CONTENTS :
- When you're pregnant, adopt the right care and beauty routines
- Taking care of your breasts and breastfeeding your baby
- Pregnancy or post-partum treatments to treat yourself or have someone treat you at a beauty salon
Pregnant or breastfeeding, now is the time more than ever to take care of your skin. Whether dry, oily or prone to acne, your hormones are taking their toll. On your face, a pregnancy mask may appear. On your body, tightness, itching and even eczema can develop or worsen. Not forgetting, of course, the emblematic stretch marks on your belly. To pamper your skin, adopt a slow cosmetics approach, opt for the most natural products possible and discover a list of beauty and well-being products compatible with pregnancy and breastfeeding.
When you're pregnant, adopt the right care and beauty routines
As is the case for the whole female body, your skin undergoes numerous changes throughout pregnancy. Dermatoses, keratoses, pimples, hyperpigmentation... To help it stay healthy and beautiful, adapt your beauty routine with targeted pregnancy skincare and cosmetics.
5 commandments for taking care of your skin while waiting for baby
Moisturize, moisturize and moisturize again
To properly moisturize your skin, start by preventing it from drying out. To do this, opt for extra-gentle, soap-free cleansing formulas or a superfatted soap. On a daily basis, the benefits of a moisturizing cream will make all the difference. Remember to apply it to your face and body, not forgetting your breasts. And don't forget the beauty benefits of mineral water. To make the most of them, vary the brands you choose - and therefore the trace elements and minerals they contain - and drink 1.5 liters of water every day.
Favour natural products and pregnancy cosmetics
Pregnancy is undoubtedly the ideal time to sort out your beauty vanity. Forget deodorants boosted with aluminum salts, and opt for organic deodorants suitable for pregnant women, as well as nail polish. Even nail polish is not recommended during pregnancy.
Instead, hello to pure plant oils, shea butter and hydrolats, all of which are great beauty companions during pregnancy.
Damask rose hydrosol, a nervous and hormonal rebalancer as well as a soothing agent, is reputed to accompany the post-partum period towards greater serenity.
Avoid components harmful to health
Pregnant, you're carrying your baby. As a mother, you may decide to breastfeed. In both cases, you and your child enter into a symbiotic relationship. For both you and your baby, avoid ingredients with harmful or dubious health effects.
- Endocrine disruptors: phthalates, parabens, triclosan, BHA, BHT... found in some hair care products, shampoos and styling products, but also in nail polish.
- Mineral oils: Petrolatum, ceresine wax, vaseline, Mineral oil.... Mainly found in fatty products such as lipstick and body balm, but also in some hair care products.
- Alcohols: alcohol or denatured alcohol are found in perfumes and hair colorants.
- Formaldehyde: present in many make-up products, shampoos, conditioners, shower gels...
- Sodium laureth and Lauryl sulfate: present in many foaming products. These include shower gels, shampoos and conditioners, as well as facial cleansers, liquid soaps and toothpaste.
Please note that most essential oils are contraindicated throughout pregnancy and in young children. It is therefore preferable to avoid using them, at least for a while.
Protecting your skin from the sun
A wide-brimmed hat and SPF 50+ sun protection with UVA and UVB filters are essential throughout your summer pregnancy to avoid sunburn, pigmentation spots and pregnancy masks.
If you don't want to be afraid of the sun, you can choose a high SPF sunscreen that's suitable for children and/or organic. You can also ask your pharmacist for advice, or trust brands that use a mineral filter rather than a chemical one. Even so, it 's a good idea to move into cool, shady surroundings as soon as possible.
Products to include in your mum-to-be beauty kit
Gentle care for intimate hygiene
Moisturizing creams and oils for face and body
Natural pregnancy and breastfeeding care for oily skin
Tip: place the bottle in a cool place before use, it's even more pleasant.
An organic solution for dry skin
Sunscreen for pregnant women
Taking care of your breasts and breastfeeding your baby
"Breastfeeding doesn't hurt or damage your breasts". Although this phrase is often uttered, it doesn't always reflect the experience of mothers. Nipple pain, chapping or cracking - these little inconveniences can quickly become a real nuisance, and sometimes even prevent baby from latching on or continuing to breastfeed.
To care for your breasts before, during and after the breastfeeding period, use simple gestures and natural, fragrance-free products.
Every day, simply wash your breasts with clear water in the shower. Note that you don't need to soap your breasts between feedings. You risk drying out your nipples and masking your scent from your baby's nose. Finally, leave your breasts to air-dry.
What can be done about breast discomfort or pain?
In the event of pain or discomfort, certain products can accompany your breastfeeding while taking care of your breasts.
- Pure lanolin nipple cream is a classic in maternity care for nursing mothers. Natural, moisturizing and healing, lanolin is derived from sheep's wool. HPA® lanolin cream, Lansiloh® and NUK Care nursing balm are ideal.
- Vegetable oils such as sweet almond oil or argan oil, applied as a massage, prepare the breasts for breastfeeding. Recognized for their high moisturizing power, they should be chosen organically. Néobulle's protective nipple oil, for example, combines soothing chamomile, repairing lavender, soothing calendula and purifying grapefruit.
- Applying cold compresses or drops of breast milk (with its healing effect) to the nipple at the end of a feed, or expressing milk by hand, can also help ease the pain.
Note that most breastfeeding pains can be alleviated by adapting your posture with baby. A lactation consultant or your midwife can give you valuable advice.
Pregnancy or post-partum treatments to treat yourself or have someone treat you at a beauty salon
Throughout pregnancy, as term approaches, and perhaps even more so afterwards, women's need for pampering grows. So, in addition to the treatments you can give yourself, don't hesitate to ask your partner to take care of you, or visit an institute for a well-deserved wellness break.
At home, take advantage of a relaxing break and a warm bath to practice self-massage of the bust and décolleté, stomach and legs. You can also ask for a gentle back, head, neck or foot massage. The effect is immediately relaxing and soothing. Weleda, Mustela or Clarins offer oils that can be used whether you are pregnant or not.
At the institute, enjoy a complete facial treatment for a radiant complexion, a draining massage to relieve the sensation of heavy legs, or hair removal (without hot wax) that's not always easy to do, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy.
Always remember to specify that you are pregnant, to avoid massaging the belly, applying too much pressure or using unsuitable products. Organic skincare products in particular often contain essential oils, which are generally prohibited during pregnancy. Finally, sauna, hammam and jacuzzi are not recommended until after delivery.
Pregnancy is a period of intense hormonal and physical upheaval. Followed by breastfeeding, it demands all the energy each new mother can muster to get through each stage. Using the right care products, treating yourself to moments of well-being and prioritizing yourself whenever possible are among the keys to a serene and fulfilling pregnancy and birth.
At the same time, reinforce your beauty action by adapting your diet (as much as your desires, nausea and pregnancy prohibitions allow) and by giving yourself quality sleep until baby arrives.
Cosmetics during pregnancy
When you're pregnant, give priority to natural, organic skincare and cosmetics. These contain no endocrine disruptors, chemicals or controversial substances harmful to your health or that of your child. Vegetable oils, hydrolats and soap-free cleansers are particularly suitable.
What face routine for pregnant women?
To care for her face, a pregnant woman should first and foremost moisturize it daily with a suitable cream or natural plant oil. In summer, it's also important to apply a daily sunscreen compatible with pregnancy (SPF 50+).
How do I care for my breasts while breastfeeding?
The skin on the bust and stomach stretches during pregnancy. To care for it, use a moisturizing and nourishing vegetable oil such as avocado, wheat germ, coconut or borage oil. Wear an appropriate bra, and use a jet of cool water at the end of your shower to firm up your breasts.
