16 Best Skin-Care Products to Use During Pregnancy and Nursing

Why It's Worth It: With regard to sunscreens, Dr. Rabach says that a mineral product is the safest way to go while pregnant or breastfeeding. "I usually recommend physical blockers during pregnancy that are not chemical-based," she explains. "That's basically your zinc and your titanium." One of her favorites is the Isdin Eryfotona Actinica Ultralight Emulsion, a zinc oxide sunscreen, which contains enzymes that help repair any existing sun damage. It also goes on sheer and serum-like, so it's darker-skin-tone-friendly.

Editor Tip: For easy, on-the-go sunscreen touch-ups and reapplication over makeup, you can use Isdin's Isdinceutics Mineral Brush, which has a convenient (very soft and fluffy) brush applicator. (Dermatologists caution against using powder sunscreens as a primary form of SPF, as it's difficult to apply enough for sufficient protection.) When applying sunscreen, don't forget your scalp either. This brush-on powder is perfect for the area since it's totally oil-free.

Key Ingredients: Zinc oxide, DNA Repairsomes, vitamin E

Why It's Worth It: "Sulfur products are safe to use during pregnancy to help with any breakouts," says Dr. Obioha. You can find sulfur treatments in either a prescription-strength cleanser or as an over-the-counter spot treatment or mask. Although Dr. Obioha prefers prescription sulfur washes, she recommends Peter Thomas Roth's Therapeutic Sulfur Acne Treatment Masque as an alternative. "Sulfur is anti-inflammatory, so it won't increase cell turnover and cause any chemical exfoliation, but it's still effective in treating acne," she explains. Use this mask once per week to safely clear up your blemishes fast.

Editor Tip: If you're experiencing breakouts, you can use this as a topical overnight cream on stubborn spots.

Key Ingredients: Sulfur, kaolin and bentonite clays, aloe vera

Why It's Worth It: The Best of Beauty-winning SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is a gentle but highly effective serum that's excellent for daily use to combat signs of aging, including fine lines, loss of elasticity, sun damage, and dullness, says Dr. Green. In addition to brightening, the potent blend of antioxidant ingredients — vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid, which stabilize one another and increase potency — protects skin against damaging free radicals that can contribute to aging.

Editor Tip: This serum is pricey, but a little bit goes a long way — you only need two to three small drops for your entire face.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, ferulic acid

Why It's Worth It: The SkinMedica Lytera 2.0 Pigment Correcting Serum is one of Dr. Rabach's favorites to help diminish hyperpigmentation and brighten skin. "It has different ingredients like phenylethyl resorcinol, niacinamide, and tetrapeptide-30, which help even out your skin tone," says Dr. Rabach. These brighteners not only balance melanin production in skin, but also help prevent new spots from appearing. Because this serum doesn't include retinol and hydroquinone, which aren't safe during pregnancy, it's a great option for expecting mothers to treat melasma.

Editor Tip: This formula has to be stored at a specific temperature — somewhere between 59 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit — so make sure to keep it in conditioned spaces.

Key Ingredients: Tranexamic acid, phenylethyl resorcinol, niacinamide and tetrapeptide-30, marine extract blend, phytic acid

Why It's Worth It: In low concentrations of 5% to 10%, glycolic acid is a pregnancy-safe alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that fights skin dullness and uneven texture. The Caudalie Glycolic Peel Mask is a 10-minute facial-like experience that will brighten dark spots and exfoliate away dead skin. If you're looking for a non-retinol mask to help clear marks while pregnant or nursing, Dr. Rabach recommends this indulgent treatment mask.

Editor Tip: It's best to avoid your eye area when applying this mask as the acid might be too strong.

Key Ingredients: Patented vine sap-derived viniferine, glycolic acid, natural AHAs (such as super maple extract)

Why It's Worth It: Vitamin C is one ingredient that women likely already have incorporated into their routines long before pregnancy. The good news is, you don't have to ditch it once baby is on board. Because it's a known skin-brightener, Dr. Obioha often adds vitamin C to her patients' skin-care routines to treat hyperpigmentation that's often associated with pregnancy, like melasma. Because of its strong antioxidant properties, vitamin C serums also target existing skin concerns women may have, like reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Dr. Obioha recommends the affordable but effective Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum Brightening Skin Corrector, which pairs vitamin C with hyaluronic acid to brighten skin and minimize the look of fine lines.

Editor Tip: We recommend applying this skin brightener twice daily, but be sure to follow up with mineral sunscreen (at least SPF 30 or higher) during the day, since vitamin C can cause sun sensitivity.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid

Why It's Worth It: Dry skin is a common complaint during pregnancy since hormone changes can cause your skin to lose both elasticity and moisture. But even when your skin is craving hydration, gentle is the way to go with both face creams and moisturizers, says Andrea Braden, MD, FACOG, IBCLC, a board-certified OB/GYN in Decatur, Georgia. She also notes anything with harsh fragrances can lead to unwanted rashes or outbreaks. This ceramide-rich drugstore pick is her go-to since it doesn't contain any parabens, phthalates, or other irritants, and restores and maintains the skin's barrier. CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion also features hyaluronic acid to help lock that hydration boost in and banish dryness for good.

Editor Tip: This fragrance-free pick is safe for all skin types, so it's a perfectly good option for the whole family — you and your little one can both use it once you're postpartum. (They make a baby-specific formula, too!)

Key Ingredients: Ceramides I, 3, and 6-II and hyaluronic acid

Why It's Worth It: Pregnancy can cause the melanocytes in the skin to darken and become more pronounced, leaving what's called "pregnancy mask" or scattered areas of melasma on the face, says Michelle Harsh, ARNP, FNP-BC, a board-certified nurse practitioner based in Boca Raton, Florida. One way to combat that is with a gentle, vitamin C-rich product. Biossance's Squalane + 10% Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum contains a 10% concentration of the antioxidant, along with white shiitake mushroom extract and licorice root extract, both of which can help prevent further spots from popping up.

Editor Tip: This lightweight serum also comes in handy for any pregnancy-related acne flareups, since it boasts squalane, a nourishing moisturizer with soothing anti-inflammatory properties.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, squalane, white shiitake mushroom extract, licorice root extract

Why It's Worth It: To clear breakouts quickly and safely, Dr. Rabach recommends using a hydrocolloid pimple patch like The Original Mighty Patch from Hero Cosmetics. "Hydrocolloid draws water and pus from the red, inflamed pimple into the patch to reduce pain and inflammation overnight," she explains. Although hydrocolloid has traditionally been used in treating wounds, because it absorbs fluid from the skin, it can also be used to treat zits safely. The added bonus is that since the pimples are covered by the patch, you can't pick at them.

Editor Tip: Cleanse first to ensure your skin is clear of other products, but for maximum adhesion, be sure your skin is fully dry before applying.

Key Ingredients: Hydrocolloid

Why It's Worth It: According to Dr. Rabach, itchy rashes during pregnancy are common and thought to be a result of the increased levels of hormones in the body. If the itchiness is getting bad, Cortizone-10 Maximum Strength is formulated with aloe, vitamin A, and vitamin E to provide quick relief to irritated skin.

Editor Tip: Though itchy rashes are normal during pregnancy, they should always be checked out by a doctor — just in case. It could be a sign of cholestasis (bile backup), which can be dangerous for the baby, says Dr. Rabach.

Key Ingredients: Hydrocortisone, aloe vera, vitamin A, vitamin E

Why It's Worth It: It's always nice to streamline your beauty routine — who wouldn't benefit from a few extra minutes here and there? — but when you're pregnant and tired beyond belief, a multitasking product can make a world of a difference. The Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream from It Cosmetics is a one-and-done option that not only accentuates your pregnancy glow with firming and plumping hyaluronic acid, but also provides true, buildable coverage, rather than a barely-there tint. It's perfectly safe for pregnant and nursing women and even has SPF 50 mineral sunscreen built in, says Dr. Braden.

Editor Tip: This full-coverage CC cream comes in a whopping 22 shades to suit a wide range of skin tones.

Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin E

Why It's Worth It: Recommended by Limor Weinberg, MSN, ARNP, FNP-BC, a board-certified nurse practitioner in Miami, Tata Harper's Regenerating BHA Exfoliating Cleanser is a gentle face wash that does more than sweep away the day's makeup and any dirt or environmental pollutants your skin may have picked up along the way. (Remember to consult your dermatologist, as this product contains salicylic acid.) It's formulated with natural ingredients, such as apricot seed powder, to exfoliate and promote cell turnover. Hello, pregnancy glow. It also contains aloe vera, which soothes and hydrates the skin.

Editor Tip: If you're wearing a full face of makeup (especially eye makeup) we recommend first using a makeup remover (or cleansing oil/balm) to leave your skin feeling and looking totally clean.

Key Ingredients: Apricot microspheres, natural BHA from white willow bark extract, olive oil liquid crystal complex

Why It's Worth It: In terms of acne, one ingredient that is safe is the compound azelaic acid. It comes from a wheat plant and is basically a natural pigmentation regulator," says Dr. Rabach. It also helps slough away dead skin, which can clog pores and cause breakouts. The Ordinary's Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is an inexpensive treatment that's just as potent as pricier competitors. The acid is suspended in a lightweight gel-cream that helps the formula glide on easily.

Editor Tip: Use azelaic acid day and night, or either or, depending on what your skin needs — but layer it with a hydrating moisturizer, as some variations can be drying.

Key Ingredients: Azelaic acid, dimethicone, vitamin E

Why It's Worth It: Gentle is the name of the game when seeking out a glycolic acid that's safe for use during pregnancy — remember just 5 to 10% is the sweet spot. At 10%, Drunk Elephant's T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Resurfacing Night Serum is right on the cusp, but Dr. Green says it's perfectly safe for both pregnant and nursing women and works wonderfully to gently exfoliate the skin, improve radiance, and minimize enlarged pores. Take note if you have skin that skews oily and acne-prone: This serum will enhance the effects of your other products by keeping pores clear, says Dr. Green.

Editor Tip: If you have sensitive skin, don't use this product more than once or twice per week to avoid irritation. And always follow up with a hydrating face cream to restore moisture.

Key Ingredients: T.L.C. Framboos AHA Blend, raspberry fruit extract, salicylic acid

Why It's Worth It: There has been much debate over whether or not benzoyl peroxide is safe for pregnant women. According to Dr. Rabach, it also has an FDA category C safety rating — meaning there have been no adequate and well-controlled studies done in humans for this particular ingredient. Because of this, proceed with caution. Some dermatologists say to avoid benzoyl peroxide (BP) altogether, but Dr. Obioha believes it's OK to use it as a spot treatment in no more than a 2.5% concentration. She says to check with your ob-gyn first before using any product with BP, but if you're cleared, it's an effective option to clear breakouts and minimize redness.

Editor Tip: Because benzoyl peroxide is inherently drying, make sure to follow up with a hydrating face cream.

Key Ingredients: Benzoyl peroxide, bisabolol, allantoin

Why It's Worth It: Start your day with a healthy dose of vitamins — for your skin, that is. The concentrated Physicians Formula Skin Booster Vitamin Shot, recommended by Rachael Cayce, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles, wakes up skin with a punch of vitamins C and B3. It also contains licorice root extract, which helps lighten any dark spots associated with skin conditions like melasma or even existing acne scars. Because it's so lightweight, it layers beautifully with other products — for best results, use it in tandem with your favorite face cream.

Editor Tip: Don't be put off by the slightly sticky gel-like consistency — it dries quickly without any tackiness.

Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin B3, licorice root extract