Baby Massage

How To Have Your Own BMB-Inspired Facial At Home

by BMB Editorial Team

1 JUN 2020

Pregnancy-safe facial at home, BMB-style

At BMB, we tailor our specialty in massages and facials for the expecting and postpartum mother. At every stage of your pregnancy, and post-labour, the needs of your body and skin shift, requiring different essential nutrients and different techniques.

Why we’re bringing the facial home

It’s refreshing to have those needs met during a relaxing hour-long prenatal massage to ease back aches and sore feet, along with the occasional facial to clear dead skin cells and bring back the pregnancy glow. But when a clinic visit is hard to fit in (new baby, a busy week, travel), we want you to be able to do a BMB-style facial in your own home.

Here we’re bringing our massage and facial tips directly to you for your enjoyment and relaxation. The routine below borrows the ideas behind our Glowing Skin Facial: gentle care instead of harsh acids, something cool to calm the skin, and plenty of moisture. You cannot take our machines home, but you can copy the thinking behind them.

The pregnancy glow does not come from just one thing. It comes from your daily routine, the right products and an hour of care now and then, all working together.

What our pregnancy-safe facials do in the clinic

If you’re an existing client of ours, you may notice that our facial menu has changed. We now offer two signature facials, and both are adjusted for hormonal skin through pregnancy and the postnatal year. You can read the full details on our pregnancy-safe facial page.

  • Glowing Skin Facial. This soothing treatment combines gentle exfoliation with advanced Cold Machine Technology. It tightens pores, calms redness and locks in moisture, without the harsh acids that are unsafe in pregnancy. It is ideal for oily or sensitive skin types, and it is safe from the first trimester.
  • Glow & Contour Experience. This facial uses our non-invasive LPG V-Lift technology, with deep lymphatic drainage to clear fluid retention and boost circulation. It is best for mums from the second trimester onwards and throughout the postnatal year.

Each session runs up to 90 minutes. We check every product we use against a list of ingredients that are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding mums. We do not use retinoids, salicylic acid above a safe level, or essential oils that should be avoided in the first trimester. If you’re not sure about an ingredient in a product you already use at home, bring it in and we’ll review it for you.

Six tips for your own facial at home

Set the scene

Dim the lights. Put on calm music. Pin your hair back. Keep the next 30 minutes just for you, with your phone face-down and your partner on baby duty. A calm setting is half the treatment.

Cleanse gently

Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser without alcohol, lukewarm water and your fingertips. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says a washcloth or sponge can irritate the skin, and so can scrubbing. If you wear sunscreen or make-up, cleanse twice: a balm or oil first to lift it off, then your usual gentle cleanser. Pat dry with a soft towel.

Warm flannel

Lay a clean flannel soaked in warm water over your face for a minute or two. It softens the skin and feels lovely, and it gives you a moment to breathe. Keep it comfortably warm rather than hot. The AAD recommends lukewarm water for your face, so there is no need for a hot steamer.

Hydrating mask

Apply a simple hydrating mask for 10 to 15 minutes. Look for moisture-holding ingredients such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid or aloe vera. Many mums find their skin feels oily on the surface yet tight underneath, and a weekly mask helps it feel more comfortable. Leave retinol and other retinoids for after pregnancy: the AAD says most experts recommend stopping tretinoin and adapalene while you are pregnant.

Massage in serum

While your skin is still damp, press in a hydrating serum with gentle upward strokes for two to three minutes. Use light pressure and go slowly. This step is mostly about comfort: it spreads the serum evenly and gives you a little of the hands-on BMB feel. It is not the same as the lymphatic drainage in our Glow & Contour Experience, which uses a machine.

Add a cool finish

When your mask comes off, press a cool, damp flannel over your face for a minute. It feels calming, especially on a warm Singapore evening. It is a small nod to the cooling step in our Glowing Skin Facial, though it cannot match what the machine does in the clinic. Keep a clean flannel in the fridge so it is ready when you are.

Good skincare is a daily habit

At BMB, we believe that good skincare products and a good daily skincare routine are just two of the essential factors that can help you achieve healthy skin. During pregnancy, your skin may appear dehydrated yet oily at the same time, but don’t put off the moisturiser just yet. Just because the skin looks oily on the surface does not mean there is no need for extra moisture. The home facial above works best when paired with a simple daily routine of gentle cleanser, moisturiser and sunscreen. The AAD advises washing your face twice a day and after sweating heavily, which is worth remembering in our humid weather.

If breakouts are your main worry, our guide to pregnancy breakouts lists the acne treatments to stop while pregnant and the gentler options dermatologists consider safe. For the products themselves, our guide to skincare ingredients to avoid in pregnancy covers what to swap out of your shelf.

When to check with your doctor first

A home facial is for healthy, comfortable skin. Skip it and speak to your doctor if you have a rash, broken or very irritated skin, or a prescription cream from before your pregnancy that you have not yet asked about. Itching is common in pregnancy, but the NHS advises contacting your maternity unit or doctor promptly if it is severe, especially on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet.

Home facials in pregnancy: common questions

Is it safe to give myself a facial at home while pregnant?

A gentle home facial with simple products is a comfortable way to care for your skin in pregnancy. Use lukewarm water and your fingertips rather than scrubs, and leave out retinoids, which most experts recommend stopping in pregnancy (AAD). If you use a prescription cream, ask your doctor before you carry on.

Which products should I leave out of a home facial in pregnancy?

Leave out retinoids such as retinol, tretinoin and adapalene. The American Academy of Dermatology also lists isotretinoin, tazarotene and spironolactone as treatments to stop straight away in pregnancy. If a product came from your doctor, check with them before you stop or carry on.

How often should I do a home facial?

Once a week is plenty for most mums. On the other days, a simple routine does the work: wash with a gentle cleanser twice a day and after heavy sweating, as the AAD advises, then moisturise, and wear sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher in the day.

Which sunscreen suits pregnant skin?

Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. For skin prone to dark patches, the AAD suggests mineral filters such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, or a tinted sunscreen with iron oxide. Reapply every two hours when you are outdoors.

What does a BMB pregnancy-safe facial add to my home routine?

Our two signature facials use machines you cannot use at home. The Glowing Skin Facial combines gentle exfoliation with Cold Machine Technology and is safe from the first trimester. The Glow & Contour Experience uses LPG V-Lift technology and is best from the second trimester onwards. Each session runs up to 90 minutes.

Sources

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you are unsure about a product or a change in your skin, please check with your doctor. Updated 05/10/2026.