20 Important Body and Beauty Tips for Pregnant Ladies ...

Body and beauty tips for pregnant ladies are essential. Not only do they help you stay healthy through your pregnancy, they also help keep you feeling great and looking beautiful. After all, you're glowing -- and there's a little life inside of you! Incorporating these crucial health tips in your daily life will help you so much. They're great for you and for baby too, and they can even help you after you give birth! Learn what you need and what you definitely don't need, what to embrace and what to avoid at all costs. If you're expecting or plan to be expecting, take a look at these fantastic beauty and body tips -- and if you've already had your little ones, please add some of your own!

1. Parabens

This ingredient has been on our radar for awhile but it’s something you definitely want to avoid during your pregnancy beauty routine. You can find parabens in products such as moisturizers, makeup, sunscreen, anti-aging products as well as hair care products. Parabens are used as a preservative and have been linked to certain types of cancers and can disturb our body’s hormone system. Make sure you read labels and look for paraben-free products when you shop for beauty products.

2. Vitamin C

One of the best beauty tips for pregnant women is to increase their uptake of Vitamin C. Vitamin C can help keep your veins healthy and flexible to help your body fight against conditions like spider veins or varicose veins. If you have a family history of either condition you might not be able to avoid them but there are steps you can take to minimize the severity, such as elevating legs and walking frequently.

3. Hair Removal

This pregnancy beauty tip is still under investigation but it’s safe to say that while you’re pregnant, it’s best to avoid using chemical hair removers or depilatories and reach for the razor instead. So far there are no studies to encourage or discourage the use of depilatories, however, the main ingredient is thioglycolic acid which is pretty aggressive, so it’s better to steer clear of this product while you have a bun in the oven!

4. Retinoids

Another controversial item to use while pregnant is any product containing retinoids. You can find retinoids in acne treatment products like Retin-A, Accutane or Renova. Avoid using these prescription acne treatments while pregnant as they have been linked to miscarriages and birth defects. Consult your doctor for the best anti-acne regimen for you while you’re expecting!

5. Melasma

This next beauty tip for pregnant women involves dealing with Melasma, also called the mask of pregnancy, which is a patchy skin discoloration that appears on areas of the face that are exposed to the sun. To avoid getting the mask of pregnancy, use a sunscreen with high SPF and make sure you wear a big hat to protect your face. You can also use concealer to cover up the discoloration and it usually fades after you give birth.

6. Oxybenzone

This pregnancy beauty tip is to help you choose the safest sunscreen. As noted in number 5, the use of sunscreen is important to prevent melasma but it’s also important to use to protect your skin all year round. Oxybenzone is frequently found in the list of ingredients in sun protection products and has been linked to developmental toxicity and hormonal disruptions when exposed to high levels of oxybenzone. Look for sunscreen made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide to stay safe in the sun!

7. Acne

While you’re expecting, you might experience some acne. Your skincare during pregnancy should include a good regimen that includes an oil-free cleanser and moisturizer, along with an astringent to alleviate some of that extra oil production that comes with pregnancy, or the famous pregnancy glow and have a nice healthy complexion. Ask your doctor about using skincare products that contain tea tree oil or witch hazel as an alternative to salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide which are both no-no’s while pregnant.

8. Hair Care

Another controversial item to use while pregnant is hair dye. P-phenyledediamine is the infamous chemical that started the whole craze on the dangers of dyeing your hair while pregnant. P-phenyledediamine can also be found in hairspray, shampoos and conditioners, and has been linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, so make sure you carefully read all of your hair care labels before purchasing!

9. Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is another controversial item to use while pregnant and is also found in many hair and beauty care products. If you love your Brazilian blowouts, nail strengthening treatments and hair colors and bleaches, look for formaldehyde-free formulas to keep you and your baby on the safe side. At all costs, avoid this chemical connected to cancer and reproductive and developmental poisons.

10. Coconut Oil

Using coconut oil as an alternative to traditional beauty products is one of the healthiest and cheapest beauty tips for pregnant women. Coconut oil is great for your body but also for your skin and hair, it works great as a nipple cream, body cream and a deep hair conditioning treatment. You can also use this yummy scented oil to treat diaper rash and cradle cap once the baby is born!

11. Tanning

When it comes to pregnancy beauty tips, tanning isn’t really on our list of helpful tips. So far, there aren’t any studies that show spray tanning is safe for baby yet and lying out outside, which raises body temperature, can be dangerous for your little one as well. Feel free to use bronzer on your face, neck and décolletage but refrain from any tanning or fake bake while you’re prego!

12. Phthalates

Phthalates are another product to avoid while you’re pregnant. You can find phthalates in a variety of beauty products such as nail polish, fragrances, and cosmetics. Phthalates are plasticizers which help products last longer, and exposure to this chemical can cause toxicity in the developmental stages as well as the reproductive organs. Look for nail products that are free of phthalates and search for hair products like mousses or gels that can’t be inhaled. Be careful with this one though, because there is a trade law that protects fragrances and companies aren’t obligated to advertise the use of phthalates in some products.

13. Depression

This next tip doesn’t involve any pregnancy beauty tips but it can definitely affect your health in a big way! Some women experience depression while they’re pregnant (antepartum depression) and this can really distress your baby. If you’re not taking good care of yourself because you don’t feel well, you aren’t eating, you're abusing substances or you're having suicidal behaviors, then it can result in things such as developmental problems and low birth weight. Talk to your doctor or a trusted friend about seeking help, your little one needs you to be well!

14. Sensitive Skin

A helpful beauty tip for pregnant women is to keep your makeup light. Your skin is likely much more sensitive than usual and it’s much more delicate and prone to irritation. Use the bare minimum when it comes to makeup and avoid anything too heavy, like thick foundations that will clog pores. Let your pregnancy glow shine through and don’t mask it with makeup!

15. Methylbenzene

Methylbenzene is another product to avoid while you’re pregnant. You can find it in a lot of nail products, so if you’re used to getting a weekly mani/pedi, think about going au naturel for the duration of your pregnancy or switch to using polishes that are free of methylbenzene. This chemical can put you at high risk for developmental toxicity and was considered unsafe by International Association on Codes and Standards.

16. Lipstick

This pregnancy beauty tip urges you to carefully check out your makeup and do some research on the beauty products you use. Remember the big upset about lead in lipsticks a while back? There are lots of brands, both high-end and drugstore, that contain lead. Something like lipstick that’s frequently reapplied throughout the day is comparable to long-term exposure to lead and can be built up in the body. Check out www.ewg.org and check the safety of your beauty products on their database.

17. Teeth Whitening

It’s probably a safe bet to keep teeth whitening strips and treatments off of your pregnancy beauty routine. I know you want to keep up your appearance and look just as great as you did pre-prego, but teeth whitening strips can contain ingredients that can be harmful during pregnancy so opt for a peroxide-free toothpaste instead to maintain your pearly whites!

18. Highlights

I know this list of beauty tips for pregnant women makes it seem like you should avoid pretty much everything but highlighting your hair is OK! If you just can’t stand the sight of yourself with overgrown roots or grays, try some highlights! They should be safe as long as they don’t touch your scalp. Always check with your obstetrician first as they might suggest that you don’t use any type of hair dye at all. If all else fails, change your part or hairdo and disguise your grays or roots!

19. Kegels

So Kegels aren’t exactly a pregnancy beauty tip but according to the American Pregnancy Association, regularly doing Kegel exercises can help you have an easier birth. Kegels help strengthen the muscles that support your uterus, bladder and bowels, and can help strengthen your vaginal muscles too! Don’t stop these exercises after you give birth because Kegels are also helpful in strengthening pelvic muscles, regaining bladder control and it promotes healing of the perineum.

20. Massage

Now this one of the beauty tips for pregnant women that you can really appreciate! Prenatal massages are helpful in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, relieving aches and pains and enhancing labor outcomes. I know a lot of spas offer prenatal massages but it’s best to look for a place that has a certified prenatal massage therapist so you know they are fully qualified to work on you and your little one.

This is just a handful of beauty tips for pregnant women and I’m sure you’ll hear many more do’s and don’ts! Remember to be very careful about the products you use since there are so many common beauty and household products that contain chemicals and toxins that are harmful to you and your baby. Do you have any helpful body or beauty tips for pregnant women that you’d like to share? What was the most helpful piece of advice you received?

Top Image Source: luanaveloso.com