Safe Products for Welcoming Your Baby in 2021

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Pregnancy changes a person. For most people, as soon as you find out you are expecting, your perspective shifts. As you are preparing for a newborn, you find yourself thinking about things you might’ve never considered prior. Everything from your diet, your lifestyle, and even concerns for your skin. 

It’s true that your skin may need more support than usual during pregnancy, as it goes through many changes and stretches to make room for the baby. However, not all skincare products are created equal. Some ingredients and formulations may not be safe for you or the baby during this time. This is why it's so important to make sure that you choose safe baby products.

Common Health and Safety Worries of New Mamas

Since skincare ingredients are absorbed into the skin and could have negative effects, it’s important to be careful with the products you choose. Additionally, hormonal changes can impact your skin significantly. Some new moms experience that “pregnancy glow” while others unfortunately find their skin problems get worse during different stages of pregnancy. 

Some expecting mothers experience things like:

Hyperpigmentation or Skin Darkening

As your body increases its hormone production during pregnancy, two of those hormones are ‘estrogen’ and ‘progesterone’. Both of these hormones affect your skin and may cause hyperpigmentation and skin darkening. More than 90% of pregnant women experience this change. 

Acne 

The onset of acne is most common in the first and second trimester during pregnancy. This is because of the increased amount of ‘androgens’ in the body, causing your skin to produce more sebum. The additional sebum leads to blocked pores, resulting in breakouts. 

Dry Skin

Hormonal changes decrease the moisture and elasticity in the skin, especially as it stretches to make room for your growing belly. Mostly, this results in dry and flaky skin, coupled with itchiness and inflammation. These hormonal changes and dryness may also flare up existing skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.

Hair Growth/Loss

Some people experience increased hair loss or conversely, hair growth during pregnancy. Hair loss results from hair entering into the resting phase of the normal hair cycle. Thankfully this is not permanent and your hair resumes its normal cycle within a few months of delivery. 

Once you know some of the changes your skin may experience during pregnancy, the obvious choice is to start using personal care products to help. However, remember that not all ingredients are created equal and some even contain harmful chemicals. Be sure to include hair products in your routine that won’t be harmful to your hair like a sulfate free shampoo and baby conditioner. 

Those that could be harmful include:

• Retinoids-considered a skincare miracle ingredient, retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that help reverse fine lines and treat acne and acne scars. When vitamin A is ingested or absorbed through the skin, it turns into retinol. In-utero, exposure of children to retinol has been linked to neuro-cognitive, congenital, and other birth defects.
• Salicylic Acid-this ingredient is used to treat and control acne. However, a high dose of salicylic acid can be harmful for the baby and should be avoided during pregnancy. 
• Phthalates-probably the most commonly found ingredient in beauty and cleaning products, phthalates are designed to disrupt endocrine activity. In numerous animal studies, phthalates are linked to reproductive and hormonal issues and may also produce negative effects on congenital reproductive health in humans. 
• Hydroquinone-one of the ingredients used to treat skin pigmentation and lighten skin, the problem is that your skin can absorb large amounts of topically applied hydroquinone. These excessive amounts could be harmful for the baby. 
• Chemical Sunscreens-some varieties of sunscreen are based on oxybenzone and its derivatives. Although it’s proven to protect the skin from UV rays, it poses adverse environmental and human health effects. During pregnancy, it could potentially disrupt hormonal activity, causing damage to both the mother and child. 

Safe and Honest Products for Mom and Baby

Don’t despair though, new moms. There are alternative, safe, and clean products and ingredients you can use without risking the health of yourself or your baby. These products and ingredients include: 

For Wrinkles/ Anti-Aging 

Topical antioxidants are miracle workers when it comes to protecting the skin from oxidative damage and visible effects of aging. Some pregnancy safe antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B3, and even green tea, which works great as a soothing toner, too. 

For Acne 

In the place of salicylic acid, use glycolic acid in small amounts to treat and prevent acne during pregnancy. You can also use azelaic acid as well. 

For Hyperpigmentation-again, glycolic and azelaic acid are also great at lightening and brightening the skin and reducing visible hyperpigmentation and fine lines. 

For Stretch Marks

Pregnancy induced stretch marks are tough, but the best option is to thoroughly moisturize the stretching areas frequently. This helps keep the skin elastic enough to stretch easily and naturally. 

One great product to help is our ‘Rock the Bump’ Body Butter by Honest. We use a blend of shea butter, vitamin E, and avocado oil to moisturize stretch-prone skin for up to 24 hours. https://www.honest.com/personal-care-products/mom-care/rock-the-bump-body-butter/H02BUTMC0000S.html

For Dry Skin 

Hormonal changes and the dietary requirements of your body could result in dehydration. So, in addition to a nourishing diet, you might also need to apply some topically hydrating and moisturizing products. 

These products often include ingredients like hyaluronic acid, coconut oil, coco and shea butter, and peptides. One perfect product designed to cater to your dry skin while pregnant is our ‘Sweet Curves Body Lotion’ by Honest. 

This lotion harnesses the power of shea Butter, avocado oil, and omega fatty acids to provide intense moisture to the skin. You can also use the ‘Calm your Nip Balm’ post pregnancy to soothe dry and cracked nipples. 

https://www.honest.com/personal-care-products/mom-care/sweet-curves-body-lotion/H02BLOMC0000S.html

https://www.honest.com/personal-care-products/mom-care/calm-your-nip-balm/H02NIPMC0000S.html

For Sun Safety

During pregnancy, and even after, one of the best choices is mineral-based sunscreens. They are safer not just for you and your baby, but also for the environment. 

Safe and Honest Newborn Baby Essentials

Just like your skin once was, your newborn baby’s delicate skin is very soft and vulnerable. When choosing baby care essentials, try to look for gentle products with natural and safe ingredients. A good rule of thumb is to not buy anything for the baby that is not safe for you while pregnant. 

Some of our products for your baby necessities list that are safe and clean include: 

• Honest Co. Dry Wipes-these hypoallergenic wipes are designed for sensitive and soft skin, using organic cotton that is sustainably sourced. They’re also free of artificial fragrances, parabens, and alcohol. https://www.honest.com/baby-products/wipes/honest-dry-wipes/dry-wipes.html
• Dry Skin Duo-to moisturize the gentle skin of your baby, opt for this dry skin duo. It’s perfect for nourishing, calming, everyday use, and doesn’t irritate sensitive skin. Mamas and babies alike will love this product. https://www.honest.com/baby-products/baby-personal-care/dry-skin-duo/dry-skin-kit.html
• Skin Soothing Eczema Kit-this skin-soothing eczema kit is designed for extremely dry skin. It uses colloidal oatmeal, prebiotics, and coconut oil to soothe and moisturize the skin deeply and it’s safe for baby and mom. https://www.honest.com/baby-products/baby-sets-and-kits/skin-soothing-eczema-kit/H00254ECK0000S.html

Your newborn baby essentials list boils down to this: safe baby products you love, that you can trust to be safe, effective, and Honest. 

Source: 

https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/pregnancy-safe-skin-care#safe-brands