5 Common Skincare Ingredients to Avoid if You're Pregnant
Keep your growing baby healthy and happy by opting for pregnancy-safe beauty products without these common skincare ingredients.
Pregnancy comes with a lot of responsibility, the most obvious being that you’re now in charge of providing a safe, happy home for your baby-to-be. (No big deal, right?) That can mean an overhaul of your usual habits for the sake of your child’s health—skipping a glass of rosé at brunch, opting out of the oat milk latte before a meeting, and in some cases, giving your usual beauty products a rest.
That’s because what you apply to your skin could potentially make it into your bloodstream. And whether or not they reach the baby is just part of the story, as evidence shows that they might also make for a less hospitable environment for the baby’s growth, whether by influencing certain hormones or sticking around in the body.
That said, it can be hard to know for certain, since there aren’t a lot of studies available to clearly determine the impact. It’s perfectly understandable—researchers aren’t exactly enthusiastic about testing the safety parameters on pregnant people. And in lieu of hard data, the best approach is to simply be cautious in what you use on your skin.
With that in mind, these are 5 common skincare ingredients to try and avoid when you’re pregnant.
1. Retinoids
If breakouts or fine lines are (or have ever been) a concern, then you might already be familiar with retinoids.
“Retinoids describe all forms of vitamin A and the retinoid family comprises of retinol and its other natural derivatives such as retinoic acid, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters, such as retinyl palmitate, plus many other synthetic derivatives,” says NakedPoppy research scientist Marisa Plescia.
Retinoids are one of the most highly studied and effective ingredients to keep skin smooth and bright. Another perk? “They can address most common skincare concerns, such as acne, hyperpigmentation, and aging,” she says.
That said, some studies have linked excessive levels of vitamin A in the body to interference in fetal development, leading to birth defects.1 And other cases have found that topical tretinoin—the type for which a prescription is required—may be connected to birth defects. “Although these studies are still a bit controversial and inconclusive, until more data is collected, women are discouraged from using topical retinoids during pregnancy,” says Plescia.
However, vitamin A is a natural component of some plant oils, such as rosehip seed oil — and at a level that’s largely considered safe. “These concentrations should not cause concern,” says Plescia.
So your favorite face oil? Fair game.