What products should I use or avoid while pregnant?
As a precaution, we recommend consulting with your physician about any skincare questions you have during pregnancy. However as a general rule, most skincare products such as cleansers, toners, moisturisers, and sunscreens that do not contain over-the-counter ingredients are fine for use throughout your pregnancy and while you're breastfeeding. The following is a list of ingredients to avoid:
- Benzoyl peroxide is an excellent ingredient to control acne and is considered safe in low concentrations (5% or less) when you're pregnant.
- Salicylic acid (BHA) is a superior exfoliant for skin, and the small percentages used in skincare (2% or lower) are OK to use while pregnant.
- Hydroquinone has not been tested on animals or humans regarding its use during pregnancy, so it's best to avoid using products that contain hydroquinone during pregnancy or while you're breastfeeding.
- Avoid over-the-counter products with retinol due to its relation to prescription retinoids.
Please read Skincare During Pregnancy article for additional information.