11 Best Pregnancy-Safe Skincare Products, Tested & Reviewed

My skin went haywire during pregnancy—hormonal acne in the first trimester, dry skin in the second. This Chanel moisturizer worked no matter the issue. It’s comprised of only 10 ingredients (hence the name), each chosen for “optimal skin tolerance.” The star is silver needle tea, known for its soothing and antioxidant benefits.

My take: it’s like the fancy version of CeraVe. The formula works well for all skin types, including sensitive skin. I loved that it was truly fragrance-free and fuss-free, as it absorbs quickly and easily into skin. It’s also oil-free and noncomedogenic—more proof it works well on acneic skin. For daytime, I’d layer it with an SPF; and for evening, cocktail it with a nourishing serum or dewy face oil. Don’t blame me if you end up using it beyond pregnancy.

One of my favorite early prenatal facials was with the great Tammy Fender, the South Florida queen of holistic beauty. And after, I continued to use her plant-based products. Whether I was dealing with daily fatigue or late-stage insomnia, eye cream became a must. This lightweight eye serum has a cooling effect on the skin, sinks right in, and instantly helps skin feel refreshed. The silky formula layers well with other skincare and makeup, and a little goes a long way.

If you’re nervous about pregnancy melasma, using a vitamin C serum, which offers a protective antioxidant-rich layer against environmental stressors (as well as sunscreen) during those nine months and into postpartum, can help. This option from Dr. Barbara Sturm is pricey, but it’s an ideal formulation for pregnancy, featuring vitamin C plus hydrating hyaluronic acid and soothing aloe vera. Since vitamin C serums can sometimes be stinky, I appreciated that this contains no scent. Plus, the brand makes the cutest, chicest baby products you may want to snag for a “mommy and me” postpartum skincare moment.

Dr. Engelman says some chemical sunscreen ingredients absorbed into your bloodstream “may pose potential risks to the developing fetus,” so she recommends opting for mineral SPFs. Pregnancy was my gateway to discovering this plant-based, gentle beauty brand, and my kids still religiously use the bath and hair products. While there are many versions of this type of fluid, tinted mineral sunscreen, the Babo Botanicals one is my favorite for expecting mamas. It stands out thanks to its EWG verification, so you can expect it to be free of potentially harmful ingredients and fragrances. The lotion-like texture blends into skin, creating a not-too-dewy, not-too-matte base for daily makeup. I still use it all the time, year-round, as it keeps my skin protected (even indoors from blue light) and never feels greasy. My one gripe is that it’s only available in one shade.

This two-for-one body moisturizer not only hydrates skin, but also helps prevent and fade stretch marks. As much as I was into prenatal self-care, I gravitated toward easy, low-effort products like this one. The lotion pumps out seamlessly, feels light and cooling on the skin, and absorbs in seconds. There’s no added fragrance, and it’s made from 99.8% natural ingredients. And if you crave something thicker, try combining it with your body oil of choice.

I wanted a stretch marks oil that felt luxe, and this Evereden gem measured up. First of all, the bottle is gorgeous with an elevated dropper. The vegan, EWG-verified formula was exactly what I wanted from a belly oil: nongreasy, left the skin on my bump with a glow, and featured excellent ingredients. Expect a blend of natural oils, including avocado, marula, coconut, and passion fruit. It does feature a subtle damask rose and sparkling pear fragrance, but it didn’t bother my sensitive nose. If you haven’t heard of Evereden, put it on your radar now. It was one of my favorite brands for prenatal, postpartum, and kids’ products (my girls still love the kids’ face wash and cream).

This body wash saved me during both pregnancies. Finding a truly fragrance-free formula turned out to be harder than I expected, as anything scented lingered on my skin. It was so effective that my husband started using it too (as his usual Old Spice formula didn’t agree with my discerning nose). Not only is the formula simple in the best way (it’s EU Compliant), but it’s also hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, and approved for eczema-prone skin. It features soothing niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid, two of my favorite ingredients for prenatal skin and body care. I know it sounds dramatic (it’s just a body wash), but I don’t know how I would have gotten through both pregnancies without this product.

Many expecting mamas use pregnancy as the catalyst to switch to a more natural deodorant. I was one of them, and thank god I did, because this is now a staple in my body care routine. It’s a deodorant cream, so it feels soothing and cooling against your underarms, which I love (it’s like skincare for your pits!), but some may prefer a solid stick. Also worth noting: while it is labeled fragrance-free, it has a subtle sweet almond scent due to its mandelic acid ingredient (an AHA made of almonds known to kill bacteria-causing odor). Even though I detested most scents, this light, sweet almond was one I found to be incredibly pleasant. This Drunk Elephant deodorant cream also features absorbent arrowroot powder and skin barrier-protecting shea butter, while being free of baking soda, essential oils, and aluminum.

Don’t @ me for this, but here we go. While Glossier had a moment during which it made its viral Balm Dotcom’s formula vegan, I used the original during pregnancy. And after trying both, I am team OG. It was much more effective at deeply hydrating my cracked lips. And while there were some weeks when I had lush prenatal lips, other times, I had a pretty dry pout. Thank you, hormones.

Labor and delivery can be one of the most moisture-depleting experiences, as hospital air is notoriously drying. Keeping this bedside prevented my pucker from full-on raisin status. The formula features castor seed oil, beeswax, and lanolin (also a top ingredient for me during breastfeeding for nipple care). The brand’s original fragrance-free, untinted option was a must-have.

I took several steps to keep my feet from swelling, including weekly swimming, acupuncture, and chiropractic work. Also on my agenda: nightly leg and foot cream with a focus on doing self-lymphatic drainage. This made-for-pregnancy cooling foot cream is fantastic to help with swelling. The hydrating, gel-based texture features aloe vera, chamomile, and ginger as well as menthol (which gives it a bit of an “icy-hot” feel). It can also be used on your lower back to help with tightness.

As I mentioned, pregnancy is a puffy time! This ice roller became my go-to facial tool during prenatal and postpartum. If you’ve ever been pregnant during the summer months in a hot climate, you know how uncomfy it can be. This helped me instantly cool off and encourage lymphatic drainage on my face, neck, and décolleté. Once the baby was out, I loved using it to wake up my face after a sleepless night or to calm swollen breasts. It features pure aluminum, which the brand claims to have independently tested for skin toxicity. The best way to use it is straight out of the fridge paired with a face oil of your choice.