Pregnancy rearranges almost everything, and skin is no exception. Some women glow from the second trimester onwards and wonder what all the fuss was about. Others find their once reliable face turning blotchy, dry, oily or all three in the course of a week. Most land somewhere in between, and nearly everyone finds themselves reading ingredient labels with a new and slightly anxious intensity.
What I'd reach for
Scent-Free Tallow Balm. Grass-fed tallow, jojoba, sacha inchi and beeswax, with no fragrance and no essential oils. Please check it with your midwife or GP first.
Have a lookWhy your skin changes
During pregnancy your body produces more oestrogen and progesterone than at any other time in your life, your blood volume rises by around half, and your skin stretches to accommodate a growing person. It would be strange if your skin didn't notice.
Darker patches on the face, a dark line down the belly, more oil in some places and more dryness in others, and an increased sensitivity to products you've used for years are all common and usually settle after birth. Doctors describe most of these as normal physiological changes of pregnancy, which is reassuring to hear when you're the one in the mirror.
The honest truth about stretch marks
Somewhere between half and nine in ten women develop stretch marks during pregnancy, and a great many products promise to prevent them. A thorough review of the research found that genetics, the size of the bump and how quickly the skin stretches play the largest roles, and that no topical product has convincing evidence of prevention. Moisturising your belly will keep the skin comfortable and ease the itch of stretching, and that is a perfectly good reason to do it. I would just rather you heard the truth than a promise.
Why so many women simplify
Pregnancy is when a lot of women strip their routine right back, and there is real sense in that. Skin is more reactive in these months, and fewer products means fewer chances of irritation. Essential oils are a common concern too. Some are generally advised against during pregnancy, and the safest approach is to avoid them unless your health practitioner is happy with a particular one.
A simple routine for these months might be a gentle cleanser, a moisturiser for your face, something rich for your belly and breasts, and sunscreen to help with darker patches, which sunlight tends to deepen.
Looking after yourself from the inside
Your skin draws on the same nutrients as the rest of you, and pregnancy and breastfeeding raise your needs for protein, iron, zinc, iodine and omega-3 fats. Your GP or midwife is the right person to guide supplements during this time.
What I'd reach for
The Scent-Free Tallow Balm is Australian grass-fed tallow with no fragrance and no essential oils. It works on your face, your belly and anywhere that feels tight or dry. For larger areas, the Glow Tallow Face and Body Butter comes in a bigger jar. Please check the ingredients of any product with your health practitioner first, and patch test before using it widely. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding or using something on a baby, that conversation matters more than anything I could tell you.
Ayla, holistic health coach and founder of DAEAR
Keep reading
- Sensitive skin: why it reacts, and how to bring it some calm
- How to use tallow balm: a simple three-step routine
This article is general information only and is not nutritional or medical advice. Every pregnancy is different. Please speak with your GP, midwife or obstetrician before using any new skincare or supplement while pregnant or breastfeeding, and seek care promptly for any rash, severe itching or skin change that worries you.
Research referred to
- Tunzi M, Gray GR. Common skin conditions during pregnancy. American Family Physician. 2007;75(2):211-218.
- Farahnik B et al. Striae gravidarum: risk factors, prevention, and management. International Journal of Women's Dermatology. 2017;3(2):77-85.
- Tisserand R, Young R. Essential Oil Safety. 2nd edition. Churchill Livingstone; 2014.