Keeping skin clear and smooth during pregnancy

pregnancy safe exfoliators and techniques for rough, congested skin

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Pregnancy can bring the glow—but for many of us, it also brings congestion, breakouts, and a skin routine that suddenly doesn’t work like it used to. If your complexion feels rough, dull, or inflamed during the first trimester (or beyond), you’re not alone.

In this post, I’m sharing why these skin changes happen, how exfoliation can help (without overdoing it), and the pregnancy-safe exfoliators I personally use to keep my skin smooth and balanced. Be sure to read to the end as I am also sharing aftercare tips and supporting “characters” — products that help nourish, hydrate and protect the skin post-exfoliation. These are some cherished favorites of mine in their respective categories, so know everything here I have personally tried and would recommend 1000 times over.

In the first trimester of my last two pregnancies, my skin broke out. Thankfully, the bigger blemishes didn’t linger much into the second trimester. Still, my skin needed a lot more TLC than usual to maintain clarity and smoothness throughout pregnancy. Why is that?

Everything changes when we’re pregnant—including our skin’s usual behavior. It’s easy to explain it away as “hormones,” and sure, for a short conversation, that’s sufficient. But if you’d like to know a bit more about what you’re up against when tweaking your skincare routine during pregnancy, you ought to know:

Why We Get Pregnancy Acne

“Hormones”

During pregnancy, we produce more sebum due to an increase in a group of hormones called androgens. This group of sex hormones have a lot of jobs and purposes, and among them is supporting a healthy pregnancy. The potential downside of this hormonal increase is the stimulation the sebaceous glands, causing skin to become oilier, potentially lead to clogged pores and inflammation.

Need I say our stress level increases?

Pregnancy can be a sweet and exciting time, but it also comes with many anticipations and stressors. Stress absolutely affects the skin. And don’t forget diet—in pregnancy, we often stop eating many of our usual foods and pick up new snacks and eating habits (maybe some strange ones, but I’m not judging). Keep in mind these factors play a role in our skin’s behavior too.

What to Do

With all this said, we know a few key things are essential:

• Keep skin well-cleansed + decongested of excess sebum
• Monitor and maintain our stress levels
• Eat healthily for both baby and mom’s overall wellness
• Be generally mindful of hygiene and self care habits: getting enough sleep, keeping pillow cases clean, refrain from touching your face too often, staying hydrated—even if that means peeing nonstop, I know I know

Now, today’s blog doesn’t dive into stress or nutrition, but do keep those in mind as you observe changes in your skin over the duration of pregnancy. If you identify some potential acne-contributors in these categories, start implementing healthy changes, along with some some practical skincare strategy / product swaps–you’ll see that glow before you know it.

Let’s address those pregnancy skincare needs today.

Keeping Skin Clean – on the Surface Level

Surface-level cleansing starts with an effective cleanser. I like cleansers that also offer gentle exfoliation to buff-off surface build up and offer that instant gratification and glow right away. A few favorites during pregnancy include:

Choose what fits your needs and skin type based on their ingredients and exfoliation strength.

Keeping Skin Clean Beneath the Surface

To clean beneath the surface, you’ll want active ingredients that penetrate deep into pores to loosen stubborn buildup—like dead skin cells, sebum, daily cosmetics/products left behind and dirt. When left behind, this congestion causes acne, inflammation, dullness, and texture.

Nowadays, exfoliating actives are in everything—from serums to masks to moisturizers. So be mindful of where your actives are in your routine and how often you’re using them. It’s very easy to overdo it.

Here are a few exfoliators I enjoy during pregnancy:

Personally, I can use one of the above cleansers AND one post-cleanser treatment on the same day without issues—but if your skin is new to exfoliating or more sensitive, start slow and add just one at a time, using every other day or twice weekly, etc., Another tip is to try using these as part of your night time routine, you don’t have to worry about such immediate sun exposure. Always follow with SPF during the day.

Know your exfoliation aftercare and limits

When exfoliating, always simultaneously support your skin barrier, prioritize hydration and use sun protection daily. Over-exfoliating—polishing your skin too much—leaves your skin raw and vulnerable, actually causing more irritation, sensitivity, and even more breakouts.

Always follow product directions and do not use products more often than recommended. If something causes a reaction, stop using it right away.

Here are products I like to use alongside exfoliators to support skin hydration and repair:

Sunscreens I Trust During Pregnancy:

Ingredient No-Nos During Pregnancy

Before you go browsing or adding new products, keep in mind the ingredients commonly flagged as unsafe or questionable during pregnancy:

• Concentrations of above 2% of BHA (salicylic acid,) especially in leave-on / no rinse skincare products. Some may choose to avoid this ingredient altogether, which is definitely possible with all the alternatives available.
• Retinol/Retinoids
• Formaldehyde
• Phthalates
• Certain essential oils (especially in high concentrations)
• Face or body peel treatments

This list contains some of the most popular ingredients to avoid, but is not all inclusive.

I’m Just a Pregnant Skincare Enthusiast

Of course, always consult with your OB or dermatologist before introducing new products, especially those with actives you’re unsure about. Read labels carefully, as sometimes red-flag ingredients ARE included in product formulations, but not openly advertised on the product as a key ingredient. Whenever you see a high concentration of something (even a green-flagged ingredient,) always verify. A higher percentage of an ingredient is not always correlated with efficacy– but can increase odds of irritation from that ingredient, or skin absorption beyond what has been determined safe for pregnancy.

Everything mentioned here is in reference to topical use only, and you should always verify product claims with clinical research when possible (Not just the quick google AI summary.)

I love these products and hope you do too, but of course, individual results may vary!

See for Yourself

Here are a few more helpful resources on pregnancy-safe skincare:

• Baby Center – Safe skin care during pregnancy doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s what to know
• Motherhood – Skincare Ingredients: Pregnancy Do’s & Don’ts
• Mamata Fertility – When Does Pregnancy Acne Start?
• Clinical Reference: National Library of Medicine – Safety of skin care products during pregnancy

Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy, and I hope this post was helpful to you! Don’t forget to subscribe before you go. – Katrisha

Discounts and Disclaimers

USE CODE: KATRISHA15 to save at ALPYN Beauty. I am a huge fan and an affiliate for their products.

THIS IS A NON-SPONSORED POST:

Hey friend, this blog is non-sponsored, meaning, I was not asked, obligated nor incentivized in any way by any brand or retailer to create this post, recommend the products included, or discuss/describe them in any directed way. Please be assured that all opinions are always my own regardless of a post’s sponsorship status.

Affiliate Disclosure:

Some of the products linked in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission—at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support this blog and the content I share. Thank you for supporting my work in this way!

You can easily shop the full product list for this post here.