Skin care
And help prevent stretch marks, too.
In addition to ditching happy hour and hot tubs, pregnancy requires that you leave behind some of your favorite skincare products. The good news is if you find your stretching skin dry, itchy, and in need of a little (or a lot) of TLC, there are plenty of pregnancy-safe body oils out there that are so good you'll be using them long after the fourth trimester comes to a close.
Pregnancy-Safe Skincare Ingredients
If you feel like when you ask about pregnancy-safe ingredients you're getting different information from everyone you talk to (not to mention Google), you're definitely not alone. "While there are guidelines from the FDA regarding pregnancy safety categories for ingredients, there are still very few studies evaluating the safety of many skin care products (because no one wants to do studies on pregnant humans). For this reason, advice may vary from one doctor to the next," Dr. Hadley King, dermatologist, tells Romper. Because it's so individual, it's difficult to say what ingredients you definitely should be using while pregnant, but it's a little easier to know what to avoid.
"Topical tretinoin is [in the FDA'S] pregnancy category C, meaning that use by pregnant women has not been extensively studied. So although it has not been proven safe to use during pregnancy, it has not been proven unsafe either. This is true of retinol as well. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are both class C, which generally should be avoided," King tells Romper. Check in with your doctor, but it's also generally a good idea to avoid dyes, parabens, petroleum, and fragrance as Dr. Dendy Engelman, dermatologist, told Romper in a previous article.
Body Oil & Stretch Marks
A stretch mark is actually a scar that develops when skins stretches or shrinks quickly, King explains. "Like any scar, stretch marks are permanent, but treatment may make them less noticeable. Massaging products into the skin may help reduce the risk of stretch mark formation," King says and adds that some studies show that taking the time to massage a product into the skin may make it more effective for the improvement of stretch marks, so be sure to massage your oil in.
Read on for pregnancy-safe body oils to help soothe your dry skin and your itchy belly.
We only include products that have been independently selected by Romper's editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
1A Body Oil With Aloe & Vitamin E
Made with antioxidant-rich, pure plant oils (including sweet almond oil, organic aloe leaf oil, safflower, and more) this luxurious oil will brighten and soothe skin and may improve the appearance of stretch marks or dark spots.
2A Belly Oil Made Without Mineral Oil
Made with herb-infused oils that are light and hydrating, this affordable belly oil has a light refreshing scent of orange and will leave skin soft and nourished. It's made without mineral oil, parabens, artificial fragrance, and petroleum.
3Body Oil To Use With A Gua Sha
Made with whole plants including wild rose pepper, wild mastic, and organic helichrysum, this body oil is designed to be used alongside a gua sha massage tool. This oil is a good choice if you're sensitive to essential oils as it doesn't contain any.
4A Body Oil With Squalane
A bit on the spendier side, this vegan, organic body oil is worth every penny. It contains 30 healing oils including argan, cranberry seed, pomegranate seed and hemp seed oils (using topical hemp seed oil is not a concern for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, per the FDA). Plus the smell is super calming.
5An Affordable Body Oil
A decadent, pregnancy-safe body oil doesn't have to break the bank. This one from Versed includes sweet almond, macadamia nut, and coconut oils paired with calendula flower extract and vitamin E. It smells subtly like springy white flowers thanks to the ylang ylang oil, and this non-sticky formula will absorb quickly.
6A Body Oil For Stretch Marks & Scars
Specifically designed to ease the appearance of scars and stretch marks, this blend contains vitamin-rich carrot seed oil, plus deeply moisturizing rosehip oil and healing patchouli.
7An Oil To Use From Head To Toe
Free up space in your medicine cabinet by getting an oil you can use on your hair and body. This certified organic oil is made of a lovely mix including sesame seed, lavender, and grapefruit oil. In addition to being extremely hydrating, it smells divine.
8A Celebrity-Favorite Body Oil
Kim Kardashian told Marie Claire that Bio Oil was a "lifesaver" during her pregnancies. It's made of a blend of over ten oils; just note that this product does contain mineral oil and fragrance if those are things you're trying to avoid. Best of all, you can grab this on your next Target run.
9An All-Over Hydrating Tonic
This jojoba-based oil is technically designed for the delicate skin of the vulva, but it can be used on the whole body. It's infused with powerhouse ingredients like cedar wood and Oregon grape for skin that feels comfortable and nourished.
10A Silicone-Free Oil For Hair & Skin
This blend contains over 13 high-end oils that keep skin smooth and moisturized. It's powerful, but gentle enough to use all over (including on the scalp), plus it's silicone-free if that's something you're avoiding. It has a delicious scent too thanks to the citrus and bergamot oils.
11A Nourishing Body Oil
Made from a blend of coconut oil, vitamin E, and tangerine, grapefruit, and vanilla oils, this plant-based, nourishing oil with give skin a radiant glow while hydrating and smoothing.
12A French Body Oil
If you've ever wished you could shop for body oils in a Parisian pharmacy, this body tonic from French brand, Clarins, is the next best thing. It's made of luxe, plant-based oils including hazel seed oil and rosemary leaf oil, and it helps to restore skin's elasticity and firmness.
13An Oil With Squalane
You can use this deeply hydrating oil sparingly by adding just a few drops to a bath (because you'll want this one to last). Made with nourishing ingredients including squalane, neroli flower oil, and watermelon seed oil, it dries quickly and won't leave behind a greasy feeling.
14A Body Oil You Can Find At Target
Unscented, dermatologist-tested, and hypoallergenic, this body oil was created with moms-to-be in mind. It used plant-based ingredients including deeply hydrating coconut oil and sunflower seed oil to leave skin feeling healthy and smooth.
