Nine Pre and Post Partum Skin Truths
How To Care For Your Skin During
The Wild Ride Of Early Motherhood
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11, and this will be my first year celebrating it as the mother of a real child! Last year I was pregnant so I got lots of Happy Mother’s Day texts but I didn’t feel I deserved them yet. Séamus is nearly six months old, which is insane to me, and time has taken on new meaning.
Pregnancy and early motherhood are times where advice is constantly thrown at you whether you ask for it or not – advice about what to eat, how to exercise, things to avoid… oh so many things to avoid 🙄 Despite the abundance of information on the net, I found the postpartum experience to be somewhat uncharted. Thankfully, I’m in the very enviable position of speaking to dozens of women every week, many who are moms, and was able to crowdsource lots of real life tips, tricks and personal stories that helped me navigate this wild time. I learned recently that matrescence (the life phase of becoming a mother) is a period of increased neuroplasticity. According to an article in Science Direct, “long-term exposure to a more complex environment is beneficial for the brains of humans and animals, suggesting that increases in environmental complexity in motherhood may result in increased cognitive reserve in late-life.” This is really wonderful news because my brain feels like mush these days, so at least this means I’ll have my wits about me when I’m old.
Despite the physical, mental and emotional challenges of early parenthood, I’m trying my best to be present in every moment I have with my rapidly growing boy. This time is so fleeting! Some days I think I won’t have the energy to do it again, and other days I think I will want another go at it with a second child. The competitive part of me wants another chance to see how I can do it all better, knowing what I know now. Regardless of what happens, I am now among the ranks of Moms With Tips and Tricks. So in honor of that, here’s my exhausted (ha) but not exhaustive (that postpartum brain fog means I’m probably definitely forgetting something) guide to pregnancy and postpartum skincare!
Raquel x
1. NEARLY ALL TOPICALS ARE SAFE TO USE
A quick Google search for “pregnancy-safe skincare” will return lists of ingredients not to use, from retinol to salicylic acid to chemical sunscreen. Retinoids and BHA are commonly discouraged because of the connections they have to medications that are not considered safe for pregnancy, namely isotretinoin (Accutante) and Asprin. In reality, topical retinoids and salicylic acid have very little in common with these oral medications, and aren’t absorbed into the bloodstream. Remember, your skin is structured to keep things out, so it’s quite difficult to get things into your bloodstream in general, much less to get them into your bloodstream in a concentration high enough to harm your fetus. HOWEVER, studies aren’t conducted on pregnant people, so if you don’t feel confident or you’d rather err on the side of extreme caution, that’s ok, too. I used my trusty Environ C-Quence Serum 4+ every single day and their A, C & E Body Oil on my belly to promote scar healing just in case I ended up having a c-section (I did).
1b. DON’T FALL FOR DUPES
I felt it was important to add a footnote – you’ll see Bakuchiol touted as a “retinol alternative” or a phytoretinol. It does have some of the same benefits as Vitamin A and it does affect some of the same cell pathways, but it is not the same. It is a lot weaker and has a higher likelihood of triggering allergic reactions as a natural extract. If you’re dedicated to your retinoids, I recommend Environ C-Quence Serums or Hydrating Oil Capsules as the formulas are gentle enough for sensitive skin, but will still give you all the benefits of a true Vitamin A.
2. STRETCH MARKS MAY BE INEVITABLE
As soon as my phone knew I was pregnant, I was getting ads for stretch mark prevention creams. Stretch marks are a hallmark of pregnancy and occur when the skin expands rapidly and the collagen fibers break, causing skin weakness in those areas. Most of these creams just moisturize, but moisturizing your skin won’t make your belly expand more slowly. However, medical silicone has been used for decades for scar healing. The actual mechanism of action is unclear, but their effect has been proven. I did my own DIY experiment, and used a Dermaclara Silicone Patch on one side of my belly during my second and third trimesters. At about 6 weeks postpartum I noticed the side I did not use the patch on felt like it had tiny dry stretch marks. The skin where I did use it felt smooth and supple. So, perhaps this helped to some degree, but the areas where my skin really stretched and didn’t use patches still have red stretch marks and that’s just the way the cookie crumbled.
3. BEWARE OF MELASMA
Melasma is a hormonal hyperpigmentation disorder that commonly appears during pregnancy. It may be on the upper lip, cheekbones, forehead, or anywhere else for that matter. It is INCREDIBLY difficult to treat, and impossible to prevent. Not everyone gets it, and those who do don’t necessarily get it badly, but it can be very noticeable. If you have it or are prone to it, the best thing you can do is keep your skin cool. Easier said than done in the summer, but staying out of the direct sun, icing your face whenever possible, and using a mineral based sunscreen with Iron Oxides like Neova Silc Sheer 2.0 SPF 40 will help to prevent it from worsening. After you give birth and/or finish breastfeeding, there are topicals, peels, oral medications and laser treatments you can use to even your skin tone again.
4. HORMONES ARE UNPREDICTABLE…FUN!
This life phase is just a hormonal roller coaster. Whether you conceived on the first try or underwent fertility treatments, your hormones will be over the place. They are responsible for things like acne, melasma, skin sensitivity, even postpartum hair loss (yes, around 4 months postpartum your hair may start shedding like you wouldn’t believe). While you can and should treat each of these things as they come up, my best advice is just to remember that you are along for the ride. I’ve seen new skin issues crop up in postpartum clients only to resolve themselves a few months later.
5. ON THE TOPIC OF HAIR…
During pregnancy, hormone changes disrupt the hair growth cycle. The growth phase is extended due to higher estrogen, which drops during postpartum. That decrease returns estrogen to pre-pregnancy levels and causes the hair to shift into the shedding phase, hence postpartum hair loss. Some people choose to use supplements like Nutrafol to minimize the dramatic shedding, but if you’re prone to acne I would not recommend it. Focusing on scalp health can be helpful. I love La Bonne Brosse hair brushes to stimulate blood circulation in my scalp and distribute oils evenly along the hair shaft. My hair may be falling out (it will return to normal soon enough) but at least it’s healthy. If the hair loss becomes too much for you or you want to take this opportunity to inspire new growth, try Calecim Advanced Hair System. It’s a special serum with their PTT-6 compound (regulars know it as the “deer stem cells”) and a dermastamp to needle it into the scalp.
6. THE SWELLING IS REAL
I was in my second and early third trimester in the peak of the summer last year. The heat felt brutal and I thought my legs and feet couldn’t get more swollen. Well, I learned just how swollen they could get after I gave birth. I was not prepared for that shocking side effect. If you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, do yourself a favor and get The Lymphatic Brush. Learn how to use it and teach your partner, too. Pack the brush and compression socks in your hospital bag. And if you feel like splashing out, get a pair of Therabody Jet Boots. These three tools SAVED me, no joke.
7. SKINCARE PADS WILL BE YOUR BFFS
Despite the fact that newborns sleep like 17 hours a day, there’s no time to do anything, like wash your face. This is where skincare pads will save the day. My routine for the first few weeks of Séami’s life was: Sofie Pavitt Micellar Cleansing Pads,Neova 5-Second Daily Peel Pads, and Furtuna Rinascita Delle Olive Replenishing Balm. I was lucky if I also got to wash my face in the morning.
8. PADS ARE ALSO GOOD FOR YOUR HOSPITAL BAG
John was so gung ho about packing our bags for the hospital; he even brought board games (we did not play them). The things I was focused on including were stretchy, comfy clothes and skincare (duh). Those wipes you’ll be using postpartum are essential if you think you may get an epidural, as you won’t be able to leave your bed. Also pack a very nourishing cream like Cosmetics 27 Baume 27, because nobody wants to feel crusty in the hospital. Also lip balm – my sister-in-law’s hospital gave her lip balm but it wasn’t the good stuff – bring along Cosmetics 27 new Baume 27 Levres et Contour to keep your pout plump without leaving sticky kisses on your bundle of joy.
9. HAND CARE IS KEY
I have never washed so many dishes as I did during my maternity leave, and they weren’t even actual dishes. Pump parts, bottles, pacifiers, etc. Plus washing my own hands constantly so I didn’t introduce bacteria to my precious little glow worm. You’ll need a fast absorbing but rich and effective hand cream. I used Cosmetics 27 Baume 27 Creme Corps overnight, and Environ Hand & Nail Cream during the day. And don’t forget the dishwashing gloves.
✨ It’s Written In The Stars ✨
As spring nears its end, the universe has many things in store. Our own Monica David breaks it down for us.
We are finally out of the woods, as Mars, Venus, and Mercury are no longer retrograde! We have had very influential, inner planets retrograding since December, so with this direct energy we can expect life to finally gain back its momentum, and any confusing matters to gain clarity.
On May 4th, Pluto begins a retrograde cycle, which means that matters surrounding power dynamics, transformation, and ultimately renewal through destruction and new beginnings may come up for review. Pluto is all about unearthing secrets, and exploring things deeply – superficiality isn’t an option with Pluto, so expect deep and probing matters to come back to your attention during this time, as retrogrades usually bring past issues and situations to the forefront.
Despite Pluto turning retrograde, it is not felt as intensely as the inner planets retrograding – it’ll be doing its work subtly, in the background until October. Venus will officially be in Aries, bringing love and social matters to life, as Aries is assertive, energetic, and competitive, so it’s a great time to be forward and unapologetic in your love pursuits!
On May 12th we have a full moon in feisty Scorpio – this is a challenging full moon because Uranus, the great disruptoris involvedso expect sudden and possibly jarring news around this time!
On May 26th, we have a very easy flowing, and positive new moon in chatty Gemini – a great time to express ourselves openly, as Gemini loves to share ideas, connect intellectually, and communicate – perhaps a fun day to socialize, or talk to someone openly about how you really feel!