Personal care products

bears1011 · October 2014

So as soon as I found out I was pregnant, I went and bought new products that don't contain harsh chemicals. More natural. Shampoo/conditioner, face wash, moisturizer, hand soap, tested my filtered water. Went to the dermatologist and got new prescriptions for acne topicals that are safe to use if needed. I'm really missing my daily face moisturizer but it contains parabens and propylene glycol and from using dr.google I figured it was best to avoid, although my dermatologist said my moisturizer is fine. Also bought dr.toms deodorant which is aluminum free but it sucks so I went back to my normal deodorant. Just wondering how strict you ladies are with what products you use. I did a ton of research and am avoiding the obvious no's but for things like parabens and aluminum in deodorant, it seems like a personal choice because there are too many conflicting opinions even among doctors. I'm not a crazy organic/natural person but after trying for 4 years I'm finding that I'm being overly cautious with my products and I don't know if I'm going overboard! Any input appreciated!

kmc84 · October 2014

Belli products seem pretty good. I use the pre treatment scrub all the time-I love it! They have moisturizers too, but I haven't tried them.

Eta:
I also switched to Avalon organics shampoo and conditioner and I've been happy with it.

Sophistikitty · October 2014

I switched pretty well all of my products. It is actually quite surprising how many things contain ingredients that should be avoided in pregnancy. I switched to Tom’s deodorant too but cheated and used my regular antiperspirant on extra hot days during the summer and still do if I have an important event. I also cut out any products with salicylic acid or retinyl palmitate. Some doctors say those are safe but as you said, after taking so long to get to this point I want to do everything right. I ended up cross referencing all my products to EWG’s Skin Deep database. I never thought I would go as far as I have with switching everything!

1220winterbride · October 2014

I started using more natural over the past few years of TTC.

I use Josie Maran Argan oil w. Ole Henriksen Vita C day cream

Sheumura SPF

and Lavanila Healthy Deodorant

Dr Bronners lavendar bath soap or the African Black Soap

Pureology Shampoo

and I'm not even getting hilites or manicures until my 2nd trimester but I am ultra, sick paranoid after several losses.

(I hated the Burts Bees bath gel, ugh. gross)

ksgsmu · October 2014

I switched to products that had contained no parabens or pthlalates.. it took a while to adjust and I had to try several products to see what I could live with. Deodorant has been the toughest and the Toms just wouldn't work in the summer heat. I switched to Unscented Dove for the summer but will try the Toms again in the winter.

The problem is that even the more organic lines have certain products that have the toxins so you have to do your research and read EVERY label.

bears1011 · October 2014

@1220winterbride‌ is the deodorant you switched to effective? I'm going to hold off until 2nd trimester for highlights too and stopped painting my nails...even though my RE said both are fine. Rather be safe!

Saintelizabeth · October 2014

I didn't switch anything except my lotion and face wash and the only reason I switched lotion is because I started using palmers coco butter for stretch marks. I switched my face wash because it has high concentrations acne clearing meds. I talked with my doctor and agreed that if you did avoided everything everyone said to you may as well live in a shack in the woods for 9 months. I use all the same makeup and hair products. I get mani/pedis and paint my nails and I've had my hair dyed twice since 14 weeks.

Do whatever you feel comfortable with, but don't let anyone tell you that you shouldn't be using something unless it's your doctor

bears1011 · October 2014

@ksgsmu‌ I know! I spent an hour in the store picking out a face wash and face moisturizer because as you said, even the "natural" products contain toxins. It's been very time consuming! I'm prone to acne which makes picking out face products more difficult. I've been using the same stuff forever and am so afraid of flaring up now that I'm using different products and using no acne topicals.

bears1011 · October 2014

Thanks @viola27! I'll have to pick a bottle up! I did use Essie when I went to a wedding because I read that Essie is free of 3 of those things and that's the only brand I usually use. But I'd feel safe using zoya more often!

Pintobean39 · October 2014

Honestly this thought has never crossed my mind. I haven't changed anything.

ky29 · October 2014

Pintobean39 said:
Honestly this thought has never crossed my mind. I haven't changed anything.

Same here, but now this has me worried! Haha.

Regan1976 · October 2014

I love you Pintobean39! I was starting to feel like I was f*n this up from the start. I haven't changed a single thing, except for not using conditioner now cause my hair apparently thinks I'm going through puberty again. I haven't even read the bottles. I figured since I didn't drink the stuff... Just to note I don't wear any makeup anyways and only use basic products to start with.

hopeby2015 · October 2014

I usually wear some concealer and eyeliner. I typically use Neutrogena for face wash, Nexxus for shampoo and conditioner and Secret for deodorant

In my 1st tri, I stopped using the Neutrogena and used some other more natural product that just flat out didn't work. As soon as I got to 2nd tri, I started using Neutrogena like 1x a week just to keep the acne away. My face had gotten so bad! Never changed anything else as hair is pretty much dead and nothing can be absorbed via hair strand and Secret's the only deodorant that works on me.

I did dye my hair once after 1st tri was done. I would've highlighted my hair but I didn't wanna sit in the salon for too long. Oh and I got a pedis & Manis in 2nd tri as well. Mostly, I'd read that the critical period with a fetus is like up to week 10 or something and after that the environment will influence the baby less as weeks go on. So I waited till after 1st tri was over to be safe.

gsancho · October 2014

I only changed my facewash since it says to not use when pregnant. I'm too lazy to remember the ingredient it has (it's Rodan + Fields Reverse regimen), but it's not good for sensitive skin or pregnant/nursing women. Other than that, I think baby and I will live.

Everyone's different, so just do what you're comfortable with.

pblge · October 2014

I was mostly using Jason, Kiss My Face, and Neutrogena products already, which are all pretty good according to the skin deep database, so I switched out the few things with salicylic acid or Vitamin A (Retinyl...) added. It's not a perfect database--google critiques if you'd like--but one nice feature is that you can see where the problems are coming from with specific ingredients. So they have a "Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity" counter to watch out for. The database hates all fragrances, so some products have elevated ratings just because of that, which I think is stupid. I like the Jason deodorant (lavender FTW!), but it doesn't have the best ratings from them, either.

We all do what we're comfortable with around these issues. Some of us want to be more conscientious about these issues, some people think these are concerns are ridiculous. I had a knock down, throw down on the first tri board about this stuff. It wasn't even my post, but I was trying to stand up for someone as the Mean Girl B!tch Squad was taunting her (the rest of TB is CRAZY sometimes!). This is a live and let live topic for me.

1220winterbride · October 2014

bears1011 said:

@1220winterbride‌ is the deodorant you switched to effective? I'm going to hold off until 2nd trimester for highlights too and stopped painting my nails...even though my RE said both are fine. Rather be safe!

well, yes and no...I live in Florida & it's still 90 degrees so the fact that I haven't used my regular Degree solid for the past 9 weeks is like 2 thumbs up...and I'm not super sweaty so it's been ok and no odor at all. BUT believe me, it's not like wearing antiperspirant! some times if i'm warm and rushing around i'll feel "damp" and then that feeling goes away when I cool off. I work in a freezing building so that probably helps some! but I've never noticed a body odor smell so it is def covering anything up.

MKateG · October 2014

I didn't even know that deoderant contained stuff your not supposed to use, but I didn't switch anything except stopped using acne meds or face wash containing it. I figured that 99% of preg women don't switch their products to all organic while preg and I really didn't think that anything would cause a big enough risk to worry about. I mean you'd probably have to eat a ton of whatever the "harmful agent" is before it would actually cause harm. But that's just me. I had enough to worry about I didn't want to add to my list.

Champs28 · October 2014

I've been using honest bath products including belly balm, avalon organics shampoo, and neutropenia naturals face wash/moisturizer
All are naturally derived and I love them!

I also only use honest cleaning products now. The chemicals we are exposed to in cleaning products are dangerous to even mon pregnant people

rox825 · October 2014

I switched out most of the products that I use that are applied to skin and left on, except for deodorant, cause there's just no way I could give up my normal deodorant. So I switched my body lotion (100% pure), facial moisturizer (juice beauty), foundation (tarte), nail polish (zoya), stuff like that. I didn't worry about things like shampoo or body wash cause the exposure is so minimal since they get rinsed off right away.

runawaylaurel · October 2014

Yeah... I haven't switched anything either. At my first midwife appointment, I asked if I could keep using my facewash with salicylic acid, and they said sure. It's the Retin A type products that are to be avoided. Everything else is business as usual over here. Although I haven't painted my finger or toenails since getting pregnant. Not sure why I'm choosing that to be paranoid about, but I am. I'm more concerned about what I eat.

Someone on another board recommended "primal pit paste" and several ladies tried it and said it actually worked, in case you're looking for something aluminum free, @Bluejoan, @1220winterbride

Neesey · October 2014

I'm not drinking my products so all three of my doctors said not to worry. Did discontinue a retin a product but that's it. Still doing my nails and dying my hair.

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Me 33, DH 37 -- TTC since Jan'12 -- Low AMH (0.78) & endo, SA w/ low motility
IUI's 1-3 = BFN, IVF converted to IUI 4/13 = BFN
IVF 1.2: 8R 6M 4F -- 2 blastocysts frozen, FET 8/15 = BFP!!
Beta #s = 445;1,098; 9,545 -- EDD 5/2 -- Team Pink!

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Re: Personal care products

Me 33, DH 37 -- TTC since Jan'12 -- Low AMH (0.78) & endo, SA w/ low motilityIUI's 1-3 = BFN, IVF converted to IUI 4/13 = BFNIVF 1.2: 8R 6M 4F -- 2 blastocysts frozen, FET 8/15 = BFP!!Beta #s = 445;1,098; 9,545 -- EDD 5/2 -- Team Pink!

Choose Another Board

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Me 33, DH 37 -- TTC since Jan'12 -- Low AMH (0.78) & endo, SA w/ low motility
IUI's 1-3 = BFN, IVF converted to IUI 4/13 = BFN
IVF 1.2: 8R 6M 4F -- 2 blastocysts frozen, FET 8/15 = BFP!!
Beta #s = 445;1,098; 9,545 -- EDD 5/2 -- Team Pink!