Skincare During Pregnancy: What’s Safe (and What to Avoid)
Pregnancy often raises questions about which skincare ingredients are safe to use and which should be avoided. While most everyday skincare products can remain part of your routine, understanding how ingredients such as retinoids, salicylic acid, azelaic acid, vitamin C, and sunscreen fit into pregnancy-safe skincare can help you make more confident choices.
Key Takeaways
✓ Most moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens, vitamin C products, niacinamide, peptides, and hyaluronic acid serums are considered pregnancy-safe.
✓ Retinoids, including retinol, retinal, and prescription vitamin A derivatives, should be avoided during pregnancy.
✓ Azelaic acid, gentle AHAs, PHAs, and low-strength salicylic acid can often be used during pregnancy when appropriate.
✓ Daily sunscreen is especially important during pregnancy because hormonal changes can increase the risk of melasma and hyperpigmentation.
✓ A simple, gentle skincare routine is usually all that is needed to maintain healthy skin during pregnancy.
Pregnancy Skincare: What Should You Change in Your Routine?
The good news is, you usually don’t need to completely change your skincare routine during pregnancy. If your skin looks the same as before, you can generally continue with your usual products—except for a few ingredients (we’ll cover those below).
Of course, it’s natural to worry. One of the most common fears is that skincare products might “absorb too deeply” and affect your baby. The reassuring truth is that your skin is designed to protect your body, acting as a barrier to keep most things out. That’s why the outer layer of your skin is called the protective layer.
Most cosmetics are made to work on this outer layer: sunscreens shield your skin from harmful UV rays, moisturizers hydrate the surface layer containing dead skin cells, and cleansers focus on cleaning the top layer. They aren’t meant to penetrate deeply enough to affect your baby.
So, don’t stress—most of your skincare products are safe to use during pregnancy. Of course, it’s always a good idea to double-check with your doctor. Most non-medicated skincare products are completely fine to continue while expecting.
Prescription products, or those containing ingredients regulated by the FDA in the US or the SCCS in Europe, are a different story. Below, we’ve put together everything you need to know about safe skincare during pregnancy, so you can feel confident caring for your skin at home.
Ingredient Guide for Expecting Moms: What’s Safe and What to Avoid
A common question from expecting moms is about specific ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, sunscreen, or salicylic acid. What about anti-aging ingredients—are they safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
In this guide, we’ll share advice based on the official recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), so you can feel confident choosing safe skincare products during pregnancy.
Pregnancy-Friendly Ingredients You Can Use During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
1. Sunscreen Ingredients
Daily sun protection is just as important during pregnancy as ever! Both physical (mineral) and chemical (organic) sunscreens are considered safe. You might hear warnings about chemical filters, claiming they absorb too deeply, but research shows their absorption remains well below harmful levels. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) does not consider these concerns scientifically justified.
Daily sun protection is highly recommended throughout pregnancy and afterward. If your skin becomes more sensitive, choose gentle physical/mineral sunscreens with titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide, or chemical sunscreens formulated with low total filter concentrations, suitable for sensitive skin. For more details, see my article: Sunscreen 101: Complete Guide to Daily Sun Protection.
2. AHAs & PHAs (Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid)
These mild acids gently support your skin’s natural renewal and can be safely used at home, even at concentrations up to 10–12%. They help keep your skin smooth, radiant, and refreshed.
3. Azelaic Acid & Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate (PAD)
Safe during pregnancy, these ingredients are especially helpful for hyperpigmentation, rosacea, and acne, giving your skin a gentle, effective boost.
4. Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Zinc, Hyaluronic Acid, and Peptides
All considered safe for expecting moms, these ingredients help hydrate, brighten, calm inflammation, and support skin elasticity. If you’re ever uncertain, consult your doctor to stay confident about your routine.
Ingredients Safe in Moderation During Pregnancy
1. Salicylic Acid (BHA)
A go-to for tackling acne and clogged pores, BHA is safe in the small amounts typically found in over-the-counter products (around 1–2%). Higher concentrations should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but the gentle levels in most home-use skincare are perfectly fine. It helps exfoliate and keep skin clear without posing a risk to your baby.
2. Benzoyl Peroxide
Highly effective for breakouts, but it can be quite drying and may act as a pro-oxidant, potentially speeding up signs of skin aging. During pregnancy, it’s best reserved for situations where other safe alternatives aren’t enough—and ideally used with your doctor’s guidance.
Ingredients to Avoid During Pregnancy
1. Retinoids: Retinol, Retinal, and Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR / Granactive Retinoid)
Retinoids can be a tricky topic. While data is limited and opinions vary, the safest approach during pregnancy is to avoid products containing retinoids. Non-prescription forms like retinol and its derivatives are generally best skipped as a precaution, even though the main documented risk comes from oral tretinoin.
Because retinoids are related to tretinoin and research is understandably limited—very few pregnant women participate in studies for obvious reasons—sticking to safer options is recommended. That said, if you were using retinol before knowing you were pregnant, there’s no need to panic. Studies have shown that women who unknowingly used retinol in the first trimester did not experience harm to their babies.
2. Hydroquinone
This common skin lightener might be tempting to treat melasma, also called the “mask of pregnancy,” but it should be avoided. The FDA classifies hydroquinone as Category C, meaning it can be absorbed more readily than other topical chemicals, increasing the chance of entering your bloodstream and potentially affecting your baby.
3. Arbutin
A gentler derivative of hydroquinone (which should be avoided), arbutin can help fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation. However, if you want to be extremely cautious, it’s best to avoid high concentrations during pregnancy, or at least discuss it with your doctor.
4. Phthalates
These are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can interfere with hormones and reproductive health. Check your product labels for diethylphthalate, commonly found in moisturizers and shampoos, and avoid these during pregnancy.
Final Thoughts
Caring for your skin during pregnancy doesn’t have to be stressful. By knowing which ingredients are safe, safe in moderation, and best to avoid, you can confidently maintain your skincare routine while keeping both yourself and your baby safe. Most everyday products are designed to work gently on the outer layer of your skin, so with a little guidance, you can continue enjoying your favorite rituals.
In the second part of this series I’ll share practical tips for handling breakouts, dark spots, rosacea, and stretch marks. Plus, I’ll bring you the best Korean skincare products that are safe to use during pregnancy, so you can keep your skin healthy, radiant, and pampered throughout this special time.
Ready to learn more? Click here to read Part 2 and discover pregnancy-safe solutions for all your common skin concerns!
For more personalized support, I offer individual skincare consultations to help you create a routine that truly fits your skin and lifestyle.
Understanding Your Skin
A Practical Guide to Skincare
I wrote Understanding Your Skin to help you build an effective skincare routine with confidence. This illustrated guide explains skin types, ingredients, and routines in a practical, evidence-based way that's easy to understand and apply.
- Written by a physician
- 120-page illustrated guide
- Evidence-based skincare guidance
- Sample routines & product recommendations
