Community› The Bump Message Boards› 1st Trimester
1st Trimester
New Discussion

Skincare routine

rainbowandskittlesrainbowandskittles member
edited April 2023 in 1st Trimester
Hi all!

How are you determining if your skincare and make up regiment is still safe during pregnancy?

I just found out I’m pregnant and am googling ingredients that I’m aware of on products that I’ve been using for years. Currently stopping the retinol, and switching from chemical to mineral sunscreen.
Report Reply to Post

Re: Skincare routine

  • misscaffeinemisscaffeine member
    The Environmental Working Group has a project called Skin Deep that reviews products and gives them a grade for safety based on a various criteria. You can look there. I also saw an article on here that talks about this. I don’t know exactly where to find it, but it’s probably in the first trimester section. I’ve been having the same thoughts about cleaning up my products. It’s hard not to go down a rabbit hole with it!
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • stashattackstashattack member
    edited April 2023
    EWG and Skin Deep are both paid off by companies to label products as safe, aren't scientifically based, and are greenwashed. 

    As for what's safe, you can always reach out to your practice to have a list of ingredients that are not pregnancy safe. I believe most acne treatments are also a no go (ie salicylic acid)
    PG #1: 36w5d 12/25/19
    PG #2: EDD 8/15/23 Miscarried 9w1d 1/11/23
    PG #3: EDD 12/15/23
    Report Reply
  • inthewoods23inthewoods23 member
    Salicylic acid I've read are okay or not okay depending on the article I'm reading (benzoyl peroxide for sure seems to be a no go).

    I did ask my OB about the hydrating cleanser I was using as I happened to notice in the middle of the ingredient list was salicylic acid - who knew! Didn't think a hydrating cleanser would have an acne fighting ingredient. But she gave it the okay. Presumably the amount in the cleanser is really small. Baby is a happy and healthy 9 month old now so all is well.

    I didn't need to drastically change my routine at all besides removing retinol and the AHA/BHA peel from The Ordinary. Probably helps that my skincare focus has been on hydration.
    *TW* History
    TTC #1 since 7.2017
    Dx: low morph (1%), ANA positive, low decidualization score, high TSH and testosterone, histone antibodies

    IUI #1-3 | all BFN
    IVF #1 | 6.11.19 | 24R, 17M, 15F, 6B, PGT-A tested - 5 normal, 3 girls & 2 boys
    FET #1 | 9.10.19 | BFN "I know you, but we've never met. I'm with you, but I don't know your name"
    RPL, Receptiva, & ERA testing | all normal/negative, recommended going on gluten and dairy free diet for next FET
    FET #2 | 3.31.20 | Opted to cancelled due to pandemic, continued diet and tried naturally over the summer
    2nd Opinion with another RE | 8.20.20 | Not immune to measles (received 1 dose); SA results similar to 2 years ago; decided to move forward with FET #2 redo at start of next cycle
    Surprise natural BFP! | 9.22.20 | MC 10.23.20 at 8 weeks
    TTCAL naturally | starting 11.22.20

    Initial consultation with Reproductive Immunologist | 9.14.21
    Decidualization score biopsy | 10.1.21 | abnormal - low score of 1; endometrial scratch recommended and progesterone supplementation
    Saline sono | 10.15.21 | normal
    Bloodwork | 10.21.21 | high TSH, high testosterone, positive for anti-nuclear antibodies and histone antibodies, high protein S, multiple genetic mutations
    BFP! | 11.3.21 | EDD 7.14.22 B) | biopsy provided same effect as endometrial scratch; added supplemental progesterone and estrogen, prednisone, levothyroxine, and MTX Support to maintain pregnancy
    DS born 7.19.22 after induction


    TTC #2 begins 6.2023
    Consultation with RI | 6.6.23
    Saline sono, endometritis biopsy, skin & eye check | all normal
    Labs | high TSH, Factor XIII mutation, high %CD56
    Follow up | 8.8.23 | prescribed metformin, prednisone, plaquenil, and levothyroxine
    Repeat labs after 3 weeks on meds
    Follow up | 11.9.23 | Green light!, increase in prednisone, added lovenox
    Repeat labs in 8 weeks
    Follow up | 1.16.24 | Green light continues
    TTC ended due to filing divorce

    **New relationship starting May 2024**

    Surprise BFP!! | 9.7.25 | EDD 5.11.26
    Its Gonna Be May GIFs Tenor
    Report Reply
  • misscaffeinemisscaffeine member
    edited April 2023
    @stashattack - Ugh! Thanks for letting me know.
    Report Reply
  • geekprincess26geekprincess26 member
    @inthewoods23. Interesting.  When I got pregnant with my daughter, I'd been using benzoyl peroxide to control my acne for years, and my doctor said it was OK to continue using it.  I used both that and salicylic acid throughout my pregnancy, and my daughter is a healthy, happy 2-year-old.  It will be interesting to see what my providers say if I ask them about it at my initial appointment with this baby.
    Report Reply
  • inthewoods23inthewoods23 member
    @geekprincess26 yeah idk 🤷‍♀️. Much of the issue with skincare is the ingredients being absorbed into the skin. So spot treatments would be worse compared to a face wash that only sits on the skin for a minute until you wash it off.

    However, the reason they advise against retinol is when it has been ingested. There isn't actually evidence that retinol absorbed through the skin is bad so doctors tell us to avoid it to be safe (if I'm remembering what I read from Expecting Better correctly).
    *TW* History
    TTC #1 since 7.2017
    Dx: low morph (1%), ANA positive, low decidualization score, high TSH and testosterone, histone antibodies

    IUI #1-3 | all BFN
    IVF #1 | 6.11.19 | 24R, 17M, 15F, 6B, PGT-A tested - 5 normal, 3 girls & 2 boys
    FET #1 | 9.10.19 | BFN "I know you, but we've never met. I'm with you, but I don't know your name"
    RPL, Receptiva, & ERA testing | all normal/negative, recommended going on gluten and dairy free diet for next FET
    FET #2 | 3.31.20 | Opted to cancelled due to pandemic, continued diet and tried naturally over the summer
    2nd Opinion with another RE | 8.20.20 | Not immune to measles (received 1 dose); SA results similar to 2 years ago; decided to move forward with FET #2 redo at start of next cycle
    Surprise natural BFP! | 9.22.20 | MC 10.23.20 at 8 weeks
    TTCAL naturally | starting 11.22.20

    Initial consultation with Reproductive Immunologist | 9.14.21
    Decidualization score biopsy | 10.1.21 | abnormal - low score of 1; endometrial scratch recommended and progesterone supplementation
    Saline sono | 10.15.21 | normal
    Bloodwork | 10.21.21 | high TSH, high testosterone, positive for anti-nuclear antibodies and histone antibodies, high protein S, multiple genetic mutations
    BFP! | 11.3.21 | EDD 7.14.22 B) | biopsy provided same effect as endometrial scratch; added supplemental progesterone and estrogen, prednisone, levothyroxine, and MTX Support to maintain pregnancy
    DS born 7.19.22 after induction


    TTC #2 begins 6.2023
    Consultation with RI | 6.6.23
    Saline sono, endometritis biopsy, skin & eye check | all normal
    Labs | high TSH, Factor XIII mutation, high %CD56
    Follow up | 8.8.23 | prescribed metformin, prednisone, plaquenil, and levothyroxine
    Repeat labs after 3 weeks on meds
    Follow up | 11.9.23 | Green light!, increase in prednisone, added lovenox
    Repeat labs in 8 weeks
    Follow up | 1.16.24 | Green light continues
    TTC ended due to filing divorce

    **New relationship starting May 2024**

    Surprise BFP!! | 9.7.25 | EDD 5.11.26
    Its Gonna Be May GIFs Tenor
    Report Reply
  • stashattackstashattack member
    Yeah. It's the same with chemical based sunscreens vs mineral. There's no real evidence they get absorbed into the blood stream. But they suggest to avoid oxybenzo just incase
    PG #1: 36w5d 12/25/19
    PG #2: EDD 8/15/23 Miscarried 9w1d 1/11/23
    PG #3: EDD 12/15/23
    Report Reply
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"