20-Week Pregnancy Skincare Update

I have some beautifully organized posts on pregnancy beauty and skincare planned, but have lots more research to do before I can actually write them. For this first pregnancy skincare post, I'm sharing a hodge podge of products getting me through pregnancy now, four and a half months in. So far, I've consulted list after list of safe/recommended products, talked to my doctor for confirmation, and checked the FAQ pages of some of my favorite brands for information on their pregnancy safety.

First, a disclaimer: I spent my entire first trimester asleep and to make up for my lack of research I just refrained from putting anything on my face altogether to avoid any potential harm. I stopped using my Clarisonic from fear that I was cleaning so deep into my pores that whatever products I was using were seeping into my skin, into my bloodstream and hurting my baby. I started washing my face in under thirty seconds to avoid having cleansers (even gentle ones) on my face for too long. And I switched back to my raw, organic Manuka honey as a face wash, knowing for certain it was the only one-hundred-percent safe item in my cabinet.

You would think simplifying my routine would have helped my skin, but be it hormones, or my lack of Clarisonic-ing, my skin did not react well during this time. It felt incredibly dry, scaly and I even experienced a few minor breakouts. And diet wise, in the first couple weeks of my pregnancy I was the picture of health, but after the carb, Takis and Flamin' Hot Cheeto cravings kicked in, it was downhill.

Now that I've gotten my life back together and am awake more often than I am asleep, I've done a little more reading and a lot more testing. Below is some of what is working for me. Let me know what you used during your pregnancy. I would love to hear from any other moms or moms-to-be that had good experiences with pregnancy-approved products.

• Prenatal Vitamins
  Obviously necessary, whether you care for gorgeous hair or not. I stick with VitaFusion - the only brand I've been able to find in gummy form. These have the added benefit of making your hair super lustrous and shiny and your nails really strong. 
• CeraVe
  CeraVe products are gentle, safe for pregnancy and are often even recommended for baby's skin. In fact, they have an entire baby skincare line that I'm definitely registering for. As part of even my pre-pregnancy routine, I use their moisturizing cream (for evening) and moisturizing lotion (for day time). I introduced their Foaming Facial Cleanser into my routine recently hoping to find a deep cleanse in a non-irritating formula that contains no salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is an anti-acne (read: harsh) ingredient in many cleansers, so finding a balance between a deep clean that's pregnancy safe can be challenging, and a bummer in 100-degree weather. This is a great option. 
• Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue
  This is a product I started using strictly for pregnancy, but have fallen in love with and will continue to use. It's a gel cream that glides onto the skin, moisturizes, contains SPF 30 (so it cuts a step out of my routine), and is formulated without parabens or fragrance - great for moms-to-be. And while it gives a very dewy finish, it's not heavy because it is formulated without oil, too. It has light coverage for daily use, but is buildable for when your skin needs a little more. 
• Tata Harper Skincare
  I learned about the relatively new Tata Harper line at an event this spring at Neiman Marcus. The line is all-natural, non-toxic and completely safe to use during pregnancy. I'm currently using the Nourishing Oil Cleanser, one of my favorite cleansing oils that literally dissolves your makeup and feels unbelievably silky as it's doing so; and then is rinsed off for clean skin that's also hydrated, covered in a super soft layer of nutrients. The Reparative Moisturizer smells as if you're rubbing your skin with fresh flower petals. It's supremely rich, but milky in consistency. My skin is touchably soft after wearing this and actually feels healthier.
• Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask
  It turns out that lots of Origins' products - with the exception of some of their products with herbal ingredients -  are safe to use during pregnancy. As little as I try to use overnight masks during pregnancy, if I do use one, I'm reaching for this one because of how much my skin just needs and loves the extra moisture.
• Palmer's Tummy Butter
  This is officially the first tummy butter I've tried since becoming pregnant and have only been using it about a week, as my bump is finally starting to take shape. I plan on testing others and comparing my favorites later into my pregnancy. Things I don't love about this butter: the consistency is a little too thick and I really have to work it between the palms of my hands to melt it down before applying. And it doesn't spread as easily as I'd like. Things I really love about this butter: my tummy feels super soft and moisturized after a full-day's wear. And it's been using a lip balm before bed. My lips have also been desert dry, they feel like sand, and this stuff is just magical as a lip balm.
• EOS Tangerine Medicated Lip Balm
  And speaking of dry, dry lips. I realize the medicated version of the organic EOS lip balms is probably the less safe of the options, but in my defense, all EOS balms are paraben, petrolatum and phthalate-free. And it really does the trick. I apply and this will keep my lips feeling super moisturized for hours. 

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