Your skin goes through a lot of changes during pregnancy. Some experience a beautiful glow while others have to deal with problems such as acne, oiliness, increased sensitivity, and discoloration.
You see, the hormonal changes can take a huge toll on the skin. While it’s always a good thing to take a look at the ingredients in your skincare products, you have to be extra careful about what you put on your skin during pregnancy.
For the safety of the unborn child as well as your own well-being, there are certain ingredients that you have to avoid. You might need a whole host of new beauty products, including the face wash you use.
The regular face wash you were using isn’t gonna cut it. Some cleansers contain ingredients that can directly affect the health of your offspring. And that’s why you need the best face wash for pregnancy.
Luckily, there are several products that are safe to use when you’re pregnant. In addition to keeping your unborn safe, they help control acne breakouts, skin sensitivity, and more.
Best Face Washes & Cleansers for Pregnancy Reviewed
Choosing the right product is hard and time-consuming especially when you’re carrying a child. To save you time, we teamed up dermatologists to find the best pregnancy-safe face washes and cleansers. Let’s take a look!
1. Aleavia Purifying Organic Facial Cleanser
If you want to address acne and oily skin, Aleavia Purifying Organic Facial Cleanser is exactly what you need. It is loaded with Acadian sea kelp that softens and hydrates your skin.
What’s more, it contains all-natural and organic ingredients only. Since there are no toxic chemicals, it’s safe for both you and your unborn child. The formula is extremely gentle on the skin.
It not only clears acne but it also fights premature aging, brightens the complexion, and evens out your skin tone. The formula is packed with some seriously powerful natural ingredients such as aloe vera, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, plant glycerin, and more.
All these ingredients work together to purify the skin, slough off dead cells, remove dirt & oil, and promote a radiant glow. Even better? It balances the skin’s natural pH levels and relieves symptoms of rosacea and eczema.
If you’re still unsure, let us tell you that the formula is safe enough to be used on newly born babies. As one would expect, there are no parabens, fragrances, or dyes. Even if you have super-sensitive skin, you’ve got nothing to worry about.
Overall, it’s a great product but if you have dry skin, this might not be the perfect choice for you.
2. Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
When you’re carrying a child, you cannot go with products that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. That’s why dealing with acne becomes quite challenging. Well, don’t worry!
Even without benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser does a fine job of clearing up acne and preventing future breakouts. It has the gentlest formula ever and the dermatologists recommend this cleanser for people with sensitive skin.
It doesn’t contain any harsh ingredients. Thanks to its gentle and moisturizing ingredients, it’s an ideal choice for people with dry skin. Turns out Vanicream knows the art of soothing and calming the most irritated complexions.
Additionally, it’s an oil-free and non-comedogenic product. You don’t have to worry about clogging your pores. The formula leaves your skin soft and doesn’t strip the moisture away.
Although it has a soap-free formula, it lathers pretty well. Be it eczema, hormonal acne, dry patches, this cleanser will not leave you disappointed. You’ll absolutely love that clean and soft feel. On top of that, it moisturizes your skin and keeps dryness at bay.
Interestingly, this luxurious face wash is very affordable. You don’t have to spend a fortune to reap the rewards.
3. Eau Thermale Avene Oil-Free Gel Cleanser
If you’re plagued with oily, sensitive, or acne-prone skin, it’s about time you got yourself a gentle yet effective face cleanser. And Eau Thermale Avene Oil-Free Gel Cleanser is an excellent choice.
The product features an oil-free formula that goes on smooth and leaves your skin extra clean. It removes all the makeup, improves the appearance of pores, and tones your skin without stripping it of its natural oils.
Furthermore, it plumps your skin so it’s good for you if you want age-defying benefits. You would love this if you want to turn back the sands of time on aging skin.
It won’t leave your skin feeling parched or overly tight. Also, it’s a good choice for people suffering from severe acne and rosacea.
Additionally, it’s fragrance-free, dye-free, and so effective. What more could you ask for? The letdown? It’s a bit pricey. But hey, it really works for pregnant women!
4. Christina Moss Naturals Organic Face Wash
If you’re all about organic products, meet Christina Moss Naturals Organic Face Wash. It’s a great pick for anyone with sensitive skin. It’s formulated without parabens, phthalates, sulfates, dyes, or any other toxic ingredients you could think of.
Since it contains certified organic ingredients only, it’s safe for use by everyone. The face wash promotes hydration and removes all the impurities including dirt, bacteria, oil, and pollution.
It’s filled with the goodness of rosemary extracts, aloe vera, citric acid, sunflower oil, so you’re in for a wonderful cleansing experience. Even better? It has a concentrated formula so a little goes a long way.
What we absolutely loved about the product is how it makes your skin feel soft and smooth. There’s no soapy residue and it rinses off completely. More importantly, you’ll notice the results from the very first wash.
The only problem we saw is that it’s a tad bit expensive for a face wash. If you seek results and like to splurge on spendy beauty products, this product in question is totally worth the money.
5. Belli Anti-Blemish Facial Wash
Are you suffering from hormonal acne? Enter Belli Anti-Blemish Facial Wash that boasts an effective formula combining the power of lactic acid, green tea, and cucumber extracts to combat acne.
It doesn’t contain ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid as they are not recommended when you’re about to conceive. Besides, these ingredients can overdry your skin. What’s more, the product is tested for allergies and good for sensitive skin.
The product doubles as a facial mask, so you don’t need to invest in a facial mask. To use it as a mask, apply the product as usual and leave it on for 5 minutes. It’ll help you refine pores, diminish fine lines & discoloration.
Aside from that, it also controls oil production. You can say goodbye to oily skin once and for all. Plus, it promotes hydration and your face will look well-rested. It soothes inflammation and rejuvenates tired-looking complexions. Isn’t that something you’ve been searching for?
Want to know more? The brand follows a unique screening process that ensures that the product doesn’t contain ingredients that might cause birth defects. That’s the reason it’s widely loved by moms across the globe.
6. Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Wash
Please allow us to introduce a facial cleanser that’s suitable for all the skin types. It’s been racking up rave reviews ever since it was launched. There’s a reason why this is loved by moms around the world.
It’s an award-winning cleanser that was formulated for sensitive skin types. If you’re dealing with eczema and psoriasis, this face wash is a perfect choice for you, even the derms recommend it. The formula is enriched with fatty alcohol to prevent dryness.
Plus, it has natural oils that help maintain the skin’s pH levels. The formula is so gentle that you can even use it without water. Yep, that’s right. You do not necessarily have to rinse it off.
This cleanser was introduced in 1947 and we can say it really has stood the test of time. It’s still one of the most popular choices for people with sensitive skin.
The cleanser does a fine of removing makeup. But it might not be very effective if you want to remove heavy makeup. You would think that you’d have to pay a lot of money on this product. But it’s actually priced very sensibly and won’t break the bank.
7. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser
Say hello to a face cleanser that’s recommended by 90,000 dermatologists worldwide. La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser is suitable for people with normal to dry sensitive skin.
It’s great even for sensitive skin. The formula is oil-free, paraben-free, and doesn’t contain fragrances. Although it’s gentle, it’s perfectly capable of deep cleaning and removing all the impurities.
The magical formula contains the perfect blend of niacinamide, prebiotic thermal water, glycerin, and ceramides to add a blast of hydration. It’s a perfect solution for quenching skin’s thirst. It will never dry out your epidermis.
What’s more, it restores the skin’s natural barrier, zaps away dead skin cells, and draws out all the impurities. Your skin will be left feeling soft and refreshed. A single bottle will last you up to 3 months.
Thanks to glycerin, your skin will retain more moisture than ever. As a result, it will stay replenished all the time. The milky and non-foamy texture kills acne-causing bacteria on contact.
Also, it will wash away all the makeup without any problems. The product is animal cruelty-free and contains no toxic ingredients.
8. Bella B Naturals Foaming Face Wash
Enriched with tea tree oil, Bella B Naturals Foaming Face Wash minimizes acne and helps you get rid of oily skin. Since you cannot use products with AHAs, salicylic acid, it’s a great choice as it controls breakouts using organic ingredients only.
If you happen to read the label, you’ll find ingredients such as honey, shea butter, cucumber, aloe vera, etc. Honey possesses antibacterial properties, so it’s good for acne-prone skin. On top of that, it gives you a healthy glow.
Shea butter moisturizes and soothes irritated complexions. Your skin will be left coddled and hydrated with a vibrant glow. Additionally, it diminishes blemishes and dark spots.
The cleanser wiggles its way into the epidermis and clears it of dead cells, impurities, etc. Plus, it is rich in antioxidants, thanks to ingredients like pomegranate and acai berry.
Expecting mothers can have peace of mind knowing that it doesn’t harm the baby and it’s one of the best face washes for pregnancy acne. Also, it’s hypoallergenic. And it doesn’t leave you with a super-tight feeling.
9. Era Organics Natural Face Wash
Pregnancy-induced eczema is very common and dealing with it can be quite battling. This face wash from Era Organics is a great choice for pregnant women who are dealing with eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.
It can also help clear up pregnancy acne. The formula is sulfate-free, so it’s completely safe for use. The product features a potent combination of aloe vera and manuka honey. These ingredients help maintain the skin’s natural pH, eliminate the debris, and keep your face clean.
You can expect a brighter and blemish-free appearance. What’s more, it encourages cell regeneration and reveals younger-looking complexion.
Thanks to its protective oils, it supports the skin’s natural barrier and soothes redness. The most exciting part? It doesn’t leave your skin feeling tight or stripped. Instead, it adds a healthy glow and your skin will feel extra soft post-wash.
On top of that, it contains titanium dioxide that offers sun protection and also repairs from sun damage. Since it’s non-irritating and non-drying, anyone can use it without any problems.
10. Maternal Anti-Blemish Face Wash
Presenting yet another pregnancy-safe facial cleanser that cleans out oil, bacteria, and dirt without stripping your skin. The face wash combines the power of lactic acid, green tea, and plant extracts to calm inflammation while clearing hormonal acne.
That’s not it. The miraculous formula works really hard to reduce blemishes and rids you of tired-looking complexion. As an added bonus, it sloughs off pore-clogging cells. You won’t have to worry about future breakouts.
Thankfully, it balances out sebum production without overdrying your skin. The formula is gentle on the skin but tough enough to draw out all the impurities, germs, bacteria, and whatnot.
It removes makeup quite effectively without stripping the moisture. That’s one of the most important qualities every face wash should possess. You’re in for the gentlest cleansing experience.
It’s formulated specifically for clearing blemishes. So, it’s a perfect spot treatment. You’ll be more than happy with the results and love this product.
11. Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Daily Facial Cleanser
If you want a cheap fix for your dry, sensitive skin, try Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Hydrating Daily Facial Cleanser. It’s a gentle, oil-free, soap-free, and non-comedogenic product. That means it won’t irritate your complexion or cause acne.
This creamy face wash deeply cleanses your face without being excessively over-drying. Rest assured it won’t leave you with super tight or thirst-feeling skin.
Even though the formula is gentle, the cleanser does a fine job of getting rid of everything including your makeup. And no, it doesn’t strip the skin of its natural oils.
Also, the product is well-received on Amazon, so you can shop with confidence. And if you have combination skin, this product is everything you could ever ask for.
As for the safety of your unborn child, you would be happy to know that it doesn’t have any toxic ingredients at all. That makes it a great choice for pregnant women or nursing moms.
What’s more, it’s an award-winning product. Plus, 98% of the users said that they would happily recommend this product to others while 72% reported that it cleans better than their old cleanser. These numbers do speak a lot about the effectiveness of the product.
Ingredients to Avoid When Choosing the Best Face Wash for Pregnancy
Now that we’ve established that pregnant women cannot just put anything they find on their skin, here are a few ingredients that are a no-go during pregnancy.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is one of the most popular exfoliating ingredients and is a part of many acne treatments. It’s usually safe but not for pregnant women. When you’re pregnant, your skin becomes more sensitive.
And the use of salicylic acid face washes can trigger allergic reactions. Also, it might not be safe for the fetus. You can choose products with lactic acid instead. It’s a safer alternative to salicylic acid during pregnancy.
Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone is probably the first ingredient that comes to your mind when you think of skin-lightening. While you may be tempted to get rid of those dark spots, using hydroquinone is not a wise choice. It falls into category C, so you should stay away from products containing hydroquinone.
Benzoyl Peroxide
While benzoyl peroxide may be one of the most effective medications for acne treatment, it should not be used by pregnant women. The safety of using this ingredient for treating acne during pregnancy has not yet been established. And you should not be taking chances with the developing baby-to-be.
Retinoids
Avoid products that contain retinoids when pregnant. Chances of retinoids causing harm to the unborn child are very low. However, you should still avoid it just to be safe.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is a glorious time, but you have to eliminate certain ingredients from your skincare routine to ensure that everything’s on the right track. The face washes we’ve reviewed above are absolutely safe to use during pregnancy.
If you notice irritation or itchiness, go speak to your doctor about it. Keep in mind that you’ll need to replace all your regular beauty products with pregnancy-safe products. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below. All the best to you and your unborn child!