Pregnancy Safe Skincare for Acne Prone Skin

If you’ve been following me for some time, you know that I’ve struggled with adult acne and hyperpigmentation for YEARS. Earlier this year, I was able to make significant progress with my acne, and by default, my hyperpigmentation, by visiting an esthetician regularly and following her suggestions. If you want to see those before and after pics, check out this post! Now that I’m pregnant, the two key ingredients in my former skincare routine – retin A and salicylic acid – are no longer safe for the baby, so I’ve had to make some modifications to my routine. I was worried that my skin would go back to square one without relying on Retin-A, but it’s been flourishing throughout my pregnancy! Here’s my new pregnancy safe skincare for acne prone skin routine.

Cleanse

I’ve been using the Youth to The People Superfood cleanser since December, when it was introduced to me by HelloAva. Gentle, yet effective with vitamins B, E, and C, I’ve repurchased it TWICE since then. It has the Clean at Sephora label, which is an easy way to narrow down pregnancy-safe skincare.

Tone

Part of their acne fighting line, the Beautycounter Countercontrol Instant Matte Toner uses witch hazel and lactic acid instead of salicylic acid to cleanse and mattify pores.

Treat with Pregnancy Safe Acids

Since Retin-A/retinoids and salicylic acid aren’t pregnancy safe, I’ve been using gentler acids to keep my skin clear from acne. Lactic acid, present in my favorite skincare product ever, Sunday Riley Good Genes, is a gentler exfoliant than salicylic acid, and is pregnancy safe. Azelaic acid reduces redness and swelling in acne prone skin, while malic acid improves hyperpigmentation by reducing melanin production. Vitamin C is also great for brightening the skin and limiting hyperpigmentation.

During the day, I use a variety of serums and boosters with individual ingredients depending on what my priority is, but in the evening I like to use the Ren Ready Steady Glow Daily AHA toner (which also has the Clean at Sephora label) since it contains willow bark (natural derivative of salicylic acid, lactic acid, and azelaic acid all in one.

Don’t Skip Sunscreen

Many pregnant women complain of increased hyperpigmentation or melasma due to sun exposure or hormonal changes. Although not entirely preventable, using sunscreen consistently – every single day, even if you’re not going outside, and even if it’s cloudy – can help keep your skin even and clear. Here are some of my favorite sunscreens!

Drink LOTS of fluids!

Although while pregnant you might be running to the bathroom every five minutes (at least I am), drinking a lot of water is critical for both the health of your baby and your skin!

Here are the exact products I’ve been using for pregnancy safe skincare for acne prone skin!