How To Look After Your Skin In Pregnancy by Bahareh Giles
At Nourished Mama, we believe in partnering with the best people for the job. Bahareh Ajdani is a holistic facialist who has spent more than 20 years in the beauty industry. This has given her a very unique perspective on skincare and its relationship to your overall health. She believes in using clean, whole plant ingredients on your skin, which feed nutrients to your whole body. She also works with women to elevate their skincare routine, using it to actively nurture their femininity.
The skin is the largest organ and its main functions are protection, regulation and absorption. I’m sure you’ve heard this time and time again, but this only becomes more prevalent when you are pregnant.
Approximately 70% of what you put on your skin enters the body, hence why nicotine patches work. During pregnancy we suddenly become more conscious of this, and our skin care routines get thrown into disarray as we strive to minimise the nasties that our bodies have to deal with. There are also numerous, delicate transformations occurring in your body during this time which can affect the skin. So this is a great time to relook at your skincare needs.
Knowing what to use on your skin is challenging, especially with so many brands on the market. But the things I recommend you look at first are the soap or body wash you are using, your current body moisturiser, your deodorant and the products you are using on your face.
I strongly believe in using 100% plant based skin care. Using ingredients that are whole, rather than isolated ingredients is the best way of feeding and nurturing your skin and body. For example Calendula is an amazing plant for the skin, it has high amounts of anti-inflammatory flavonoids, retinoids, and vitamin C. When this is used in whole plant form, you are receiving all the goodness from the plant, compared to separate isolated ingredients that are made in a laboratory.
I would stay away from any form of Vitamin A, Retinoid (Retinol palmitate or Acetate), Salicylic Acids, and Benzoyl Peroxide. I would avoid using any products that contain: Paraben, Artificial fragrance/Perfume, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Toluene, Phthalates, Polyethylene Glycol, Formaldehyde, Oxybenzone, Diethanolamine and Triclosan. Check the ingredients list on the back of your skincare, and if any of these are on the label, avoid the product.
So, what do you use? For a long time it was thought that natural skincare was better for you but it just wasn’t as effective, making many women reluctant to put down their tried and true skincare formulas. But that is no longer the case. We now have access to incredible natural skincare products that actually work better than their synthetic competitors.
Let’s start with body wash or soap. This is super important as it has a huge impact on how your skin holds moisture and how it balances the pH. I always recommend that people use body wash over soap, as soap is much more drying to the skin. Where possible minimise your use of body wash as well, sticking to the areas that really need it.
Also be conscious of how hot your shower is. The hotter the water, the more drying to your skin. Try to use lukewarm water and consider a cold rinse off for 10 seconds at the end. This is fantastic for your circulation, and will leave your pregnant belly feeling awake and alive. My favourite body wash is the ecostore brand. These guys have a fantastic ethos, their products contain no nasties, and they smell good.
Body moisturiser is the next key purchase. Many women lather their bodies in cream every day, but this can add a significant amount of toxins if we’re not careful. The best alternatives are pure oils. Jojoba is closest to the skin’s natural sebum, so is a fantastic choice. Use extra virgin coconut oil if your skin is feeling hot and inflammatory, and if you’re struggling with serious dryness use organic sesame oil. With the coconut and sesame oils, you can lather your body before taking a shower, and then rinse in lukewarm water. That way your skin is protected from the drying effects of the shower, while being moisturised for the rest of the day without feeling oily. If you wish to use it like a moisturiser but don’t want the oily feeling on your skin or on your clothes, mix one of the oils with an ecostore body butter (containing shea butter), creating a consistency that feels right for you. Massage into the skin daily.
Deodorant is another a key purchase. For years I stuck to my old nasty formulas because all the “natural” options just didn’t work. Then I discovered deodorant pastes, made from baking soda, coconut oil, shea butter and arrowroot. These pastes worked better than any antiperspirant (which usually contain nasties such as aluminium), and last all day. One of my favourite brands on the market is Black Chicken Axilla Paste (horrible name I know). I have also played with making my own formula, as the recipe is unbelievably easy.
The skin on your face might change significantly with pregnancy. Of course your skin will feel different! You’re rocking a whole heap of new hormones and a much higher blood volume. Some women feel oilier than normal and hyper-pigmentation can be a concern, especially in darker skinned women. If you are having issues like hormonal acne, break outs or skin discolouration, I would highly recommend seeing a holistic skin therapist, who can assist you with the right in-house treatments and home care. But even if your skin is not noticeably different, consider changing up your skincare to minimise the nasties and maximise the whole plant ingredients, which will both feed your skin and your whole body.
The skin care lines that I use at the clinic and absolutely love are: Laurel Whole Plant Skin Organics, Josh Rosebrook Skincare and Keely Watson’s Aromatology range. These ranges use whole plant organic ingredients in their natural form. And they work amazingly! I’ve seen people’s skin improve radically by moving to these products.
I would also recommend Maryse Skincare, MV Organics, May Lindstrom and ecostore skin and body products.
Finally, being pregnant is a time of ultimate femininity. You are growing another being, and there is nothing more beautiful. Looking after your skin is a way of caring for yourself, and nurturing the goddess inside, even if some days we don’t feel like that goddess. Choose products that you love. Then every time you use them, connect you to your essence as a woman.
Check out Bahareh in the following places…
https://baharskinandbody.co.nz
https://www.instagram.com/baharskinandbody/
https://www.facebook.com/baharskinandbody/