Finding beauty products safe for pregnancy is a priority for me! The skin is your body’s largest organ and the chemicals we put on our skin go into our body. Some pass through to our developing baby! In addition to other pregnancy must-haves, non-toxic beauty products are at the top of my list! The number of products out there is overwhelming, and it is confusing because many are labeled “natural”, that are actually filled with toxic chemicals. The European Union has banned somewhere between 1,100 and 1,300 in cosmetics, whereas the US has banned somewhere between 9-13. Many groups, including the Environmental Working Group (EWG) are pushing the FDA to have better regulations… fingers crossed! In the meantime, a lot of personal research is required. I’ve had to do quite a bit of my own research and I’m hoping to save you some of that trouble.
When unsure about the safety of a product, EWG Skin Deep Database is my go-to safety guide for cosmetics and personal care products. I’m comfortable with beauty products found on Beautycounter, Honest Company, The Detox Market and Goop (but Goop is very expensive!) – but I do often type the product name into EWG Skin Deep just to double check. I’m listing some of the many products that meet my personal criteria for safety during pregnancy. Many of these can be found on Amazon
Nails
Polish
Suncoat (EWG rating* = 1)
SOPHi (EWG rating* = 1-2)
Acquarella (EWG rating* = 1)
Scotch Naturals
Jenna Hipp
Aila
Nail Polish Remover
Acquarella
Pure Vitality
Ella Mila
Studio 35 Beauty 100% Acetone Nail Polish Remover (EWG rating* = 1)
Body
Body Wash
Dr. Bronner’s 4-in-1 Sugar Soap
Alaffia Everyday Coconut Hydrating Body Wash (EWG rating* = 1)
Body Lotion
Acure Organics Unscented Body Lotion
Seventh Generation Moisturizing Lotions
Self-Tanner
Beauty by Earth Self Tanner (EWG rating* = 1)
Deodorant
Primal Pit Paste Stick
Alba Botanica Clear Enzyme Deodorant, Unscented (EWG rating* = 1)
Kiss My Face
Face
Cleansers
ATTITUDE Blooming Belly Natural Foaming Face Cleanser (EWG rating* = 1)
Exactly! Organics Face Cleanser, Ylang Ylang Geranium (EWG rating* = 1)
Farmacy Natural Makeup Remover – Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm
Face Lotions, Serums & Creams
Herbal Choice Mari Natural SPF 30 Tinted Face & Body Lotion (EWG rating* = 1)
GRAYDON All Over Face + Body Lotion (EWG rating* = 1)
Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum
Be Natural Organics Hyaluronic Serum (EWG rating* = 1)
Aromatica Argan Intensive Hydrating Serum (EWG rating* = 1)
Acure Organics Seriously Firming Facial Serum (EWG rating* = 1)
Inlight Organic Skincare Line Softener Intensive (EWG rating* = 1)
Face Masks
Acure Organics Cell Stimulating Face Mask (EWG rating* = 1)
Qet Botanicals Honey Cream Mask with Active Manuka UMF 16+ (EWG Top Scoring Product)
REN Skincare
Tata Harper Skincare
Makeup
Mineral Foundation Powder
100% Pure
Beautycounter
Kjaer Weis
Makeup Remover
RMS Coconut Oil Makeup Remover Wipes
Inlight Makeup Remover
Honest Beauty Refreshingly Clean Makeup Remover Wipes
Sunscreen
Beautycounter Protect All Over Sunscreen Lotion (EWG rating* = 1)
Badger Balm Sunscreen
Butterbean Sunscreen (brand EWG rating* = 1)
Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Natural Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30 (EWG rating* = 2)
Read this article to learn how to make sure your sunscreen isn’t causing more harm than good
∙∙∙See also: Safe, Non-Toxic Sunscreens for Kids and Babies
Lips
According to research done by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, about 60% of lipsticks contain lead! Exposure to lead has been tied to problems with fertility, hormonal irregularities, neurological problems, and more. Other toxic heavy metals have been found in far too many lipsticks and lip glosses.
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm Tin, Beeswax (EWG rating* = 1)
Burt’s Bees Lipstick (EWG rating* = 1)
Beautycounter Lipgloss (EWG Top Scoring Product)
C’est Moi Reflect Lip Gloss (EWG Top Scoring Product)
Hair
Shampoo / Conditioner
Hugo Naturals Shampoo and Conditioner
Juice Organics
ATTITUDE Super Leaves Natural Shampoo (EWG Top Scoring Product)
ATTITUDE Blooming Belly Natural Shampoo (EWG Top Scoring Product)
John Masters Organics
Exactly! Organics Sulfate and Paraben-Free Shampoo (EWG rating* = 1)
Hair Spray
Free & Clear Styling and Finishing Hair Spray (EWG rating* = 2)
Healing-Scents Unscented Hair Spray (EWG rating* = 1)
Dry Shampoo
Acure Dry Shampoo
OhBases Happy Hair Dry Shampoo (EWG rating* = 1)
Teeth
Toothpaste
Davids Natural Toothpaste – Peppermint (EWG Top Scoring Product)
Jack N’ Jill Natural Toothpaste (EWG rating* = 1-2)
Weleda Children’s Tooth Gel is a glycerin-based formula. (EWG rating* = 2)
Dr. Bronner’s Anise All-One Toothpaste (EWG rating* = 1)
Tom’s
*Make Your Own*
If you are a Do-It-Yourself type, try out these homemade beauty product recipes from Mommypotamus and Wellness Mama:
Honey Face Wash • Turmeric Face Mask • Deodorant • Apple Cider Vinegar Toner
Anti-Aging Facial Moisturizer • Lotion Bars • Hair Strengthening Mask • Sunscreen • Natural Teeth Whitening • Natural Shimmer Lipstick • Body Wash • Natural Mascara
More on chemicals during pregnancy
Since many chemicals we put on our skin can make their way through the placenta to our growing babies, I make it a priority to use non-toxic beauty products that are safe for pregnancy. One ingredient to avoid is parabens. Parabens are found in most cosmetics. Parabens are tied to hormonal and fertility problems, as well as some cancers. Look for beauty products free of parabens!
Beautycounter is one of many brands that I trust. They have a “Never List” that includes ingredients that they will never use in their products (synthetic fragrances, parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates, BHA/BHT, SLES, and many more). When I read (on the Beautycounter site) that over 200 synthetic chemicals are found in the umbilical cord blood of newborns, well that scared me a bit. The fact that chemicals I put on my skin can cross the placenta and end up in my baby’s bloodstream means I need to make clean beauty products a priority. Another thing I learned from the Beautycounter website is that chemicals disruptive to the endocrine system are most dangerous in small amounts, “as they mimic the way our bodies naturally interact with hormones. And when our bodies are undergoing certain periods of development (in the womb, during infancy, puberty), we are more susceptible to hormone disruption, which can have big health effects later in life.” One fact that really hit home is that the chemical used in NuvaRing to prevent conception is only 0.035 Parts Per Billion! Tiny, right? Yet it is strong enough to prevent your ovaries from ovulating and releasing an egg!
*I mention the EWG ratings where I can when listing the products, but the EWG does not have ratings for all products at this time. Also, the ratings may change as new information comes out. I’ll update this as often as I can.
***I am not a medical professional, so please consult yours before making any key decisions.***
Shop Beauty Products Safe for Pregnancy on Amazon
Hi! I have been using Alba herbal Healing body wash. I am 9 weeks pregnant and just saw that it has Cannabis Sativa in it. I’m worried that I thought I was using a safe product that maybe isn’t! Thoughts?
According to EWG’s Skin Deep (my cosmetic safety resource go-to), Cannabis Sativa is very safe! However, the use of cannabis oil when pregnant can be a controversial topic. In my opinion, there isn’t reliable information about the use of it during pregnancy. The potency of it in your body wash, as well as how much you use, would be important to determine how safe it is. I would consult your doctor. I’m not a medical professional, but I assume that in a body wash, the cannabis oil isn’t very potent, there is no THC, and not too much of it is absorbing into your skin… so in my completely unmedical opinion, I think you are okay.
This huge range of products would be really helpful for every pregnant woman. I will definitely recommend them. Thanks and keep sharing.