Pregnancy Glow: Tips & Tricks to Keep Expecting Mother’s Skin in Top Shape
Becoming a mother is one of life’s greatest blessings, bringing joy and excitement as you prepare to welcome your little one. However, pregnancy can also bring a whirlwind of changes to your body, particularly your skin. From unexpected breakouts, dark spots, and stretch marks to the much-talked-about “pregnancy glow,” your skin can experience quite the rollercoaster. Navigating these pregnancy skin changes can be overwhelming, but don’t worry—we’ve consulted top skincare experts to provide essential tips, advice, and treatments to help you maintain a radiant, healthy complexion throughout your pregnancy journey and beyond. Get ready to embrace this beautiful phase with confidence and glowing skin.
MEET THE EXPERTS:
Dermis Gunness
Owner, Belly Love Day Spa and Maternity Sanctuary
Shiri Sarfati
Executive Vice President, Partner and Licensed Esthetician, Repêchage
Ires Wilbanks
Certified birth doula, pre-and post-natal yoga instructor, and founder of Powerful Birth
What Happens to Your Body During Pregnancy?
While many people focus on the expanding belly during pregnancy, much more is happening throughout the body. “Your whole body is stretching and expanding,” explains Wilbanks, a certified birth doula and pre- and post-natal yoga instructor. Thanks to pregnancy hormones like progesterone and estrogen, you might experience itchiness, stretch marks, sensitivity, hyperpigmentation, and melasma all over. The key, Wilbanks notes, is to embrace these changes and support your body through diet, nutrition, and hydration.
“Most women don’t realize that their blood volume is expanding, which brings significant changes to the body,” she adds. For example, many women aren’t consuming enough protein or maintaining a healthy salt intake to balance fluids and minerals properly. Wilbanks also emphasizes the importance of rest and self-care, like getting a facial, to help reduce stress levels and support overall well-being.
Common Pregnancy Skincare Challenges
Many women experience various skin changes during pregnancy. The most common issues to watch out for include dryness, oily/problematic skin, hyperpigmentation, also known as dark spots, and stretch marks on the body.
“It’s crucial to keep the skin well-hydrated with gentle, pregnancy-safe moisturizers and to regularly use products containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to help maintain skin elasticity,” says Dermis Gunness, owner of Belly Love Day Spa and Maternity Sanctuary in Coral Springs, Florida. Her spa is dedicated to providing a serene, supportive environment for expectant mothers. “We aim to help mothers feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and confident during this special time in their lives,” she says.
Dealing with pregnancy skincare challenges? Here’s how to improve them:
OILY/PROBLEM SKIN
The Issue: Increased hormones during pregnancy cause the skin to produce more oil, which clogs pores and may lead to pustules and problematic skin.
The Fix: Hydra Medic® Clear Complexion Drying Lotion
Use at night as a spot treatment, and watch as BHA and botanical extracts help reduce the appearance of oily shine.
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DRYNESS/FLAKING
The Issue: Pregnancy hormones can reduce skin’s moisture levels, causing it to become dry and flaky. The body’s increased blood flow can sometimes shift moisture away from the skin’s surface.
The Fix: Honey & Almond Scrub
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This gentle, natural facial scrub deep cleanses and exfoliates, leaving skin smooth and soft. Honey also acts as a natural moisturizer.
UNEVEN SKIN TONE
The Issue: Increased melanin production often causes dark spots and uneven skin tone, resulting in hyperpigmentation. This can appear as brown patches on the skin.
The Fix: Biolight® Brightening Serum
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This breakthrough serum helps brighten and even the appearance of skin tone.
STRETCH MARKS
The Issue: During pregnancy, the skin stretches rapidly, which can lead to stretch marks. These visible lines are formed when the underlying skin layers can’t keep up with the expansion.
The Fix: Vita Cura® CelluSea Lift Body Contour Cream
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This rich cream helps to visibly smooth and tighten the appearance of skin and provide a visibly lifting and smoothing effect.
Remember to avoid products with chemical exfoliants like glycolic acids, salicylic acids, and retinol,” says Shiri Sarfati, CEO and founder of Repêchage. “An ingredient that should without question be avoided during pregnancy including benzoyl peroxide.” She also cautions against specific modalities, including high frequency, galvanic treatment, and radio frequency.
What are the Best Treatments During Pregnancy?
Sarfati recommends seeking gentle, hydrating treatments and using pregnancy-safe products. “A woman’s comfort is always important throughout the treatment,” she says. “Many practitioners use belly pillows to help clients find a comfortable position.”
At Gunness’ spa, specialized facials address hormonal skin changes, and signature treatments focus on nurturing and hydrating the skin on the belly to help prevent stretch marks. Often called a “belly facial,” these treatments offer numerous benefits, including restoring skin hydration, enhancing elasticity, alleviating discomfort from pregnancy-related skin changes, and potentially preventing stretch marks. The treatment typically begins with a gentle cleansing, a circulation-boosting and tension-relieving massage, and ends with a rich moisturizer or hydrating creams and oils.
“When getting a belly facial, always be sure to find a qualified, licensed esthetician or massage therapist,” advises Sarfati.
How to Care for Skin Post-Pregnancy
After giving birth, Gunness says it’s essential to continue caring for your skin as it adjusts. “We recommend treatments that promote healing and tightening of the skin, such as our postpartum massages, lymphatic drainage massages, and body wraps,” she explains. “These services help improve circulation, reduce water retention, and support skin recovery.”
Firming and toning skincare products at home can help address post-baby stretching. For instance, the Repêchage Vita Cura® CelluSea body care collection is highly recommended. “It’s truly amazing,” Gunness adds.
Sarfati also advocates for incorporating body treatments like the Repêchage® Seaweed Body Contouring Mask. This treatment combines mint and fresh seaweed extracts with kaolin clay to help soften skin, making it appear more toned and firm. The warmed mask is smoothed over the body, providing the added benefit of relaxing sore, stiff muscles. For clients dealing with lingering unevenness on the skin, Sarfati recommends the Repêchage® Biolight® Miracle Facial. This facial targets dark spots and hyperpigmentation, helping to even out skin tone and restore a radiant complexion.
Navigating the skincare challenges of pregnancy and the post-pregnancy period can feel overwhelming, but with the right knowledge and care, it’s possible to maintain a healthy, radiant complexion throughout this incredible journey. By incorporating gentle, hydrating treatments and pregnancy-safe products, you can manage common skin concerns like hormonal acne, dryness, hyperpigmentation, and stretch marks. Remember, the goal is to care for your skin and embrace and enjoy this beautiful phase of life.
*The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any new skincare routine or treatment during pregnancy.
