Congrats on the impending arrival of your little one! Before you know it they'll be asking to borrow the car, complaining about having to do chores and telling you why you're not cool enough to hang out with. Ah, the joys of parenting!

 

But wayyyyyy before that comes pregnancy – and all the fun that comes with it. While they're growing, that little person (or people!) inside your stomach can be quite greedy without even knowing it. With so much of your body's energy being put toward keeping them alive and well inside of you, there's much less effort to go around for other parts of your overall well being.

 

One of the prime victims of this reallocation of bodily resources? Your poor skin, which really gets put through the ringer as your body undergoes massive changes over the course of nine months.

 

But fear not! There are several things you can do to make the radiant glow of pregnancy work for you.

 

But first!

When it comes to skincare in pregnancy, it's always best to consult your dermatologist to ask them about which ingredients you should look to avoid. Some of your favourites might fall under the umbrella of what skincare products to avoid when pregnant. These include, but are not limited to:

•     Vitamin A derivatives such as Retinol and Retin-A
•     Hydroquinone
•     Formaldehyde
•     Essential oils

 

Had your chat with your medical professional and ready to work that pregnant look? Here are five of the most common skincare issues pregnant women face and what you can do to combat them.

 

Problem: Dry, itchy skin

As your skin starts to expand to accommodate the human who's taken up residency inside your stomach, it can lose a lot of its moisture. This can lead to it feeling quite itchy, dry and flaky.

Solution: Lean even harder on some of your favourite skincare products, specifically moisturisers with cocoa butter and coconut oil. Also make sure you're drinking plenty of water, which helps keep skin hydrated.

 

Problem: Acne

You probably thought you wouldn't have to deal with this until your little one was crying in front of the mirror before high school formal, right? Wrong. Your body can go into overdrive producing oils when you're pregnant, leading to breakouts. Just what you need!

 

Solution: Don't overdo the scrubbing, as too much can dry out your skin and just make your body produce even more oil. Wash regularly with warm soap and water, and if you do opt for acne treatments, look for ones with erythromycin or clindamycin.

 

Problem: Stretch marks

While these are a pretty obvious side effect of pregnancy, that still doesn't make them any less annoying.

 

Solution: You can be proactive by moisturising areas around your belly, breasts and thighs that could be affected. Putting those cocoa butter and coconut oil moisturisers to work will keep the skin hydrated as it expands.

 

Problem: Sun protection

You want to get out and about with your pregnancy bod, and staying sun smart is a key to skincare health during pregnancy.

 

Solution: Mineral sunscreens are generally the safest options for pregnant ladies such as yourself, so make sure you track down ones that have zinc oxide in the ingredients list. Also physical sun protection like hats and umbrellas at the beach are key.

 

Problem: Wrinkles

These frustrating little buggers can be unwanted souvenirs from your pregnancy, as your skin works to revert back to its former unstretched self.

 

Solution: Products high in Vitamin C and Collagen are great for helping your skin get back to its beautiful best.

 

Head to Oz Hair Care & Beauty to keep your pregnancy skincare game on point. And don't for a second think that the self care stops after you've given birth. If anything, your body is going to deserve extra TLC as you learn to live with, love and care for your little one. Check out these self care plans for mums so you can be prepared.