Yahoo Lifestyle This is the skincare a pregnant beauty editor swears by
I’ll never forget the moment I first saw the positive pregnancy test - I decided to do it on a complete whim. After going through the motions, I hopped in the shower and began my intricate wash routine before deciding to have a quick peek. The shriek from the bathroom made my husband sprint in as he thought I must have caused “a severe injury of some description.” Understated has never really been my style. After he wrapped me in a towel as I trembled – we sat on the sofa giving ourselves time for it to sink in. Heading to bed that evening, an equally intricate skincare routine ordinarily would have followed. This, (and a sober Glastonbury just a few weeks later) was where the lifestyle changes began.
Even as a beauty editor, I immediately found pregnancy safe skincare to be a bit of a minefield, and a lot of the time things aren’t advised because they haven’t been tested on pregnant women, rather than that they aren’t actually safe. “Testing on a pregnant or breastfeeding woman is unlikely to happen as we err on the side of caution,” GP and aesthetician Dr Ahmed El Muntasar tells me. “I personally believe it’s better to be safe than sorry. In other countries, however, they are allowing women to make this choice. They’ll provide you with the information and you can make the decision. Whereas in the UK, it’s a taboo subject, and most doctors, even if the woman agreed to a certain treatment or product, would likely still say no. They wouldn’t perform or recommend a treatment if it hasn’t been proven to be safe.”
I personally believe that we should all have the choice to decide, and it was only yesterday I got my hair coloured, whereas I know some mums-to-be who completely avoided this during their pregnancy. “In my holistic approach to pregnancy, I advocate for women to research ingredients themselves to determine what is safe and what is not,” says Luna Daily medical collective and consultant in obstetrics and foetal medicine, Dr Gergana Peeva.
For me, the first thing I dropped from my skincare routine was retinol. Medik8 Crystal Retinal Serum and Eye Cream were Holy Grail for me, and they now sit gathering dust like Wheezy in Toy Story. “The studies are from more concentrated, pure forms of vitamin A that are either injected into the body or used topically at much, much higher concentrations than high street retinols,” explains Dr Ahmed. “However, practically, a lot of patients still use it, and it's something that I come across regularly. Perhaps there’s room for improvement in terms of the current research. My professional option is not to take the risk.” I’m in total agreement.
For the first few months of my pregnancy, I was hyper cautious and adopted a simple hydrating routine of a gel cleanser, vitamin C serum, moisturiser and mineral SPF and then a good hyaluronic acid serum and moisturiser come evening. However, as someone with oily, blemish-prone skin, it began to look and feel the worst it’s ever been. This was meant to be one of the most amazing experiences of my life, but every time I looked in the mirror, I couldn’t help but feel down. I hit up dermatologist Dr Derek Phillips who helps patients with a variety of skin concerns by creating bespoke skincare formulations.
“A lot of women notice that as the pregnancy progresses their skin gets better, because you produce a lot of oestrogen which is good at reducing levels of testosterone and other hormones that can drive acne,” he explains. “For some it goes the other way, and you find yourself in a situation whereby you want to make your skin feel and look the best you can but also you want to protect the baby and be extra careful.”
After assessing my skin, Dr Phillips told me that I would benefit from one of his pregnancy formulations aimed at tackling breakouts, which contains a blend of salicylic acid, azelaic acid and niacinamide. “Niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties, repairs the skin barrier, reduces oil production and can treat hyper pigmentation. This makes it an ideal ingredient for rosacea, acne or melasma. Azelaic acid is anti-inflammatory and can also help to reduce pigmentation. Salicylic acid at concentrations under 2% are safe and will help to unblock the pores and treat acne.” This has been a real godsend for me, as it’s condensed everything into one cream I can use twice daily alongside a vitamin C serum and SPF in the morning and a good moisturiser come evening. Pregnant or not, I’d highly recommend utilising a dermatologist service like this if you’re feeling overwhelmed with what to use on your skin.
As I write this article, I’m currently five months pregnant. I’m noticing a slow and steady improvement in my skin and the pictures in this feature are how it looks today. Although it’s far from perfect, I’m okay with that. As each month goes by, I’m being kinder to myself – I am growing a tiny human after all. Dr Peeva mimics my sentiment entirely. “This is a journey to be embraced. Any change in your skin should serve as a reminder that you are becoming a mother and nurturing a baby inside.”
To the pregnant mama’s out there, remember to take some time out for you and nuture your body. I would highly recommend treating yourself to a pregnancy massage. I just experienced the most phenomenal ‘Nurturing New Life’ treatment at the Beaverbrook spa, a full body massage with oils and balms full of antioxidants and omega fatty acids. I fell asleep and awoke to dribble on the pillow and I don’t think you can get higher praise than that. I would also say to invest in a good fragrance-free body oil to give yourself a bit of a DIY treatment at home. I’m suffering with dry and itchy nipples – a side effect of pregnancy I’d never even heard of – so I slather on Nécessaire The Body Oil over them and my bump every morning and night.
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