Makeup and skincare tips for pregnant women

We often hear about the natural pregnancy glow, but many women experience the opposite. Skin breakouts, swelling nose, sensitivity to products they’ve used for years. And this all happens at a time when we’re least inclined to fuss over a beauty routine. Who wants to deal with complicated makeup when you’re fighting off waves of nausea?

Here are some great makeup and skincare tips for pregnant women. They’re fast, easy, and effective— so you do get the glow, after all.

Adjust your skincare routine

Pregnancy can dry out your skin, so load up on moisturizer. Tinted moisturizer can be particularly useful on days when you’re too tired to apply foundation.

Pregnancy can also make your skin oily, because of the hormonal fluctuations. You may experience pregnancy acne, because of clogged pores. Switching to oil-free formulas can help.

If your skin has become more sensitive, switch to gentler formulas (like Almay or Neutrogrena) or try organic beauty products. The rule of thumb is to pick the products with less ingredients—the longer the list, the greater risk that one of those will trigger an outbreak.

Prevent hyperpigmentation

Since hormones make your skin more sensitive to the sun, it’s doubly important to protect it with sunscreen. This will help avoid the ‘dark spots’ or the hyperpigmentation that occurs during pregnancy. You can cover existin spots with concealer. Using a brush can give you lighter and more controlled application—put only where you need it, precisely because your skin is so sensitive now. Set with foundation or pressed powder.

Fake the glow

Choose a natural looking blush or bronzer to add color on your cheeks, especially when morning sickness leaves you looking pale and haggard. Cream blushes are very low-maintenance: just smear it on, blend with fingers, and you’re good to go. They also tend to last longer than powder blushes, so you don’t have to worry about touch ups.

Choose double-duty products

Our favorites are a tinted moisturizer with SPF and a cheek and lip tint. Just add concealer, and these three products alone can get you through the day.

Take your vitamins

The good news is that your prenatal vitamins can also help your skin! Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and vitamin D help your baby and you. (Read more on vitamins that prevent wrinkles.)

However, don’t take any herbal supplements or vitamin supplements without talking to your doctor. There are many beauty vitamins that are full of anti-oxidants that can boost the skin, but not all of them are safe to take during pregnancy and lactation. It’s best to discontinue them, and rely on natural sources, or bring the bottles to your next doctor’s visit so he can read the contents and give the proper medical advice.

Photo from thebeautycritique.blogspot.com