Pregnancy Skincare Tips and How to maintain the GLOW!
Being a mum to a 6-month-old baby, I know that pregnancy is the most beautiful period in a woman's life. We are filled with joy, excitement and yet overwhelmed with physical and emotional changes too.
Handling these changes can be challenging; from food craving, to stretch mark and skin changes too.
During pregnancy, our hormones changes - estrogen, progesterone and the melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) greatly increase during these months. Some women will be blessed with more glowing skin during the pregnancy period while some will experience uneven skin tone with a breakout.
I was blessed with glowing skin during the later stage of pregnancy but my skin went through drastic change at about 2 months into my pregnancy. All my usual skincare seems to be making my skin worse and beside the bumps on my tummy, I started to have small, red bumps on my face too. That was quite worrisome.
I need to change all my skincare. But we must choose skincare and cosmetic during pregnancy with precautions. During pregnancy, we must avoid retinoids, or vitamin A derivatives, such as Retin-A or Renova. These can all cause potential harm to our developing baby.
I was introduced to Biologique Recherche (BR) during my pregnancy period. BR has a wide range of products to choose from and they are patented in skin instant which the founder, Dr Philippe Allouche, believes a person has not one but several skin condition throughout our lifetime. And their products are made to address each problem we have and treat it for a long-lasting result. And most of BR products are tested to be safe for pregnant women.
Here are some tips on skincare during pregnancy based on my personal experiences and research and my choice of Biologique Recherche (BR) skincare for glowing skin during pregnancy.
- Adequate sleep and exercise help skin to glow. The safest and most productive activities are swimming, brisk walking, indoor stationary cycling, step or elliptical machines, and low-impact aerobics (taught by a certified aerobics instructor)
- Eat foods rich in folic acid and increase calcium intake. Incorporate leafy greens, asparagus, broccoli, citrus, beans, peas, avocado, seeds and nuts into your pregnancy diet to promote an even skin tone. Also, don’t forget to take prenatal vitamins daily and drink more milk!
- Many pregnant women will experience oilier skin – if it's in a good way, it can make our skin glowing but most of the time, it causes breakout! Here are some preventative steps to help calm the oiliness and clogged pores:
- Wash our face twice daily with a gentle cleanser
- Use the right skincare with the right ingredients for pregnancy
Since our body goes through a lot of hormonal changes during pregnancy, we may develop acne or other skin abrasions. Do not pick the blemishes and avoid touching with your hands.
After cleansing, I use P50 PIGM400 lotion as it is the mildest with PH4.0, best choice to brighten up my skin and it balances my skin's PH level to keep acne away. It is absolutely safe for pregnant woman.
I love BR Quintessential Serum as BR range of serums is one of the most potent and effective serums I ever used. With the purest formation, their main active ingredients are amino acid and short peptides to target and treat the specific skin problem.
For treating of acne, clogged pores or any small bumps I see on my face, Serum Complexe Iribiol is the one to go! It is a balancing serum which helps to regulate sebum secretion and tightens the pores. Serum Complexe Iribiol is best to use with Serum Placenta. Serum Placenta is a master of repair. It heals all the acne mark I had and it helps to prevent ageing too.
Masque Vivant, is definitely my favourite mask during my pregnancy. The smell is so pungent that I feel like having a whole roast chicken sitting on my face but the effect of this mask is worth whatever smell it has. My feeling on my face is perfect for the WHOLE day! Yes! Whole day! My skin no longer secretes oil like normal days. I love touching my smooth and matte feeling face yet my skin still glow from within.
My favourite cream is Cream VIP 02. It guarantees “GLOWING” skin with its oxygenating Complex that helps to brighten the complexion, tone the skin for immediate healthy skin
- Apply sunblock daily
Protecting ourselves from the sun’s bright rays is especially important during pregnancy when our skin tends to be more sensitive than usual. During pregnancy, chances of pigmentation are higher and constant exposure to UV light will escalate the dark spot on the skin.
Biologique Recherche UV protection comprises of zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide — also called mineral or physical sunscreens — are a good choice for pregnant women, as they're hypoallergenic and sit on the skin instead of being absorbed by it.
5. As our body is stretching for our little one, apply a good stretchmark cream for comfort and reduce/prevent stretchmark.
Stretch marks develop in nine out of ten pregnancies when collagen and elastin (the fibres that keep your skin taut) stretch and snap during pregnancy due to the pressure of rapid weight gain. You have the best chance of reducing the appearance of stretch marks when they're new. Once scars fade to white, they're extremely difficult to treat.
Once that pregnancy test comes back positive, I have started to moisturize the areas where stretch marks are most likely to develop—belly, lower back, breasts, and hips. Lather on a rich cream that provides lasting hydration, decrease the itch and prevent stretchmark.
Personally, I am using Biologique Recherche Crème R-Stria that helps to treat and prevent stretchmark which is 100% safe to use during pregnancy. I love how it is quickly absorbed by the skin without leaving any sticky or oily feel.
Above all, be happy and do not overeat like you are eating for two. The excess fat gained can be difficult to get rid off later. Happy pregnancy!
Lastly, BR has a long list of products which can be used by pregnant woman. Contact BareSkin Elements for assistance if you are unsure which Products are safe for use.