I am a product junkie and while I love to try new products, there are some products I just can’t live without. Pregnancy has brought on a host of new skin challenges and I am relying on good skincare and makeup to get me through. Today I am sharing my current skincare and makeup products that have helped me battle hormonal acne, dryness, redness, and sensitive skin. Keep reading for all the details.

Let’s start with the pregnancy skin challenges.

I have always battled acne, but hormonal acne is a whole new beast. It’s concentrated on the jawline and around the mouth and usually presents as deeper cyst like blemishes. Having been on prescriptions meds and topical solutions to manage my acne for years it’s been a challenge over the last year and a half of TTC to find products that are pregnant safe and still do the trick

Lately, I have added two new skin challenges to the mix: dryness and sensitivity. Both of which are completely foreign to me and I am still learning how to manage.

Pregnancy Safe Skincare

Trying New Products

As many of you know, I am constantly switching up the products I use when I find something new on the market. This is great to try new products, but I have a bad habit of trying too many things at once and then not knowing which helped, or worsened the issue. I highly suggest trying one new product at a time for a full week before making a conclusion. (Now, if only I could follow my own advice)

So let’s jump into the pregnancy safe skincare products I am currently using!

Cleanser 1 (oil)

I started using this oil cleanser about a month ago and I LOVE it. It takes off my makeup so well and is gentle on my skin. Many of the other oil cleanser I have tried are too sticky and hard to wash off but this one doesn’t have that issue. This cleanser also doubles as an exfoliate if left on with heat or steam.

Cleanser 2 (gel)

I discovered this brand many years ago when looking for pregnancy safe skincare. They are available on Amazon and Ulta and are very gentle on the skin. I have been using this cleanser is my 2nd step evening routine for about a month and a half and really like it.

Toner

I love a refreshing toner but have yet to find one I love. In the past I have used the Thayers Witch Hazel toner for many years but on a research binge, I decided to try The Ordinary glycolic toner to address uneven texture caused by pregnancy. I don’t think this toner did much for my texture so I will likely switch back.

Acne/Spot Treatment

I have been using the Juice Beauty acne serum since April and when it ran out I decided to try the Belli spot treatment as it’s a bit cheaper. I haven’t seen a huge difference between the two, but the Juice Beauty serum really helped with the the hormonal spots on my jawline which really flared in April/May. Now my pimples are back to normal and the Belli spot treatment combined with my holy grail lotion below are working fine.

For pesky pimples I swear by the Mario Badescue Drying Lotion as an overnight spot treatment. I dab it on with a Qtip, and by the morning it’s really helped dry the spot out.

Friends have also been raving about The Meltdown from Blume and I want to try it. Let me know if you tried it.

Moisturizer

My go to moisturizer is the Summer Fridays Jet lag mask. I was going to add it to my photos but the bottle was so destroyed from rolling it up to get the last drop, it could not be photographed haha. I also love the Ursa Major Recovery Cream. To battle my current dry skin many of you also recommended the Tula Hydrating Cream or the Drunk Elephant Moisturizer. My skin is drinking up anything I put on it right now desperate for moisture.

Oils

I have used oils off and on but with my oily skin just have not found they work too well for me. I know my dry skin gals swear by their oils so I may have to give them a try.

Eye Cream

I have been using the Sephora SC clean line eye cream but it’s nothing to write home about. Finding an all star clean eye cream is proving to be a challenge for me. I don’t have dark circles, but I do have deep eye troughs, which are better since my filler but have worsened with pregnancy. While I love my Orgins eye cream, it’s not clean so I ordered the Tula Eye Balm , which has rave reviews. What are your favorite clean eye creams?

Masks

With oily-prone skin I usually reach for masks with clay, charcoal and pore-cleansing properties. This is my favorite mask and the key is mixing it with apple cider vinegar. My trick for making the most of what I mix is to put the remaining mask in a ziplock bag and keep it in the fridge until the next time. If you want something with less prep, this mask is a great alternative (and has a low risk score on Think Dirty app). I am also going to try this mask out tonight as recommended by many of you. It’s also super reasonably priced.

Facials

I have fallen off my monthly routine of dermaplaning facials and I need to get back on the wagon. They made such a difference for my hormonal breakouts and texture. I see Melissa at Bodylase in Cary and am planning to get back in the routine later this month. I am also checking out the all new facial treatment bar at Trellis Beauty and am excited to try the LED light which has been a huge success for me in the past.

Pregnancy Safe Makeup

Now let’s skip on to makeup. The skincare section was much longer because skincare is truly the base to any good routine. Makeup is just the icing.

Foundation/Concealer

Lately I have been trying to skip the foundation step because my skin is so oily liquid products slip off by the end of the day and I have yet to find a clean primer that really works. Instead I use my Tarte cosmetics concealer to cover problem areas and I set it with the Lily & Lolo Powder (Colors: Blondie & Barely Buff).. This seems to wear well throughout the day and looks very natural. Recently I have been trying the Pacifica Alright Clean foundation combined with the Pacifica matte primer and while I love the finish and longevity, it’s too soon to tell whether it’s going to break me out or not.

If I want a more full coverage look, I will either combine the my favorite Beauty Balm or the SaltyGirl Beauty foundation with the Lily & Lilo powder or use the . Though the powder finish can look a bit flat at first, within a few hours as my natural oil comes through it has a beautiful non-greasy glow.

For my under eyes I alternate between a few concealers including Fitglow Beauty, Clinique and Nars Soft Matte. I set my under eyes with the lightest powder from the contour palette, because I have yet to find a clean setting powder for that I like for my under eyes. All the ones I have tried are too cakey or lead to creasing.

Cheeks

I cannot leave the house without contour and this palette is my favorite and has everything you need in one place. For a clean alternative. I like the Clove & Hallow bronzer which is a great cool tone and can be built up with application. Once my base is complete, I add the RMS cream blush (in demure) on my cheeks and lips.

Eyes

For my everyday eye routine I start with this lash primer (holy grail for over 6 years), wait 30 seconds until tacky and then then I do a coat of this mascara on top and bottom. I let that dry slightly and add another coat with this mascara for more volume. Then I add grey liner. to the top and bottom lash line and finish with this magical eye brightener on the inner corner, bottom waterline and all over the lid. It instantly makes you look more awake.

The majority of these products are clean, but if you want to be 100% clean, you can use the Fitglow Beauty mascara instead of and swap the for Au Natural Cosmetics for the grey Bobbi Brown. .

Brows

When it comes to brows I am VERY particular. I have tried every brow product under the sun and keep coming back to the Thrive Cosmetics brow pencil. I do love the staying power of the Stila Waterproof pen but it’s not clean and drys out quickly.

Phew that felt like the longest post in history! I wanted to be sure to include all the details of my current routine as well as options for those of you that want to stay 100% clean with your product choices. What are your favorite skincare and makeup products and did you change anything when pregnant?