eye Cream | Sunday Riley Good Genes | Olehenriksen Truth Serum | DHC Face Oil | Summer Fridays Jet Lag |Tan Luxe Super Serum | Indie Lee CoQ-10 Toner | JOA Face Cream | CosMedix Opti Crystal Eye Serum