Ingredients to Avoid for Pregnancy Skincare
Being pregnant is a wonderful thing, but pregnancy is also a time for extra precautions. It requires you to pay extra attention to many health-related challenges — everything you eat, drink, apply, or come into contact with may affect not only you but also your growing baby.
Why your skincare matters now
With a developing baby in your belly, it’s now a vital concern to keep a lookout for “red-flag” ingredients in the skincare products and makeup you use. Some ingredients in cleansers, lotions, oils, creams, and cosmetics have the capability of entering into the bloodstream through the skin and can be potentially harmful to your unborn child.
Let’s take a look at the three major unsafe ingredients to avoid during pregnancy — and the safer alternatives you can swap them for.
If you realised you have used a product that contains one of these ingredients, don’t panic — simply stop now and pick one with safe ingredients going forward.
Three ingredients to avoid — and what to use instead
Oxybenzone (sunscreens)
What it is: A chemical used in many sunscreens, lotions, concealers, and lip balms. Tests have shown these chemicals to be present in the bloodstream just a few hours following application.
How it harms: It is absorbed by your skin and could interfere with hormones in the body. It has also been linked to low birth weight.
How to avoid it: Use sunscreens with gentle mineral actives of zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide (non-nano) — two common skincare ingredients considered safe during pregnancy that do not penetrate the skin. They are powerful physical sunscreens that protect from both UVA and UVB rays.
Salicylic acid (BHA)
What it is: The active ingredient in many skincare products that helps treat and prevent skin disorders (pimples, blemishes). It’s common in products used for exfoliating skin and cleansing pores — acne cream, facial soaps, face/body peels, cleansers, and toners.
How it harms: High doses of salicylic acid in oral form have been shown to cause birth defects and pregnancy complications. Most experts and doctors advise pregnant women to avoid it.
How to avoid it: Exfoliants or products with glycolic acid or lactic acid (AHA) are safe alternatives during your pregnancy.
Retinol (Retin-A, topical vitamin A)
What it is: A type of vitamin A that speeds up cell division (quickening your skin’s renewal) and prevents skin collagen from breaking down. Used to treat fine lines, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin tone — common in anti-ageing skincare, makeup products, and spot treatments.
How it harms: Vitamin A can cause birth defects and liver toxicity in high doses. As an extra precaution it’s advisable to avoid retinol where possible. If you’re on a prenatal multivitamin that already contains vitamin A, stop using creams with retinol during pregnancy and breastfeeding (770 mcg/day total is the recommended daily intake).
How to avoid it: Steer clear from the family of products containing retinol and its derivatives — all forms.
Switching to pregnancy-safe alternatives
If you realised you have used a product that contains one of the potentially harmful ingredients noted above, don’t panic. Simply stop using the product now and pick one with known-to-be-safe ingredients. There are many products that have been specially designed to be safe for use during the delicate pregnant state — mineral sunscreens, AHA-based exfoliants, vitamin-C serums for brightening, and hyaluronic acid for hydration all sit firmly in the safe column.
At BMB we stock pregnancy-safe ranges from Dalton and Radicell — both screened for use across all trimesters. Ask our facialists for a personalised recommendation based on your skin concerns, trimester, and budget. We’ll match you to a routine that supports the natural pregnancy glow without compromising on safety.