Style May 4, 2023

Pregnancy-safe skin care: Dermatologist-approved picks to add to your routine

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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.

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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:

Clear and Balanced Deep Cleansing Acne Scrub

Price: $9.99 · From Ulta Beauty

Editor's Picks

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:

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid 10% Suspension Brightening Cream

Price: $11.10 · From Sephora

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More top-rated skin and body products for pregnancy

Bio-Oil Skincare Body Oil

Price: $21.54 · 8% Savings
From Amazon

Original: $23.49

JOANNA CZECH Body Wash Pads

Price: $48 · From Revolve

Give your skin an at-home spa treatment when you incorporate these body wash pads that work to massage and exfoliate, while you luxuriate. 

Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter

Price: $25.67 · From Burt's Bees

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.

Shea Body Butter

Price: $32 · From Ulta Beauty

Get your ultimate glow on with this whipped, fast absorbing, rich shea butter that can be used from head to toe. 

OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright+ Vitamin C Brightening Eye Crème

Price: $42 · From Sephora

Pregnancy can be joyful and tiring. Keep the skin around your peepers bright and beautiful with this highly rated vitamin C-packed eye cream. 

In The Clear Acne Serum

Price: $30 · From Honest Beauty

This gentle lightweight serum works to keep your skin clear and acne-free with wintergreen-derived salicylic acid, azelaic acid, zinc PCA and niacinamide.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Vitamin-C Day Serum

Price: $78 · From Sephora

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. 

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