This master guide to the 100 best pregnancy-safe skincare and beauty products on the market today combines scientific research, beauty editor tips, EWG and environmental advocacy recommendations, and other holistic health insight into the coolest, safest products every mom-to-be needs to try.
When shopping for pregnancy-safe skincare and beauty products, always remember: What goes on your skin gets into your bloodstream. What gets in your bloodstream gets to your baby. So, skincare matters!
Below is an overview of the kind of toiletry audit you should take while pregnant. Make sure your sunscreen contains non-nano zinc without any harsh chemicals, try to switch to a deodorant that doesn’t contain aluminum (the research on this is still mixed!), and also stop using retinol at least 1 month before your pregnancy begins, if you’re planning it. These are the biggies.
^ Most people who are “into” natural skincare already know this. But, many people don’t!
And, you should still systematically review the ingredients in every single one of your skincare products while pregnant, as up to 60 percent of what we put on our bodies ends up in our bodies. As a result, you should be a real stickler about your skincare during pregnancy. Natural is the way to go, if you can.
However, all of this info can be overwhelming and pregnancy is hard enough as it is– which is why we created this handy reference guide.
This ambitious guide to the 100 best pregnancy-safe personal care products on the market today takes the guesswork off your pre-baby To-Do list. It includes everything from our favorite pregnancy-safe eyeliners and acne treatments to all-natural retinol alternatives, and– you guessed it– pregnancy-safe deodorant.
Our vision is to have recommended, research-backed chemical-free recommendations for every category of beauty product that a woman might use during pregnancy so that the piece can function as sort of a research archive and one-stop shopping for mothers-to-be.
Use this list to audit your personal care routine– even if you don’t use these products, specifically, at least you’ll glean some guidance on what no-no chemicals to avoid.
We hope this clean skincare guide can take some of the guesswork out of the process of pregnancy, which is already overwhelming enough on its own.
If there is any category of beauty product that you still have questions about after scrolling this guide, let us know and we will update this article with the latest research and some recommendations.
Also, this post contains Amazon affiliate links for easy shopping. As an Amazon affiliate, we may earn from qualifying purchases, which is why we work our butts off to research, cross-reference and confer with medical professionals about every single item we write about. As a result, this guide took years to produce– and we are darn proud of it.
We also only write about products that we have tested personally. We use all of these products on our own bodies and with our own families.
When in doubt, always consult with a medical professional if you have any questions about your personal skincare routine during pregnancy.
Otherwise, scroll on to browse our guide to the cleanest + most effective pregnancy-safe skincare products, below. Bookmark this guide for easy reference later.
You’re doing great, mama!
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Skincare Ingredients to Avoid While Pregnant
- Accutane (aka Isotretinoin, which is usually prescription only)
- retinol (you can’t use it while breastfeeding, either!)
- chemical sunscreens (especially anything with avobenzone and oxybenzene, which are famously harmful to the reproductive system)
- nano zinc oxide (you want to look for sunscreen products with non-nano zinc)
- hydrocortisone cream
- BHA / salicylic acid / benzoyl peroxide (unless the product contains under 2% of the ingredient, in which case it’s fine to use during pregnancy according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists)
- glycolic acid peels
- hydroquinone (the key ingredient in skin lighteners + dark spot removers for hyperpigmentation)
- MSM
- parabens
- steroid creams (unless otherwise advised by a doctor)
- aluminum chloride (the key ingredient in most antiperspirant deodorants– see below alternatives!)
^ Now that we’ve got that covered, here’s a rundown of our favorite all-around pregnancy-safe skin care products. Bookmark this list for easy reference later and shop the links, below.
Good luck on your pregnancy journey!
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Best Sucralose-Free, Pregnancy-Safe Toothpaste
If you use toothpaste in your mouth every day, why not make sure it’s as clean as possible? (We all swallow trace amounts of it, after all.)
- Accordingly, Hello Naturally Whitening Toothpaste with Fluoride is a beloved natural toothpaste made without artificial sweeteners, peroxide, dyes, parabens or SLS. It’s cruelty-free, vegan, and made in the USA– plus the toothpaste is packaged in BPA-free and phthalate-free tubes.
It’s also made with farm-grown mint and naturally antibacterial tea tree oil, so they don’t have to use artificial flavors or preservatives. What’s not to love? (Just look at these glowing reviews!)
- Meanwhile, Burt’s Bees entire line of fluoride toothpastes are also ADA-approved and don’t have all that extra crap in them like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), triclosan, sucralose, parabens, plastic microbeads, and fake colors (e.g. fake blue, red, or yellow dyes that sometimes go into blue-colored toothpaste).
Usually, natural toothpastes don’t contain fluoride, so it’s nice to have an option like this that is “natural” that’s also dentist-approved. (This is the toothpaste I use personally– I love that it’s not too intensely minty, since so many mint toothpastes are so strong they practically burn my eyebrows off. I also think that too strong a mint scent can wake you up too much before bed. I buy this one in bulk!)
Burt’s Bees toothpaste is not tested on animals, and there are fluoride-free options if you don’t want a fluoridated toothpaste. (For the record, doctors say that fluoridated toothpaste is also safe for use during pregnancy.)
Choose from Extra White, Enamel Care, Clean & Fresh, and other varieties depending on your dental needs/preferences. We like the Extra White with Fluoride because its ADA Accepted and helps remove pesky surface stains near the gum line.
Best Pregnancy-Safe, Aluminum-Free Deodorants
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Native Deodorant (Unscented, Lavender & Rose, or Cucumber & Mint Scents ONLY)
It’s been my experience that most people need to shop around before they find a truly “natural” deodorant that matches with their unique biochemistry. Everyone has a different capacity for sweat/stench, and so it makes sense that different formulas work better for some people and not for others.
The below brands are worth checking out if you want a natural, pregnancy-safe deodorant that still resembles a “normal” deodorant, haha.
All Native Deodorants are aluminum-free, paraben-free, and cruelty-free. The unscented deodorant is the safest as it has the fewest chemicals overall. Otherwise, if you want a scent you should go with the Lavender & Rose (above shown) or the Cucumber & Mint fragrances only.
Other scents in this line have ambiguous sources of fragrance, which is probably fine given Native’s reputation, but because they aren’t listed the other scents are bumped up to a “3” (moderate hazard) as opposed to a sterling “1” rating in EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database.
Native also has a new line of plastic-free deodorants that are packaged in paperboard and shipped in a 100% recycled paper mailer. For now, you can only get those when you purchase directly on Native’s website (as opposed to shipping through Amazon, for example).
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American Provenance: Another Pregnancy-Safe Deodorant Option (Works for Some, Not All)
American Provenance is a small American-made natural deodorant brand that beauty bloggers swear by. The brand makes soft paste aluminum-free deodorant for men as well as women, and with cheeky names, to boot.
Try the woodsy, cypress and peppermint-infused “Shotguns & Shenanigans”, or opt for something softer and more floral, like the “Virtues & Vices” scent, a mix of grapefruit, bergamot, and jasmine.
I personally like the “Pinups & Paramours” scent, which is a mix of Coriander, Mandarin, and Tangerine. It’s clean and mellow. And like all American Provenance deodorants, it’s cruelty-free, paraben-free, and aluminum-free.
The brand also has more basic scents like Grapefruit, Lemongrass, and Lavender. And fortunately, they also have Unscented and an unscented Sensitive Skin variety for people who want no scent at all, which is a strong possibility when you are pregnant and very smell sensitive.
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Another Pregnancy-Safe Deodorant Option
Arm & Hammer’s Essential line is not the absolute cleanest deodorant line on the market, but it is free of parabens, triclosan, and aluminum, so it avoids the major big bad chemicals.
This pregnancy-safe deodorant is a great option for people with sensitivities to synthetic fragrance but who also need a little more odor protection. (Hey, we get it: other natural deodorants only go so far!)
If you’re the kind of person who’s been known to get rashes from chemical deodorants, start here. I like the Rosemary Lavender scent the best, but they also have more neutral options like Fresh and Unscented.
The Best Pregnancy-Safe Sunscreens
We cannot stress this enough: the only safe active sunscreen ingredient during pregnancy is non-nano zinc oxide. (You want a physical/mineral sunscreen, not a chemical sunscreen, and make sure the physical sunblock comes from zinc oxide that is non-nano!)
Read our full list of the best pregnancy-safe sunscreens here— including tinted options, higher SPF-rated sunscreens for outdoor adventures, lightweight formulas, and more.
There are also many other zinc-based sunscreen formulas with various tints and scents that can be worth exploring if you are very particular about sunscreen. Belli Pure Radiance Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, for example, is an OB/GYN and Dermatologist-recommended pregnancy-safe sunscreen that’s also safe for breastfeeding.
(I personally love Pratima Skincare’s Neem Rose Face Sunscreen, as well, but some people might not like the scent.) If you’re looking for pregnancy-safe sunscreen, as long as the active ingredients are zinc or titanium dioxide only, you’re good!
Best *Tinted* Pregnancy-Safe Sunscreen
Thinksport’s Everyday Face Sunscreen is a non-nano zinc oxide-based mineral sunscreen that is broad-spectrum, sweat-resistant, and reef-safe.
^ This is one of the best daily coverage sunscreens for pregnant women because there are no chemical sunscreens and it can help cover up melasma, a kind of skin discoloration that dermatologists often refer to as “the mask of pregnancy.”
For more recommendations of pregnancy- and reef-safe mineral sunscreens, go here.
Best All-Natural, Pregnancy-Safe Face Moisturizers
As we previously noted in our guide to the best all-natural face moisturizers, Alpyn’s PlantGenius Melt Moisturizer is a wonderful anti-aging moisturizer that tops our list of truly natural luxury creams.
If you’re looking for an anti-aging cream (and really, who isn’t?) look for key ingredients like Bakuchoil instead of retinol or retinoids (which should never be used during pregnancy). This vegan alternative helps promote elasticity to repair and soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Here’s a list of our favorite pregnancy-safe retinol alternatives.
Other affordable natural face moisturizers we love include InstaNatural Vitamin C Moisturizer, Maryann Organics Collagen Cream Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer, and Awake Human Organic Facial Moisturizer. (<– That’s one of the cleanest of the clean!)
Ultimately, there are a ton of great natural skincare brands out there these days, so a combo that fits your skin type, budget, and personal preferences shouldn’t be hard to find. As long as you choose a moisturizer that doesn’t contain parabens, BHA, hydrocortisone, MSM, or retinol, you should be fine.
Related: 7 Natural Face Moisturizers That Are Good for Mind, Body, and Earth.
Best Spot Treatment for Acne & Melasma (A Good Pregnancy-Safe Salicylic Acid Alternative)
Yes, people can safely apply products containing salicylic acid once or twice a day during pregnancy. Cleansers and toners commonly include this acne-fighting ingredient.
However, doctors recommended using products containing salicylic acid no stronger than 2 percent. Salicylic acid is a type of beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that is generally considered safe for use in low concentrations, but that’s a personal decision you’ll have to make. Otherwise, look for an acne-fighting product that uses sulfur or lactic acid as the active ingredient.
If you want to skip the salicylic acid altogether, try Belli’s Acne Control Spot Treatment or The Ordinary’s Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% (above shown) instead.
^ Use the latter as a spot treatment to help reduce blemishes, acne, and comedones while also lightening hyperpigmentation spots. This formula is vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and it works synergistically with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, as well.
Some early studies even show that azelaic acid might be as effective (though significantly less harmful) than hydroquinone at lightening dark melasma spots.
To quote an NBC News article about the magic of azelaic acid, it’s “’one of few topicals that is safe for use in both pregnancy and breastfeeding, and is always an ingredient I recommend to women who have childbearing in mind.’… It’s ‘very difficult’ for pregnant and breastfeeding women to treat acne and melasma because ‘a vast majority of treatments dermatologists typically use– both topical and oral– are considered unsafe or lack data necessary to conclude there is no risk to a developing fetus and or infant.’”
Enough said!
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Another Helpful Toner for Pregnancy-Related Body Acne
Andalou Naturals’ Clementine + C Illuminating Toner works wonderfully as a spot treatment for body acne during pregnancy. Simply wet a cotton ball with this solution after showering (or whenever you notice acne) and wipe down the affected area once daily.
This is a nice, gentle way to cleanse pores or oil and grime without using any targeted acne treatments. It can also help prevent future breakouts on the back and shoulders when you work it into your post-shower routine.
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Pregnancy-Safe Pimple Patches for Hormonal Acne
This brand is popular among the What To Expect team. Rael Beauty’s Miracle Spot Dot is a staple for hormonal acne brought on by pregnancy (which often happens when you’re having a girl, according to folklore).
These easy-to-apply sticker treatments are sort of fun to use! Simply stick them on to cleansed, dry skin and watch them helpfully dissolve acne over time. Each patch is designed for use over 4-8 hours.
Rael’s miracle patches are also vegan, cruelty-free, sulfate-free, latex-free, alcohol-free, and (fortunately for us) non-drying. Thus, they are perfect for use on oily, combination, sensitive, dry, and normal skin.
Patches come in two sizes, and they’re transparent with a matte finish, so they work with every skin tone.
Best Pregnancy-Safe Petroleum Jelly Alternative
Waxelene Multi-Purpose Ointment is awesome! We love this beautifully emollient natural alternative to petroleum jelly. Derms + the general medical community say that Aquaphor and other petroleum jelly products are safe to use during pregnancy, but conflicting evidence shows that we don’t *really* know for sure.
What about using a non-petroleum petroleum jelly alternative, just to be safe? Waxelene soothing botanical jelly is a safe organic, petroleum-free alternative!!! Plus, the large size comes packaged in a glass jar— but they also have travel sized tubes that are a great natural alternative to petroleum-based chapstick.
Plus, the formula is cruelty-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free, petroluem-free, and mineral oil free.
Waxelene is also hypoallergenic, biodegradable, never tested on animals, and made in the USA with sustainable energy.
The balm creates a wonderful waterproof barrier made from an emulsion of organic soya oil, beeswax, Vitamin E oil, and organic rosemary oil. Thus, it’s breathable and it won’t clog pores.
Ultimately, this natural petroleum jelly/Aquaphor alternative is ideal for dry skin, itchy skin, chapped lips, eczema, psoriasis, scars, calluses, sports, anti-chafe, after-shave, after sun, chapped winter noses, and more!
You can feel good about reusing or recycling the glass jar if you ever finish the tub. No plastic here! And if that wasn’t enough, they also plant a tree for every item sold. (You’ll never use Vaseline or Aquaphor again… if only because it will take even the most liberal vaseline users years to use up this jar.)
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Other All-Natural Pregnancy-Safe Chapstick Recommendations
Taos AER’s Organic Lip Balm, Dr. Bronner’s Naked Lip Balm, and Good Ole’ Burt’s Bees (any formula) are also great and pregnancy-safe lip balm options.
Simple, Clean Pregnancy-Safe Makeup Remover
Certified Organic Cold-Pressed Jojoba Oil is the best natural makeup remover with no crap in it! Plus, there’s no eye stinging, unlike commercial make-up removers or makeup removing pads. (And it creates less waste.)
^ I love this organic, cold-pressed jojoba oil. It’s a great all-purpose makeup cleanup and removal serum. (I buy it in bulk with a pump dispenser on Amazon!)
Seriously– even if you don’t like using oil serums as skincare, there’s no denying that jojoba oil is an excellent way to remove makeup. You can do it before you wash your face and any oil residue will remove with soap and water. You’ll never pay for makeup remover again!
Maias Mineral Galaxy Eye Shadow (Great Pregnancy-Safe Eye Shadows)
Maias Mineral Galaxy is a small, homespun makeup company with surprisingly excellent, long-lasting, and sweat-proof eye shadows– as well as foundations, and even some pregnancy-safe liners, lipsticks, and mascaras. But, we really love and recommend them for their powdery, colorful eyeshadows.
These natural handcrafted mineral eyeshadows are light, easy to apply, and long-lasting– and best of all, they are all EWG Verified. (They don’t contain any toxic chemicals that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.)
Best of all, you can order generous sample sizes of the various colors you’re interested in so that you can test them before you buy. (In my experience, you can get several wears out of each sample, which is great if you only need it for a single series of events like a wedding or performance. You might never even need to buy the full size!)
Ultimately, don’t let the homemade look of the brand packaging throw you– these are high-quality cosmetics!
Best Pregnancy-Safe Hydrocortisone Cream Alternatives
Remember: you cannot use hydrocortisone cream while pregnant! Most people either forget this or never think much about it since, for most people, hydrocortisone isn’t a high volume use product.
Era Organics Superbalm Cream is a beloved staple among moms, babies, and pregnant ladies. Slather it on anything and everything for a nice, matte anti-itch moisturizing treatment. It’s virtually impossible to use to too much, so you can apply it repeatedly throughout the day as needed.
This cream is cruelty-free, paraben-free, fragrance-free, and contains no toxins, phthalates, petrolatum, or mineral oil.
My second favorite cream (and the cleanest based on the research) is Puriya’s Mother of All Creams. I like this one best as a moisturizer in the winter as it is super emollient and full of nourishing amino acids. This cream is also cruelty-free, paraben-free, and fragrance-free.
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More Targeted, All Natural Creams for Eczema
If you need a more targeted treatment for a rash or a condition like eczema or psoriasis, see our guide to the 8 Best All Natural, Steroid-Free Eczema Creams.
Either way, itchy skin is a common issue for pregnant people, so you should know what’s in your go-to moisturizer of choice.
Related: Make This Easy Calming DIY Lavender Body Butter. It’s perfect for itchy belly bumps and preventing stretch marks!
Best Pregnancy-Safe Nail Polish
In recent years studies from Duke University and Environmental Working Group have shown that nail polish chemicals can seep into blood stream even through the nail bed. Traditional nail polish has been linked to everything from breast cancer to endocrine disruption.
For that reason, non-toxic nail polish has become a new, necessary trend in the world of clean beauty. And fortunately, there are many good options out there.
We like Sundays brand nail polish a lot, but here we also have a complete, shoppable guide to the 10 Best Non-Toxic, Cruelty-Free Nail Polish Brands on the market right now.
^ Check it out and find a color that fits your taste, price point, and style. As always, be sure to ventilate the room when using any nail polish, even so-called “natural” ones.
Best Acetone-Free Non-Toxic Nail Polish Remover
Priti NYC’s acetone-free oil-based Soy Nail Polish Remover is vegan, cruelty-free, biodegradable, any doesn’t contain any VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which means it’s safe to accidentally inhale.
Plus, this super moisturizing formula won’t dry out your nails or cuticles like normal nail polish remover will. For best results, use on clean, dry nail polish. It’s amazing how well this natural remover works!
After one use, you’ll never go back to the acetone- and chemical-filled stuff. Why get exposure to all those chemicals if the natural product works just as well? It’s actually crazy, and will make you question why you didn’t make the switch sooner. (And this product is significantly better for the environment, too. It’s a win-win!)
Still, be sure to ventilate the room when using.
Related: These are the 5 Best Acetone-Free, Cruelty-Free Nail Polish Removers on the market right now.
Pregnancy-Safe Non-Nano Zinc SPF 30 Chapstick
People often forget to put sunscreen on their lips. Plus, there are so few SPF chapsticks on the market that don’t contain chemical sunscreens, that it’s hard to find one that’s pregnancy-safe!
Fortunately, Thinksun’s SPF 18 Chapstick contains 10.5% non-nano zinc as well as grapefruit & currant extract, and vitamin E for maximum natural SPF lip protection on-the-go.
This moisturizing chapstick is made with a shea butter base that’s fragrance-free, PABA-free, and made in the USA. Because it provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays, it’s an ideal chapstick for sweating or outdoor activities, where you plan to have lots of sun exposure. And it glides on silky-smooth, unlike many other zinc-based SPF chapsticks on the market, which can be thick and chalky.
Keep one in your house, one in your bag, and one for travel or any other situation where you need SPF protection.
Also, because it doesn’t contain any chemical sunscreen ingredients, this chapstick is also less likely to denature if you accidentally leave it in a hot car. (Just something to think about– not that we recommend doing that.)
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If you want Scented Zinc SPF Chapstick
And if you want a scented Zinc-based sunscreen chapstick, Stream2Sea’s Cherry Sun Protect SPF 30 Lip Balm offers full broad-spectrum coverage, as well.
The formula is made from mostly organic ingredients. It’s also reef-safe, paraben-free, 100% biodegradable, and made in the USA. (And it just might bring back memories of this Katy Perry song.)
Best Pregnancy-Safe Natural Conditioners *That Actually Work*
It’s pretty easy to find natural shampoo and conditioner these days– but many women struggle to find a truly natural hair conditioner that also works well. Most natural conditioners are missing that moisturizing “oomf” that the chemical-filled conditioners seem to have.
Fortunately, however, this is not the case with Attitude Hair Care products, including their Super-Rich Moisture Leaves Quinoa & Jojoba Conditioner. It’s paraben-free, cruelty-free, PETA-approved, biodegradable, EWG-certified, and the packaging is recyclable.
Best of all, they have a bunch of other great scents and specifications in the line, including a Hypoallergenic Clarifying Shampoo and a Curl Amplifying Shampoo.
They even have a dedicated Pregnancy conditioner that’s EWG certified, as well! (<— My husband loves the smell that “Blooming Belly” leaves in my hair, and it gives my natural waves the most beautiful, bouncy body!)
Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with anything in this line of bespoke all-natural hair care. Attitude’s natural shampoo for color-treated hair also has a cult following, as shampoos for color-treated hair are rarely Climate Pledge Friendly and EWG certified like this one. And it smells great!
Best Pregnancy-Safe Leave-in Conditioners
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Pacifica’s Ginger Root 10-in-1 Spray Hair Volumizer
Pacifica’s Ginger Root 10-in-1 Hair Volumizer is a nice, gentle, leave-in conditioning spray that adds extra volume and nourishment to slightly wavey hair post-shower. It’s 100% vegan and cruelty-free formulated with Vitamin B for a “magical hair boost.” It also offers pollution protection and scalp-stimulating antioxidant extracts, which can be helpful if you occasionally suffer from an itchy scalp.
If you have straight hair in need of texturizing, they also have a pregnancy-safe Salty Waves Texturing Spray that adds body and lift to fine, limp hair. Both are made in the USA.
Overall, we love Pacifica’s ginger hair volumizer because of how it nourishes each strand weightlessly and makes your mane more manageable as it dries naturally. The refreshing, summer-y scent reminds us of tropical fruit (or a gummy vitamin… we mean this in the best way possible). It’s also a gentle, not-to-heavy mist to use before blow drying.
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Innersense Sweet Spirit Organic Leave-in Conditioner
Innersense Sweet Spirit Organic Leave-in Conditioner is a great conditioning spray for all hair types. This lightweight pregnancy-safe detangling spray increases moisture, shine, and manageability.
It’s formulated with emollient oils, fragrant herbs, floral essences, and certified organic plant oils that leave hair feeling soft, manageable, and full of body. A touch of honey also locks in style, whether you’re using it as a pre-styling detangler or to refresh and restyle.
This natural leave-in conditioner is formulated without phthalates, sulfates, parabens, silicones, EDTA, propylene and butylene glycol, PEG, MEA, TEA, MIA, and artificial dyes. (Basically, none of the bad stuff.) It’s also cruelty-free and made in the USA.
The mantra on the bottle says it best: “I allow my life to flow with ease.” This is good advice during the journey that is pregnancy!
Best Dark Circle Cover-up with SPF
Colorscience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy is perfect for people with tan-to-medium/olive skin with a tendency towards dark circles. If you have fair skin, this mineral-based SPF formula blends easily with tinted makeup.
It’s formulated with pregnancy-safe Titanium Dioxide (7.9%) and Zinc Oxide (6.7%), and it’s gentle enough that you can even use it on your upper lids. (I used it as a peachy-tinted eyeshadow when I’m going out in the sun, as I have very fair skin.)
This product offers broad-spectrum SPF 35 PA+++ (which is Japan’s top rating for sun protection products). I also like how the applicator stays cool. This can help with de-puffing under eye bags, almost like the effect of a chilled cucumber or those cold globes everyone buys from Amazon.
Best Nanoparticle-Free Black Mascaras (Drugstore + High-End Options)
W3ll People Natural Expressionist Mascara (Pro Black)— Is EWG verified, cruelty-free, non-GMO, and likely the top-rated pregnancy-safe mascara on the market. We love that its made with organic beeswax, jojoba oil, and botanicals from organic farms to nourish lashes while creating length and definition.
A portion of this product’s production is also offset with sustainable energy. Plus, this mascara doesn’t contain any nanoparticles or synthetic fragrance.
If you’ve already been using a “natural” mascara, you’re probably already familiar with this brand. In the last several years, this defining black formula has won an Allure Beauty Award and was named an Elle Magazine Essential.
Basically, it’s super clean and easy to remove. The formula is Petroleum-Free, Paraben-Free, Gluten-Free, Coal Tar-Free, Aluminum-Free, and Fiber-Free, so it won’t “gunk” or irritate your eyes.
As a second option, we like Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Mascara, which is a slightly cheaper options. It’s a “1” in the EWG Database and ideal for people with sensitive eyes, because it’s hypoallergenic and ophthalmologist recommended for this reason.
The entire Organic Wear line is paraben-free, fragrance-free, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and clinically tested to be safe for contact lens wearers, as well.
^ This is a popular drug store brand, so it doesn’t have many reviews online– nevertheless, it’s a popular mascara option among clean beauty and minimalist makeup stalwarts.
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High-End Options
Westman Atelier makes a boutique natural, moisturizing mascara that gives great length and volume. Their Eye Love You Mascara is pricy, but it also has a cult following among mascara addicts. If you’re willing to pay around ~$6o (it’s slightly cheaper on Amazon!) then this mascara is definitely worthy of your consideration.
While not *as* natural as the mascaras above, it’s still pregnancy-safe. For thick, definable lashes that have a dramatic, decidedly “makeup-y” look (as opposed to a more “natural” look like the options above) this mascara is the best we’ve ever tried.
Ere Perez’ Avocado Waterproof Mascara, meanwhile, is another high-end option that lengthens while also moisturizing lashes. Ideal for sensitive eyes, this product conditions lashes from the inside out with a signature blend of avocado, cacahuananche (which is called the “mother of cacao” in Mexico, where this mascara is made), mamey sapote, and camellia oils. Plus, it’s vegan, cruelty-free, and carbon-neutral!
The Best Naturally Pigmented Black Liquid Eyeliner
Dr. Hauschka’s Liquid Eyeliner in Black is THE staple dermatologically- and ophthalmologically-tested and approved eyeliner. Its 100% certified natural color is made in Germany (a country famous for environmentally-friendly products) with mineral pigments and botanical plant extracts that nurture and soothe sensitive skin around the eye.
This compact liner is paraben-free, preservative-free, and synthetic fragrance-free. We also love that unlike many liquid eyeliners on the market, Dr. Hauschka’s liquid eyeliner comes with a soft brush that paints precise, eye-defining lines without easily smudging.
Best of all, it washes off super easily with water and gentle makeup remover (like the jojoba oil, below). As a result, there’s little persistence and you don’t need to rub your eyes like crazy to get it off at the end of the day.
PSA: Most people who love this liner buy it at Whole Foods, so don’t let the surprising lack of Amazon reviews fool you. (I personally have sworn by this eyeliner for over a decade– and I wear black eyeliner every day.)
Best Lotions, Creams, & Oils for Pregnancy Stretch Marks (+ Itchy Belly Relief!)
Moisturizing a lot during pregnancy can help mitigate the appearance and slow the formation of pesky stretch marks.
Top collaborative OBGYN practices like Physicians & Midwives in Alexandria, Virginia suggest using organic cocoa butter for alleviating stretch marks topically.
Consuming more vitamin C rich foods, drinking lots of water throughout pregnancy, and trying not to gain too much weight too quickly can all also help mitigate this common pregnancy symptom.
Other pregnancy-safe lotions that specifically target elasticity in the skin include: Osea’s Vegan, Cruelty-Free Algae Body Oil (above shown), Burt’s Bees Cocoa & Cupuau Body Butter Lotion (<– This can also help with itchy belly skin!), and Evereden’s Nourishing Stretch Mark Cream, which is EWG verified.
Eufora’s Aloetherapy Moisture Mist for hair and body is also a great easy-to-apply moisture boost for itchy belly skin. When I was too tired to apply any lotions and creams (hey, pregnancy is hard enough!) this all-natural spray-on mist came in handy.
^ I love that you can simply spritz it on any part of the body, and it dries instantly with no oily residue. Thus, you can get dressed right away and it won’t stain your clothes. You can also use it on dry skin to refresh and rejuvenate any time! It also has a slightly cooling effect, which is great for summer pregnancies and people who run hot.
Finally, dermatologists agree that Pure Organic Vitamin E oil can also work as a targeted treatment for stretch marks that have already appeared. Remember: stretch marks are largely genetic! So don’t worry too much about them, as most will fade after pregnancy.
Best Pure Hyaluronic Serum (for Anti-Aging Moisture)
Hyaluronic acid is a key active anti-aging ingredient known for smoothing fine lines and restoring skin suppleness and hydration. Because hyaluronic acid is capable of holding up to 1000 times its own weight in water, its super moisturizing.
Fortunately, this lightweight hyaluronic serum from Ireland-based Pestle & Mortar contains multiple molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, so that it can penetrate skin at different depths. This works to reduce fine lines, dullness, and dehydration. We particularly love how well it works to diminish the appearance of under-eye wrinkles and crows feet. (Just be sure not to get it in your eyes.)
Hyaluronic acid also keeps collagen synthesis up, so it works synergistically to improve suppleness and reduce wrinkles and fine lines. We love this fast-absorbing formula, which is 100% cruelty-free, vegan, and free from parabens, mineral oil, silicones, sulfates, propylene glycol, and synthetic fragrance. Most hyaluronic serums have fillers or added fragrance, but this one is about as pure as it gets.
This serum is safe for use daily. Just be sure to keep it out of direct sunlight. (We like to keep the bottle in the gorgeous cylindrical box it comes in, which naturally shades it from light.)
Best Derm-Formulated Natural Combination Serum for Pregnancy
Goldfaden MD’s clinically-formulated Brightening Elixir is a great pregnancy-safe Vitamin C serum that comes bundled with research-backed Ferulic Acid, as well as Vitamins B & E. We love this cool, fast-drying gel. It goes on smooth and dries clean, without any greasy residue that might get in the way of your sunscreen. (Ideally, you should layer Vitamin C serum under sunscreen.)
This brightening antioxidant serum helps protect against photo-aging and free radical damage, while also boosting hydration, reducing redness and discoloration, and improving the appearance of fine lines.
Because it’s developed by a practicing dermatologist, you can rest easy knowing that the ingredients work synergistically without added harmful chemicals.
Goldfaden MD’s Brightening Elixir is made in the USA. The physician-strength formula is also paraben-free, petrochemical-free, gluten-free, alcohol-free, mineral oil-free, silicone-free, and hypoallergenic. It works for all skin types and there’s no animal testing.
Plus, it’s super light and absorbs like magic. We love it!
Best Pregnancy-Safe Vitamin C Serum (for Dark Spot Minimization)
SkinCeuticals’ CE Ferulic Vitamin C Serum is one of the most popular Vitamin C serums among dermatologists. Thankfully, it only has a “2” rating on EWG’s Skin Deep Clean Cosmetics database, which means it’s super clean, as well.
It is, however, super expensive, as this Vitamin C serum is a groundbreaking research-backed formula good for discoloration, dark spot minimization, and antioxidant protection under sunscreen. (Thus it will run you over $165 for 1 fluid ounce.)
Most people buy this product through skincare-specific platforms like LovelySkin or Dermstore, so it doesn’t have many ratings on Amazon. But make no mistake: this product delivers results. It has a cult following, and it is personally the only Vitamin C serum I have used regularly on my skin for nearly a decade. (FWIW: It is pricey, but a bottle lasts me half to three-quarters of a year. It also makes your sunscreen more effective, so I consider it “preventative medicine” for the skin.)
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Some Cheaper Dupes That Are Also Safe
PSA: Eczema Honey’s 15% Vitamin C + Ferulic Acid Serum is also a good, much more affordable alternative to Skincueticals’ CE Ferulic– and it’s also pregnancy-safe. Paula’s Choice also makes a similar formulation of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and 15% Ferulic Acid known as the Boost C15 Super Booster.
Best Pregnancy-Safe Vitamin B Serum
Drunk Elephant’s “clean-clinical” B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum is a great moisture booster for use under a moisturizer or sunscreen. It works synergistically with Vitamin C (above) to prevent photoaging and improve the look of skin tone and texture. As a result, beauty bloggers love it. (And fortunately, it’s not a “hard core” chemical like other skincare actives like retinol or AHA.)
We love that it’s lightweight. Applying it feels like water, which can be oddly refreshing in the hot summer months. This pregnancy-safe Vitamin B serum scores a green “2” on EWG’s Skin Deep database, and is suitable for all skin types.
Formulated with pro-vitamin B5 and pineapple ceramides, it replenishes thirsty skin quickly. If you want to add a healthy serum to your skincare routine in order to boost moisture, this is an easy add.
Best Tinted, Mattifying Mineral Sunscreen Powder
This water resistant UVA/UVB Broad Spectrum tinted SPF mineral sunscreen powder is great for layering on top of sunscreen, makeup, and wherever you’re looking to reduce shine. Brush on Block’s Mineral Sunscreen Powder is formulated with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which are mineral sunscreens, rather than harmful chemical sunscreens, that do double duty as mattifying powder.
The powder comes in tinted and non-tinted versions, and it dispenses easily from the brush itself for easy on-the-go touchups. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free, hypo-allergenic, and water-resistant for 80 minutes. And yes, the zinc used for both the tinted and translucent formulas is non-nano.
Layer it over makeup or use directly on the face to perfect your golden glow without sticky shine or cake-y residue.
For more recommendations of pregnancy- and reef-safe mineral sunscreens, go here.
Best Pregnancy Safe Bath Salts
The Honest Company’s Me Moment Soaking Salts are a great unscented mineral-rich salt soak that de-stresses and relaxing pregnant bodies. It’s great if you have sciatica, back pain, or lots of lower leg swelling in the third trimester.
This calming, hypoallergenic blend is made without dyes, magnesium sulfate, SLSA, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, or PEGs. Simply add 1-2 cups to warm water and allow the salts to fully dissolve before soaking.
When taking a bath while pregnant, always remember to use comfortably warm, not HOT, water. You want to avoid submerging your bump in water that’s hot enough to raise your core body temperature.
Best Belly Mask For Itchy, Dry, or Stretched Skin
Evereden’s Soothing Belly Masks are like face masks for moisturizing itchy, tired, stretched belly skin. They’re all-natural, EWG verified, and most importantly, super fun!
We love this easy-to-apply at-home spa treatment. It’s one of the only beauty products that you can only use while pregnant. And it makes a fun baby shower gift, too!
Best Pregnancy Safe Lipstick
Mineral Fusion’s line of color-rich, velvet finish lipsticks are cruelty-free, vegan, hypoallergenic, gluten-free, paraben-free, artificial fragrance-free, and EWG Verified. Phew! And thank goodness, too, because lipstick goes on your mouth so you want to make sure you aren’t ingesting trace amounts of chemicals during pregnancy.
This long-lasting, hydrating lipstick is made with antioxidant-rich botanicals like cocoa seed butter, cranberry seed oil, and white tea oil for lasting lip nourishment in addition to color.
We like that this line offers full transparency and offers a suite of flattering colors (we like the mauve-y “Alluring” shade the best).
Best Pregnancy-Safe Clay Mask
Odacite’s Synergie Immediate Skin Perfecting Beauty Mask is paraben-free, petrochemical-free, phthalate-free, and fragrance-free. In my opinion, it’s the best clay mask for pregnancy, bar none.
It cleanses pores, brightens and evens skin tone and brown spots, exfoliates, and tightens. Thus, it’s great for both acne-prone and anti-aging-conscious folks. I personally love that it dries tightly to the skin (a natural circulation boost!) and it’s super refreshing to wash off after 10-15 minutes.
The brand even includes a recipe card with information about how you can “supercharge” the masque by adding targeted ingredients like yogurt (which boosts skin’s natural protective probiotic barrier), lemon juice, orange juice, face oils, white cane sugar (an additional exfoliant), or fresh papaya (which enhances the enzymatic effect, for example).
~ Miscellaneous ~
Non-body products that still have an impact on personal care and the earth.
Plastic-Free Floss
This eco-friendly silk floss is where it’s at. Treebird’s Pure Silk Eco Floss is a plastic-free floss flavored with a super subtle hint of mint. Best of all, the floss can be thrown in the compost after you’re done using it– and so can the cardboard packaging! (It’s made of craft paper and soybean ink.)
Most plastic floss ends up in the ocean where it harms wildlife by getting wrapped around animals necks and limbs– so awful! This pure silk eco floss, on the other hand, is waxed with candelilla wax instead, so that it can biodegrade. Thus, you get less plastic exposure, and it’s better for wildlife and the environment!
Once you use up your first spool of plastic-free floss, simply buy more floss refills to top up your glass dispenser. You’ll never buy a new package of floss again!
We also love the cute glass bottle (like we said, there isn’t any plastic in the product) which is super chic and compact. It’s great for travel or stowing in your bag– or if you just want one of those trendy, minimalist bathrooms.
Most importantly, this pure silk floss is also surprisingly strong and durable, so it won’t shred in your teeth. 🦷 (When we tried it, it actually resisted shredding better than regular plastic floss.) We love it!
Plastic-Free Biodegradable Hair Elastics
Terra Ties’ Plastic-Free Biodegradable Hair Elastics are a great earth-friendly option for hair elastics that so many women go through quickly during pregnancy.
Whether you’re someone who is constantly breaking or losing hair elastics, most women can seemingly never have enough of them.
Fortunately, Terra Ties don’t have the metal snag or plastic coating that can sometimes get stuck in hair. And, it limits your personal plastic exposure (which is better for you, the Earth, and the global water supply).
Steroid-Free Pregnancy-Safe Nasal Saline Spray
Dry nasal passages are vulnerable to attack from germs, and they can also swell to create congestion. Xlear nasal spray is gently cleans and moisturizes the nasal passages to help relieve congestion, which is particularly problematic for pregnant women between 12 and 20 weeks. (Because your sinuses are made of the same tissue as your uterus, your sinuses also softens and expand as your uterus does, which creates the congestion.)
Most importantly, this spray is formulated without the use of steroids, drugs, or chemicals. It only contains four ingredients: Purified Water, Xylitol, Saline, Grapefruit Seed Extract!
As a result, not only is this natural nasal spray safe for kids, non-addictive, and Non GMO Project Verified, but it can be used daily to reduce swelling and open up your airways. (Unlike steroid-based nasal sprays, which should only be used short-term even when not pregnant.)
Best Pregnancy-Safe Antacid (Preservative and Chemical-Free Tums Alternative)
Genexa Maximum Strength Antacid helps relieve acid indigestion, sour stomach, heartburn, and other common pregnancy-related digestive issues. However, unlike other antacids on the market, Genexa’s doesn’t contain any talc, dyes, parabens, preservatives, or chemicals. It’s also non-GMO and gluten-free.
The flavor of these antacid tablets is more subtle than Tums, and they’re slightly thinner and dissolve faster, which is great for people who have nausea/don’t like the taste or texture of chewable antacids.
Thankfully, however, Genexa tablets have just as much calcium as Tums, so you won’t be sacrificing that added pregnancy benefit.
Genexa, moreover, does a whole line of “clean” “human-centric” medicines that contain all the same active ingredients of traditional OTC’s without the fillers and synthetic colors of other pharmacy brands. We exclusively use their clean version of children’s Tylenol with our children. (<—- Like their Tums alternative, it has the exact same proportions of the appropriate active ingredient, without the junk. We love this concept and strongly recommend this whole line for families!)
Best Pregnancy-Safe Electrolyte Mix
Skratch Labs’ Everyday Hydration Mix is one of the very few electrolyte products on the market that isn’t made with stevia. While stevia is *technically* a pregnancy-safe ingredient (at least according to various obstetric practices in the U.S. as of this writing), there are other studies that link stevia to negative changes in blood profiles and digestive issues.
Not ideal, when digestion is already stressed enough during pregnancy.
Accordingly, we love Skratch Labs’ Lemon + Lime Hydration Mix because it comes in an unsweetened version that can be added to everything from water to applesauce, depending on your needs. (They also have convenient single-serve packs for on-the-go.) Research shows that electrolytes can help reduce swelling (the likes of which many women can experience in the third trimester) and this drink mix is a handy, clean alternative in an oversaturated market where many products are parlayed as if they are “natural”, when in reality, they are not.
Ditch the stevia if you can. If you’re looking for a solid electrolyte mix to add to your water while pregnant, Skratch Labs’ products are your best bet, and they come in a few different flavors like tangerine, fruit punch, and strawberry lemonade.
Best Pregnancy-Safe Personal Lubricant
Good Clean Love‘s line of bio-matched personal lubricants are pregnancy-safe and sperm-safe (for those still trying to conceive). They have more research than most lubricant brands on the market today that demonstrate their product’s effectiveness and shelf-life.
For more information on Good Clean Love’s biomatch technology, go here.
Also, Remember to AVOID CBD Products!
When pregnant, be sure to avoid CBD oil (aka cannabidoil, which is derived from cannabis) in general. Do not consume or smoke it, and do not use it topically.
“FDA strongly advises against the use of cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and marijuana in any form during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Cannabis and Cannabis-derived products have become increasingly available in recent years, with new and different types of products appearing all the time.
There is no comprehensive research studying the effects of CBD on the developing fetus, pregnant mother, or breastfed baby. FDA is continuing to collect and study the data on the possible harmful effects of CBD during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. However, based on what we do know, there is significant cause for concern.
High doses of CBD in pregnant test animals have caused problems with the reproductive system of developing male fetuses. In addition, based on what we already know about CBD, we expect that some amount of CBD will be transferred to babies through breast milk.”
Other Helpful Skincare Tips for Pregnancy
- Drink lots of water, bone broth, soup, and/or warm lemon water, and eat lots of vitamin C and bioflavonoid-rich foods like colorful fruits and veggies, preferably organic.
- Moisturizing with Vitamin E, almond oil, or other unscented body oils help prevent stretch marks.
- Wear non-nano zinc sunscreen daily if you struggle with melasma during pregnancy.
- Invest in some body oil, like Pratima’s VATA Rejuvenating Body Oil, for doing gentle body massage in the postpartum period. (Dr. Pratima Raichur’s ayurvedic-informed products are organic, small-batch, cruelty-free, packaged in glass, labeled with corn paper, and printed with vegetable ink to minimize environmental impact. They also support small farms with sustainable environmental and ethical business practices.)
- It’s okay to save your beloved chemical treatments, sunscreens, makeup, and other personal care products for after pregnancy. Pregnancy can feel agonizingly long, but it’s short in the grand scheme of things, and you WILL be able to use your favorite products again– we just hope this guide inspires you to invest in new, cleaner options so that you won’t want to. 🙂
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Important Disclaimer: We are not doctors!!! We are health journalists who comb through research and merely talk about our findings here. Check with your doctor before trying any new products or supplements. All of these products are listed as safe according to ACOG and EWG guidelines. If you have any further questions, consult with your doctor.
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Related: 6 Super Cozy, Eco-Friendly Maternity Clothing Companies.
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