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Skin exfoliation is something essential to be done to get rid of dead cells from the skin. Even, it will help motivate cellular renewal. Of course, there are different methods available to face exfoliation. However, when it comes to exfoliation during pregnancy many women are concerned about selecting the right and gentle face exfoliator for pregnancy.
Expert Pick’s Best Face Exfoliators
Are you wondering about the best face exfoliator for pregnancy? Do you feel is it really essential to use an exfoliator when you are pregnant? If your answers to these questions are affirmative, you are in the right place.
So, we are here to help you with the selection of the right pregnancy safe exfoliator. As you look for the best pregnancy-safe face exfoliator, we have shortlisted some products here:
#1 Extra Gentle Daily Scrub from Cetaphil
Suitable for all skin types, this Extra Gentle Daily scrub will be extra gentle on the skin of carrying moms to get rid of impurities and dead skin cells.
Vitamin E is the key ingredient in this product that will help with gentle exfoliation. It helps with leaving the skin more refined without causing any irritation. This feature makes this product a safe face exfoliator for pregnancy. The product has been infused with skin conditioners and a vitamin complex to clean skin without drying out. For safe exfoliation, the product uses micro-fine granules.
Many pregnant women, who have tried this exfoliator have stated that it is gentle enough for everyday use.
RELATED: Top 10 Best Cetaphil Skincare – Expert Reviews
#2 Strawberry Sugar Exfoliating Face Wash from Fresh
Sugar has long been used as a home remedy for skin exfoliation. So, this best face exfoliator for pregnancy from Fresh uses sugar as the key ingredient. Also, the soothing strawberry scent that this product uses makes it a gentle exfoliator for carrying moms. This gentle exfoliating face cleanser helps with getting rid of impurities and excess oil from the skin without drying out.
Grapeseed oil that is another safe ingredient in this product helps with maintaining skin hydration. For gentle skin cleansing, the product also uses soapberry peel as another safe ingredient.
Many pregnant women, who have tried this product have stated that this product helped to refine the pores and made their skin soft and smooth. Even, it helps with maintaining the moisture level in the skin for about six hours.
RELATED: Top 9 Best Fresh Skincare – Expert Reviews
#3 Positively Radiant Skin Exfoliating Brightening Daily Facial Scrub from Aveeno
The product turns out to be a pregnancy safe exfoliator as it exfoliates with naturally-driven moisture-rich soy extract and granules. It helps with improving skin clarity, texture and skin tone. To make sure that pregnant women can get softer and more even skin, this product helps with gentle exfoliation.
To make it further safe, it has been created as a non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic and soap-free product. Even though it suits all skin types, it is particularly effective for women with sensitive skin. The soy extract in this product helps to prevent skin discoloration in carrying moms.
Many carrying moms have stated that this product helps with revealing brighter and more radiant skin.
RELATED: Top 8 Best Aveeno Skincare Products: Expert Reviews
#4 Facial Brightening Scrub from Acure
As a pregnant woman, you might have seen the bright faces of many carrying moms when you went to your maternity hospital. Yes, it is the natural pregnancy glow that many women get. But, if you are worried that you have not got that glow, this product is for you. This best face exfoliator for pregnancy is to ensure a brighter appearance to users.
This product has been formulated for all skin types. For cleansing, the product uses French green clay and lemon peel, while for detox and softening, the product uses sea kelp super-nutrients. All these ingredients make this product pregnancy safe exfoliator.
In addition to removing dead skin cells, it draws out impurities and softens the skin as claimed by many pregnant women, who have tried this product.
RELATED: Top 8 Best Acure Skincare Products – Expert Reviews
#5 Exfoliating Facial Scrub Cocoa Butter Formula from Palmer’s
This micro-fine exfoliating facial scrub from Palmer’s uses natural exfoliants for safe exfoliation in carrying moms. Even though the product suits different skin types, it is particularly effective in carrying moms with sensitive skin. To soothe the skin, the product uses evening primrose as a super emollient soothing oil.
The ingredients for exfoliation used in this product are cocoa powder and crushed walnut shells. They help with gently exfoliating skin surface without causing any irritation or redness. Cocoa butter used in this product functions as a protective plant extract. Further, cocoa butter helps with skin nourishment as well.
Many pregnant women have stated that this product safely removes dead skin cells and brings out skin radiance.
#6 Deep Cleansing Exfoliator from Caudalie
This face exfoliator for pregnancy from Caudalie encompasses natural ingredients for safe exfoliation. It helps with the instant revealing of deeply purified skin and helps achieve a smoother complexion.
It suits all skin types and the important reason for its safety to carrying moms is that it uses lactic acid as the key ingredient. For gentle exfoliation, the product uses corn beads.
Also, for deeply hydrating and leaving the skin smooth, the product uses grape pulp extract. The borage oil in this product helps with smoothening and moisturizing the skin.
Many expecting mothers understanding the safety of this product have used it and stated that it is a good exfoliator even for sensitive skin.
RELATED: Top 8 Best Acure Skincare Products – Expert Reviews
#7 Black Sugar Mask Wash Off from Skinfood
With four safe ingredients, this product turns out to be the best face exfoliator for pregnancy. It suits normal skin type and the product is offered in the form of a gel.
To make it safe not just safe ingredients but also safety features like free of fragrance and hypoallergenic get into the picture. The black sugar used as a key ingredient in this product helps with getting rid of dead skin cells. For nourishing moisturization, the product uses Macadamia nuts oil.
To calm the skin and make it soft, the product uses another safe ingredient for carrying moms called meadowfoam seed oil. For deep moisturization and nourishing, this product uses shea butter.
Many expecting mothers are highly satisfied with this product for the gentle exfoliation it does.
#8 Pure Sugar Face Scrub from L’Oreal Paris
This face exfoliator for pregnancy from L’ Oreal Paris turns out to be safe for carrying moms because it uses 94% naturally-derived scrub. It brings together three pure sugars along with finely ground Kona coffee, coconut oil and sweet almond oil. This scrub warms itself to invigorate gentle resurfacing while being kind to the skin of carrying moms.
With richness in minerals, the white and brown blonde sugars melt into the skin for gentle yet effective exfoliation. This product suits all skin types and even it can be used for refining and smoothening lips by pregnant women.
This self-warming mechanism reduces fatigue as claimed by many carrying moms, who have tried this natural blend of face exfoliator.
#9 Waso Cushy and Soft Polisher from Shiseido
This best face exfoliator for pregnancy suits all skin types and leaves skin not just smooth but also beautiful. It helps with the absorption of excess oil and sebum. It prevents breakouts by getting rid of enlarged pores. So, carrying moms can get the best acne relief from this product.
To bring safe results, the product uses a whipped formula with plant-based cellulose granules. It functions as a gentle exfoliator for helping users get a refined skin texture.
It brings in a fresh look by removing impurities and dirt from the skin as claimed by many expectant mothers, who have tried this product.
RELATED: Top 15 Best Shiseido Skincare
#10 Himalayan Salt Scrub from M3 Naturals
With secondary ingredients like Himalayan salt, sweet almond, jojoba oil and other safe input, the product uses vitamin E that is known for its skin-friendliness as the main ingredient. All these ingredients together bring the best skin benefits to pregnant women.
Further, the product is infused with collagen that is naturally present in the human body. Again, this is safe for pregnant women to get the best skin-friendly benefits. It detoxifies the skin by drawing out bacteria, pollution, dirt and unwanted toxins from the pores. Even, it helps with balancing systemic pH. It functions as a great pore-reducer that helps with restoring silky-smooth skin.
Many users call it the best pregnancy-safe exfoliator because it uses ingredients that are generally recommended as safe for carrying moms.
Benefits of Face Exfoliator for Pregnancy
Since the skin is constantly exposed to environmental aggressors, it deserves proper cleansing. Exfoliating cleansers offer clean and healthy skin. Continue reading to learn how to pick the best face exfoliator for pregnancy!
We got the skin to protect our internal organs from environmental factors and germs. The facial skin is always exposed to dirt, pollutants, germs, and harsh UV rays. The effects of pollutants and dead skin cells get visible when you don’t use the right product to cleanse the skin.
Face exfoliators are cleansers chemical/physical cleansers that massage the skin and take all the impurities out. Exfoliation results in fresh and glowing skin. That’s why numerous people use exfoliators regularly.
Many women ignore face exfoliators during pregnancy. You should switch to gentler skin cleansing products and you can find the right face exfoliator for pregnancy! It will offer the following benefits if you try the right product twice or thrice a week!
1. It can heal the symptoms of hormonal breakouts and acne
The acne issue is a major concern among expectant mothers. The statistics show that more than half of all pregnant women experience this skin issue. The hormone levels increase during the first trimester. It triggers excess production of sebum in your skin and the risk of the acne issue increases.
Whether you have acne-prone skin or not, you should be ready to cope with this problem! A gentle exfoliator helps you remove dirt, dead skin cells, and the build-up of impurities with sebum. Your skin pores remain unclogged and the acne problem does not affect your looks.
2. The better texture of the skin
Even though you are taking all the precautions, your skin texture might change during pregnancy! Many women develop irregular and dark-toned patches on their nose, upper cheeks, forehead, and lips. Skin experts call this problem chloasma and people refer to it as the “mask of pregnancy”.
Regular exfoliation helps you renew the skin quickly. In other words, it helps you increase cell turnover. Since the skin sheds thousands of dead cells, exfoliation helps you get rid of all those cells. New and glowing skin emerges through this process and you get a better complexion!
3. Better moisture absorption
Your skin is going to lose moisture and elasticity during the pregnancy period. It is a common problem and it is completely curable. You need to add more hydrating products to your skincare routine. It should begin with the face cleansing process.
Exfoliators remove most dead skin cells, which make the skin feel tight and dry. Once all the pores are unclogged, hydrating ingredients can moisturize deeper layers of your skin. The face will feel much softer and radiant due to improved moisture levels.
4. You look younger
If your skin feels rougher, it is due to the ageing process. Premature ageing is a frustrating issue for many people. However, most women do not worry about the appearance of ageing signs during pregnancy. Their main priority is the well-being of the child.
What if you can get a face exfoliator for pregnancy that does not affect your or the child’s health? It will cleanse your skin so that ingredients, such as vitamin C, peptides, and other anti-ageing ingredients can work better.
You can get rid of ageing signs and look much younger if you got the right face cleanser to exfoliate the skin.
5. It helps in better absorption of beauty products
Exfoliators unclog pores and prepare the skin for beauty treatment. Regular use of those products can help you absorb more skin-nourishing nutrients. You can achieve all your beauty goals without spending a lot of money!
How to Choose the Best Face Exfoliator for Pregnancy?
You will buy a perfect product to exfoliate and cleanse the skin during pregnancy if you consider the following factors!
1. Physical exfoliator vs chemical exfoliator
As you decide to buy a face exfoliator for pregnancy, you have to choose between physical and chemical exfoliators. Both are different and both do the same job!
Physical exfoliators have been in use for many centuries. People had quite limited options in chemical exfoliants in the late 20th century. Therefore, physical exfoliators became popular.
- Physical exfoliator
Physical exfoliator can provide a combination of face cleansing cream with a skin-scrubbing ingredient. Walnut or apricot scrubs are quite popular. Besides, people also use loofahs and body brushes to unclog pores and remove skin impurities.
Some doctors believe physical exfoliators are pregnancy safe. These products do not contain ingredients that may cause birth defects and health problems. However, expectant mothers with sensitive skin won’t find physical exfoliators appealing.
Those products damage the protective layer of your skin, cause dehydration, and issues such as dry skin, inflammation, and rashes. You can prevent those skin issues if you quickly moisturize the skin!
- Chemical exfoliator
Chemical exfoliators became extremely popular within the last three decades. All reputable beauty brands offer a product to exfoliate the skin and remove pore-clogging impurities.
Chemical exfoliators use skin-friendly acids to dissolve impurities and cleanse skin pores. These exfoliants fall under three categories. Those categories include AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids), BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acids), and PHAs (Poly Hydroxy Acids).
Experts believe that AHAs are safe for dry and sensitive skin. Ingredients, such as lactic acid, glycolic acid, and mandelic acid can remove dead skin cells and prevent the hyperpigmentation issue. AHAs in moderate amounts can help expectant mothers cleanse the skin without causing health issues.
BHAs are perfect to treat oily skin. Ingredients, such as citric acid and salicylic acid help you control sebum production and dissolve dead skin cells. Consequently, the risk of the acne issue reduces and you get clearer skin. A high concentration of BHAs can be problematic during pregnancy. Therefore, you should avoid face exfoliators containing high concentrations of BHAs.
PHAs are much newer than AHAs and BHAs. They are not as effective as the other two due to larger molecule sizes. What draws people to PHAs is their ability to cleanse the skin without triggering irritation or itchiness.
When you compare physical and chemical exfoliants, you have to understand how these two work. Physical exfoliators are safer because they do not penetrate deeper into your skin. however, when it comes to removing impurities from deeper layers of skin, only chemical exfoliants work. So, you can choose AHAs to exfoliate your skin!
2. Does the exfoliator contain risky ingredients?
Face exfoliators contain many ingredients to work effectively. Health experts recommend pregnant women avoid the use of several ingredients present in common exfoliators.
Retinol or retinoids are the most infamous ingredient because they can affect your baby’s health. Skincare products contain retinol to provide anti-ageing benefits and reduce visible ageing signs. A high concentration of this ingredient can cause birth defects. Therefore, many health experts advocate the removal of retinol from pregnancy-safe skincare products.
Salicylic acid is another infamous ingredient. It does not cause any damage when it makes 2% or less of the exfoliator formula. It can be risky during the second trimester if the product contains more than a 2% concentration of this ingredient.
Benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, and other such acids can be harmful in high concentrations. Besides, parabens and phthalates are also risky ingredients. These endocrine disruptors can trigger hormonal imbalance. Since your body already surges with hormones, you must avoid preservatives and phthalates.
Formaldehyde-releasing chemicals pose the risk of cancer. DMDM hydantoin, quaternion-15, and Diazolidinyl urea are some ingredients that release formaldehyde. You should reject the product immediately if you spot those carcinogenic ingredients on the label!
Look for ingredients with no side effects on the skin and your health. Thus, you will stay safe against skin allergies and some more serious health issues!
3. How often you can use the product in a week?
Your doctor will recommend one-time use of the exfoliator. Since common exfoliators contain several harmful ingredients, health experts do not suggest the frequent use of those products.
Pregnancy-safe face exfoliators do not contain anything that may trigger allergies and health problems. Therefore, you can find the best face exfoliator for pregnancy with safer ingredients. You can use it twice or thrice if necessary! One-time use will be enough to shed all pore-clogging impurities if you spend most of your time indoors.
4. Ingredients to look for in a pregnancy-safe face exfoliator
Your face exfoliator must contain the following ingredients:
- AHAs
If commonly used AHAs are harmful to expectant mothers, some safer alternatives are also available. Look for glycolic acid with less than 7% concentration to reduce the risk of health problems.
Lactic acid is also a safer alternative. Your face exfoliator should not contain more than a 5% concentration of this ingredient.
- BHAs
Salicylic acid is the most popular Beta Hydroxy Acid, but most experts consider it unsafe. Look for products with willow bark and salicylates, which are safer alternatives to the common BHAs.
- Hyaluronic acid
It is a powerful hydrating ingredient. Products with moisturizing and anti-ageing benefits contain this ingredient. It is safe to use during pregnancy and your skin needs it when it gets dehydrated.
- Azelaic acid
It is an exfoliating ingredient, but it is neither AHA nor a BHA! It gently exfoliates the skin and treats acne. Being an antimicrobial ingredient, it’s perfect to cleanse the facial skin when you are pregnant!
Conclusion
We know how much concern you have as a pregnant woman in selecting products for your skin. So, we have shortlisted the best face exfoliators for pregnancy above. To make your selection further easier, here are some of our choices further shortlisted for you:
Oily Skin: Waso Cushy and Soft Polisher from Shiseido
Dry Skin: Extra Gentle Daily Scrub from Cetaphil
Normal Skin: Black Sugar Mask Wash Off from Skinfood
So, you can choose one of these products based on your skincare needs. Let your face get the pregnancy glow with these products that will help with the removal of unwanted substances from your skin that prevents it from glowing!
