The goop Guide to Pregnancy-Safe Skin Care

Pregnancy has a way of humbling even the most disciplined among us with the most dialed-in routines—and skin care is no exception.

As someone with an almost obsessive commitment to a multi-step routine (and generally problematic skin), I was more concerned about forgoing retinol than the more well-known restrictions like alcohol, sushi, and the other usual suspects. What used to be a tightly edited routine now feels beside the point. Not only because many of my once-essential products are off-limits, but also because my skin has developed an agenda of its own.

It turns out, hormonal shifts during pregnancy don’t just change how your skin looks—they also change how it behaves. Former favorite skin care products can suddenly feel irritating—and at-home tools or in-office treatments you’ve used for years may come with new questions. The margin for “probably fine” narrows when you’re growing a human.

The good news: you don’t need to overhaul your entire routine—or resign yourself to nine months of bad skin. You just need to edit thoughtfully. Below, dermatologists and estheticians break down what to pause, what to swap, and what’s still very much okay to use during pregnancy.

First, a Mindset Shift: Why Less Really Is More

On the whole, experts recommend a simpler approach to skin care during pregnancy. The reasoning for this shift is twofold: increased reactivity of the skin barrier and systemic absorption of ingredients.

“Many women notice increased oil production, changes in pigmentation, or heightened skin sensitivity during this time,” says Cincinnati-based dermatologist Mona Foad, MD. Translation: the products that once worked perfectly may suddenly feel like too much.

But the conversation goes deeper than skin behavior. It’s also about what your body is absorbing—and how often. A growing body of research has found that pregnant women who use conventional personal care products tend to have higher levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals—namely parabens and phthalates—in their systems. Phthalates seem to be particularly problematic during pregnancy: thus far, research has linked higher prenatal exposure to neurodevelopmental delays, a higher risk for preterm birth, and changes in fetal hormone levels—findings that underscore how responsive the body can be during pregnancy.

“Even though systemic absorption from topical products is usually minimal, we try to minimize exposure to ingredients that may carry theoretical risks,” explains Foad. After all, minimal doesn't mean nonexistent. With repeated, daily use—especially across multiple products—small amounts of certain ingredients add up.

“The skin can become more sensitive with a reduced barrier, so perhaps ingredients are absorbed more [during pregnancy],” says New York City-based dermatologist Jocelyn Gandelman, MD. “Mostly, we care about absorption because we want to make sure they are not dangerous to the developing baby.”

At-Home Skin-Care Ingredient Swaps

You likely don’t need to do a full purge of everything in your a.m. or p.m. skin-care routine, but a recalibration is definitely in order.

Skip: Retinoids

Switch to: Bakuchiol, Azelaic Acid, or Niacinamide

Retinoids are the headline act on the best-avoided list. The concern stems from oral isotretinoin, which is known to cause birth defects. Topical retinoids don’t behave the same way, but because they’re in the same vitamin A family, most dermatologists still recommend pressing pause during pregnancy.

What to use instead depends on your skin’s most pressing needs. Azelaic acid stands out as a true multitasker, helping to manage acne, calm inflammation and fade hyperpigmentation. “This is my favorite active ingredient for pregnant patients,” says Foad. “It’s generally well tolerated and has a strong safety profile.”

Niacinamide can help support the skin barrier and even out skin texture and tone, and it's widely considered pregnancy safe. Bakuchiol offers a gentler, plant-based alternative to retinol (sans irritation), although there haven't been any wide-scale studies on its use during pregnancy just yet.

Skip: Salicylic Acid

Switch to: Lactic Acid or Mandelic Acid

Salicylic acid isn’t entirely off-limits, but it is nuanced. Low concentrations (2% or less), particularly in short-contact formulas like cleansers, are generally considered acceptable to use. Still, many dermatologists suggest erring on the side of gentler alternatives. For those who rely on leave-on salicylic acid formulas like toner, this switch can feel daunting.

Enter: lactic and mandelic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids that exfoliate gently at the surface level.
“During pregnancy I stick with very gentle exfoliation using milder acids like lactic acid and mandelic acid in low strengths, as well as enzymes,” says aesthetician Danielle Gamble. “These tend to provide light resurfacing without being overly aggressive.”

As with most things during pregnancy, lower concentrations (under 10%) are key.

Consider Switching to Mineral Sunscreen

If there’s one non-negotiable pregnancy skin-care staple, it’s SPF. This is because “pigmentation rears its ugly head during pregnancy,” explains celebrity aesthetician Candice Miele. For this reason, “daily sun protection is particularly important,” Foad explains, since “hormonal changes can increase the risk of hyperpigmentation, including conditions like melasma.”

Dermatologists widely recommend mineral formulas during pregnancy (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide), since they’re less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions compared to their chemical counterparts. “They provide an extra level of reassurance and are often better tolerated by sensitive skin,” says Foad. What's more, there are concerns around the active ingredients in chemical sunscreen (like oxybenzone and octinoxate) acting as endocrine disruptors.

Your High-Tech At-Home Devices

If your bathroom shelf looks like a mini dermatology clinic, this is where things should get more heavily pared back.

Safe to keep using: Red Light Therapy and Gua Sha

Low-energy LED treatments such as red light therapy are generally considered safe to use while pregnant, though it’s always a good idea to check with your doctor first, Foad says. And while you may have to put your Nuface routine on pause for now, you can continue using gua sha as a low-risk way to support circulation and lymphatic drainage.

Better to Bench (Temporarily): Microcurrent, radiofrequency, high-frequency wands

When it comes to energy-based devices, experts tend to take a more cautious stance—especially with those that rely on radiofrequency or electrical currents. The concern isn’t rooted in known harm, but in the absence of any clear safety data. There just isn’t enough research, making such devices difficult to fully endorse.

Put more simply: if it plugs in and promises a lift, it can probably wait.

In-Office Treatments: What’s Still on the Menu

Pregnancy is not the time for experimental lasers or elective tweaks—but it’s also not a nine-month blackout period either.

Generally Safe (with Approval): Gentle facials, LED light therapy, light chemical peels

Facials remain firmly on the table—provided the focus is on barrier support, not correction. Treatments centered on hydration, mild exfoliation, and circulation (rather than aggressive resurfacing) can help manage issues like dryness, dullness, and hormonal breakouts without unnecessary risk.

Most aestheticians will modify protocols accordingly. “During pregnancy, we keep facial protocols very gentle and precautionary,” Gamble says. “We are more selective with chemical exfoliants, skipping certain acids, and anything too aggressive.”

LED light treatments, particularly red and near-infrared, are also safe, as they don’t generate heat or penetrate deeply enough to impact systemic processes. Even light chemical peels can have a place—if approached conservatively—with low-strength lactic or glycolic acids (under ~10% concentrations) used sparingly to address mild congestion and uneven tone, Gandelman explains.

Press Pause: Botox, filler, laser treatments, RF microneedling, strong chemical peels

In-office treatments that rely on heat, energy, or deeper skin injury—like lasers and RF microneedling—introduce variables that simply haven’t been well-studied in pregnant patients, while also carrying a higher likelihood of triggering hyperpigmentation or unpredictable healing in hormonally-sensitized skin. Experts also suggest avoiding strong chemical peels, which intentionally disrupt the skin barrier to drive regeneration, in favor of gentler, more controlled options.

Injectables fall into a similar category: while neuromodulators like Botox are sometimes still used medically in certain cases (such as migraine headaches and TMJ), dermatologists recommend skipping Botox appointments for cosmetic reasons due to a lack of robust safety data. Fillers also carry additional considerations. “I would be worried about a higher risk of an inflammatory reaction to the filler, and about the safety of dissolving filler with hyaluronidase [a reversal agent] in the unlikely event of filler in a blood vessel,” Gandelman explains. “Filler is also a higher stress more uncomfortable procedure which could put stress on the pregnancy.”

“In general, we like to minimize any procedures during pregnancy to those that are medically necessary,” she adds. “If anything went wrong in the pregnancy, I would never want a patient to worry or question if it was from their elective procedure—even if it wasn’t at all related.” Add in a higher risk of pigmentation and unpredictable skin healing, and most providers agree: save the more intensive peels, pokes, and procedures for later.