The Best Pregnancy-Safe Facials (& What to Avoid)

Pregnancy is a time of huge upheaval for you and your body, and that includes your skin.

As the popular trope goes, pregnant women are expected to glow, blossoming with the new life that grows inside them…

But in reality the hormonal changes that affect your skin may actually be more likely to leave you with dryness, breakouts, hyperpigmentation, flaky skin and more.

Pregnancy is a great time to indulge in professional facials.

Your changing skin will love the extra pampering, as will your tired body – after all, the more relaxed you are, the better it is for your baby.

But – not all facials are suitable for expectant mothers, and it’s important to note that your regular skin care regime may no longer be suitable.

This doesn’t mean you can’t treat your skin conditions.

Facials are quite safe during pregnancy, so long as your therapist is experienced and knows you are pregnant.

We’ve been treating pregnant women for years at Beauté – and yes, some of us have even been pregnant ourselves and had to deal with our own changing complexions!

We know how frustrating it can be.

In all those years of experience, we’ve figured out some of the best approaches to dealing with common pregnancy skin issues.

Let’s breakdown some of the myths and rules so you are better informed about what is and isn’t suitable when it comes to pregnancy facials.

Pregnancy Facials: What to Avoid

Let’s start with the basics of what to avoid.

There’s a lot of misinformation and hyperbole around the internet about what pregnant and breastfeeding women can and can’t do when it comes to their skincare, but there are definitely a few things you need to avoid during this time:

• Pregnant women should not have laser treatments.
• Pregnant women should not have IPL.
• Pregnant women should not be exposed to topically applied Vitamin A products such as Retinol.
• Aromatherapy treatments also need to be approached with caution.

The other thing to keep in mind is that you are generally more sensitive than normal when you’re pregnant, and that can include your skin and your pain threshold.

If something doesn’t feel right during your treatment, make sure you let your therapist know so that things can be adjusted accordingly.

Pregnancy Skin Problems & Solutions

That short list of things to avoid still leaves us with lots of options when it comes to facial treatments during pregnancy.

Pregnancy Skin Problem #1: Dry, Dull Skin

All your body’s hydration goes to the baby first, which is why a lot of women end up with dry skin during pregnancy. It may start with your belly but can quickly travel to arms and legs as well as your face, which dulls your complexion and robs you of your promised pregnancy glow.

Pregnancy Skin Problem #2: Pigmentation and Melasma

Along with increased photosensitivity in your skin, you can also experience a surge in pigment-stimulating hormones while you are pregnant and these can contribute to melasma – large patches of discolouration appearing on the face.

This hyperpigmentation often fades post-pregnancy, but taking correct care of your skin during pregnancy can help alleviate any long term problems in future with pigmentation.

Pregnancy Skin Problem #3: Adult Acne

With an influx of hormones and added anxiety, pregnant women might see an increase in oil secretion that can lead to breakouts – especially around the chin, jawline and cheeks.

It’s important not to extract these, as the aforementioned hyperpigmentation can strike and leave you with bad scarring.

Pregnancy-safe Facial Solutions

An exfoliating facial is a great solution to dry, dull skin, when the therapist is mindful of the ingredients being used on your complexion.

At Beaute, our facials are highly customisable from start to finish, and our therapists will select the very best ingredients and treatments to match your skin concerns.

We also have some great tools we can incorporate into our facials and use on pregnant women for an extra oomph in the skin department:

• Mild hydra-dermabrasian, when carried out by a highly trained therapist, is safe for pregnancy and provides a deep level exfoliation to the skin.
• Many peels can be done using a pregnancy-safe AHA like a glycolic or lactic acid formula to help clear dead skin cells and restore glow.
• We also love Guinot’s Hydradermie Hydration facial treatment for pregnant women – it passes a mild electrical current through the skin to help push the active hyaluronic acid serum to where your skin most needs it. This is perfectly safe and won’t affect the baby at all, while helping to deeply moisturise.

Final Tips for Booking Facials When Pregnant

Remember, while your skin has very specific needs while you are pregnant, that doesn’t mean you can’t be treated – make sure you research your salon carefully before you book and ask over the phone to have an appointment with a therapist who is experienced in treating pregnant women, so you can be confident you’re getting the correct care.

When you arrive for your facial, be sure again that the therapist knows you’re pregnant and then you can relax and let yourself be pampered.

Keep in mind your sensitivity to products, aromas and even heat may be heightened, so if something doesn’t feel right then definitely say something so that your beauty therapist can adjust the treatment accordingly.