Skin
My Pregnancy Skincare Routine
08 • 20 • 2016
What have I been up to this summer? Flying coast to coast having meetings for BeautyNow, taking some great family vacations, and, oh, you know, creating human life. In case you missed my announcement on Instagram, I’m due with baby #3 in October! And since I’m pregnant at the ripe, old-ish age of 36 and wisely abstaining from my usual Botox and retinol, I’ve been spending a lot of effort on skincare to make sure I don’t look haggard by baby time. And it’s working! This post is about my pregnancy skincare routine, although the products I’ve been using are great for non-pregnant people too, I would just add in a retinoid step at night.
What to Avoid During Pregnancy
In general during pregnancy you should to avoid all Retinol/Retinoids, Salicylic Acid (like in acne medication), and Hydroquinone (to fade spots). No Botox, Fillers (Restylane, Juvederm, etc.) or Latisse (to grow your lashes) either. And when I tried to book a body scrub at a spa during vacation, they denied this pregnant mama. Why??? Are you going to scrub the baby out of me? Ridiculous. Anyway, foregoing my usual anti-aging staples could mean a sad state of affairs for my skin, but I’ve developed a routine that has surprisingly kept my face together this whole pregnancy.
Speed Cell Turnover Safely
Since I can’t use my usual retinoids to speed cell turnover and promote collagen production (the stuff that keeps your skin plump and young-looking), I have been relying on totally safe glycolic acid and lactic acid to keep me glowy. These acids exfoliate the skin, helping skincare products penetrate better, making pores appear smaller, and keeping dark spots at bay.
I LOVE this Glytone Mini Peel Gel, a mask that works like a quick at-home glycolic peel. I apply on clean skin in the morning and leave on 10-15 minutes once or twice a week. The one caveat is that you need to moisturize really well afterwards because it can be a tad drying, but your skin will look insane good. If I have time I like to follow up the Glytone mask with a hydrating mask, like the GlamGlow ThirstyMud or the Peter Thomas Roth Rose Stem Cell Gel Mask (my current fave hydrating mask, sooooooo good!). If my skin still feels a little tight that evening, after cleansing I apply the ultra-moisturizing Cosmedix Rescue Balm and sleep in it (I wrote a whole post about the Cosmedix balm in a post about how to fix dry skin– if you have severe dryness, this should fix you right up!)
I also use a serum with lactic acid every two nights or so: Good Genes from Sunday Riley. Lactic Acid is safe and clinically proven to refine skin texture and help with dark spots (although it is worth noting that no product I have found, aside from prescription hydroquinone, has made a big improvement on my melasma). Good Genes is pricey ($105) but it tingles like it’s working and the glowy results are pretty immediate! It takes a really great product to keep me from returning it, especially if it is pricey, so it says a lot that I kept this one and now I’m 3/4 through the bottle!
Sunday Riley Good Genes leaves my skin moisturized and with fewer lines in the morning. I’ve been trying different combinations of serums and moisturizers to see what protocol leaves my skin the most plumped and line-free. Every morning I survey the lines on my forehead (that usually reveal my skin’s dehydration level) to see how well the previous night’s combo worked. And the best combo I have found so far is the Good Genes serum, followed by Embryolisse Lait Concentre, a cult-fave and budget-friendly French pharmacy moisturizer.
Alternatives to Botox?
This is so silly/vain/embarrassing, but the other times I got pregnant, I timed it exactly to where I had just gotten Botox for my forehead lines (I have done Botox there since I was 27 years old). This time I was already way overdue for my Botox when I got pregnant. Oh no, I thought! My forehead lines are going to be out of control by the end of this pregnancy!
So as a pregnancy-safe alternative I have been religiously using Frownies, these stickers you put on your forehead before sleeping and it has really kept my forehead lines at bay! I’m not saying it is as effective as Botox, which paralyzes the muscles that are causing the wrinkles. But consider the fact that one makes expressions while dreaming at night, so preventing 8 hours of expression lines with a physical sticker actually goes a long way to smoothing lines. I’m on my third box of Frownies, and they are very budget-friendly! But you need to stick with it (ha! Punny) and wear them every night or the lines will reappear.
So Frownies can help with the fine lines, but what about that slight lift to your brow that you get from Botox? I’ve had real success with the NuFace Facial Toning Device to slightly lift my brows and jowls (I have a whole post about my NuFace routine here— it really works!)
NuFace does not necessarily recommend microcurrent on your face during pregnancy, but I read a lot of medical literature on microcurrent and asked my doctor, and decided that for myself, I felt comfortable using it. (The conclusion I came to from my own research was that there is a theoretical increased risk of miscarriage from being exposed to microcurrent. But the NuFace is used nowhere near your baby, so I decided after my first trimester, I felt comfortable using NuFace. Ask your doc).
Keeping my pregnant face glowy and relatively line-free! Above is my look from a friend’s birthday party the other night. I’m wearing Too Faced Born This Way foundation, Kat Von D liquid lipstick in Melancholia (love this pale pink shade!), Tarte Park Avenue Princess Bronzer, It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil, MAC eye shadow in Woodwinked (bronze) in the crease, Clarins 3-dot liner in Brown, and CoverGirl Super Sizer mascara.
Also attempting to balance out my bump with ruffles, big curls (set with my longtime fave hairspray, Tres Semme Extra Hold in Level 4 [has to be the 4]) and new Rebecca de Ravenel Les Bonbons earrings.
xoxo,
Kathleen
I LOVE this post! I’m 31 and my husband and I are talking about babies soon, but I’m literally (and quite ridiculously-vain, also) freaking out about taking a 9 month hiatus from my Retin A and Salicylic LOL (I’ve been loyal to Retin A since 2007 and have oily/acne prone skin, too). I just assumed I would have to get monthly facials bc I didn’t think anything was going to help in its place but your post gives me hope that I can still look fabulous haha. :) Congrats on the upcoming addition!
Yay I’m so glad to hear that! I was super surprised that the products have worked enough to keep my skin looking pretty much the same and I’ve made it to 34 weeks!
Ah! Seriously love this post. There is not enough in regards to bloggers and skincare for this demographic! I’m 29, 5mo preg with my 2nd child and have been endlessly looking for something like this. Also, would love to see more posts in the future about keeping up a good skincare/beauty/hair regime while balancing working-mom life. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for reading! Sorry I just saw this and congrats to you!!!
Hey! I wasn’t sure how else to contact you but I have a couple questions. I use a mia2 and retina every night. I exfoliate with the cure twice a week in the morning. I just bought the mini boost peel. Can I still do my normal routine and use that one day a week? In just confused on where to fit everything in and wondering if I’m doing too much?
Hi Jasi! Yes, that sounds a lot like my routine. I usually only fit in the Glytone once a week, even though they say it can be done 2 or 3 times a week. But I think it you are alternating with the Cure, that would be too much. The Cure is a lot more gentle, so I would do that like you are in the morning twice a week, and the Glytone once a week in the morning (and not on consecutive days). I have stopped using my Mia 2 with that regimen because I think it is too much and doesn’t work as effectively as the products do.. xoxo Kathleen
Hi Kathleen! I really adore your blog, the product recommendations are awesome and I love your no-nonsense but funny reviews. The MUD concealer alone has changed my makeup routine, and I will worship you forever for it, haha. I have bought the Good Genes and I really like it, but had a quick Q. I use that every two days, but what do you love for nightly use? I am also pregnant so obviously being very careful about my products. Still I am missing my retinol like crazy, so just wondered what you were loving at the mo.
Thank you, Melissa, for reading and your kind compliments!!! I’m LOVING that you love the products!!! When I don’t use acids, for serum I like Estee Lauder Advance Night Repair 2: http://rstyle.me/n/bz6gpi5uz6 or I just directly put on that Mizon snail repair cream because I feel like it soaks in like a serum: http://rstyle.me/~8BQtG Hope that helps! xoxo Kathleen
I started using Botox as a preventive when I noticed fine lines beginning to form on my forehead. Occasionally I’d get flu-like symptoms. Over time I felt worse with every session and the effects didn’t last as long. I wound up stopping all together about 3 years ago and now my lines are definitely out of control. I found out I have an autoimmune condition and the resulting malaise was an autoimmune response. I’ve just ordered frownies to see if it helps. I also have sensitive skin and everything is trial and error. Products that are supposed to be hypoallergenic or for sensitive skin can leave me with a burning sensation and a red rash. I use a mix of products with Obagi being my go-to.
Recently I fell in love with Eminemce organic. The coconut age corrective moisturizer feels wonderful. Its very hydrating and non irritating. It would definitely be safe for use during pregnancy.
Congratulations!
Thank you!!!
Can you make a day-by-day pregnancy playbook? Without my Luna at night, I have no idea what to do now! Is it Good Genes+Embryolisse every other night, Glytone peel 2x/week on off Good Genes days plus a hydrating mask and/or regular moisturizer, and then just regular moisturizer any other day? Do you do the Glytone in the morning or at night, or does it matter? And the Frownies every night, correct? If I am having little break outs (a totally new thing, thanks hormones), is there anything you’d recommend adding to the regimen? Thanks for your help! your blog has been an amazing resource!
Sorry I’m just seeing this! You probably have had the baby by now lol. That regimen sounds like t would be good! Although I never had any problem using Glytone in the morning and good genes that night. Yes frownies every night for them to work. I need to do some more research on the acne!
I love your blog. I stumbled upon it when I searched for “Nuface during pregnancy”. I don’t know yet if I am pregnant, but it would be a shame to stop using nuface.
I’m glad that I found someone who cares about how they look during pregnancy! Sometimes I feel that I’m too vain and I’m the only one!
Thank you so much! Sorry I just saw this. I’m still obsessed with my nuface!
Do you use the Nuface on your neck?
I do not, just because I don’t have issues with my neck (yet), but you definitely can