Last Updated on January 12, 2021
What if that pregnancy glow doesn’t make your complexion more radiant?
Not everyone ends up with oilier skin from hormonal surges.
Some women continue to deal with dead skin and dry skin. And sometimes, their faces become more dehydrated than before.
That’s when you need the best face wash for dry skin during pregnancy.
It’s crucial to cleanse your face in a way that doesn’t aggravate the problem.
But, what helps dry skin on the face when you’re pregnant?
Which skin-care products are safe to use when you’re expecting?
Let’s look at face care during pregnancy first.
Contents
If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.
One of my favorite moisturizing face washes contains micellar water. It was invented in France to counteract the damage done by hard water.
The micelles are molecules suspended in the purified water of this gel cleanser. They bind to impurities to remove them from your skin.
The result is an extremely gentle yet effective face wash. It is oil-free, paraben-free, and does not contain any kind of artificial fragrance. This is one of the best skin-care products and is perfect to rejuvenate dead skin cells.
The transparent gel foams up a bit when it comes in contact with water. Then, it rinses clean, leaving the skin soft.
If you allow the cleanser to sit on makeup for a few moments, it will simplify removing it.
If you prefer to cleanse with cotton pads, try micellar water instead of the gel cleanser. It will clean makeup without the need for rinsing and is really safe to use.
Simple’s gel cleanser is also non-drying. It’s free of alcohol, soap, phthalates, and parabens. This soap-free wash doesn’t have any artificial coloring or fragrance, either.
For the price, it’s everything you could want in a pregnancy-safe face wash.
It contains pro-vitamin B5, vitamin E, and triple-purified water to rehydrate dry skin. This is one of the best skin-care products.
The pH-balanced formula promises to leave your face comfortable and supple. In my experience, that’s true.
It doesn’t mean that you can skip the moisturizer, but it does signify that your skin won’t feel tight when you’re done cleansing.
This traditional creamy cleanser is packed with glycerin to restore moisture. We feel these are the best face washes out there for pregnancy.
This soap-free wash doesn’t contain sulfates, alcohol, parabens, oil, soap, or perfume. The dermatologist-tested formula is kind to sensitive skin.
Happily, it removes makeup.
You may have already noticed that your skin during pregnancy reacts differently. It’s smart to avoid potential problems by using gentle skin-care products.
This pH-balanced face wash stays away from all possible irritants. It doesn’t contain gluten, nuts, soy, oil, alcohol, perfumes, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, formaldehyde, or any other problematic ingredients. It’s also vegan and nano-free.
That’s all good news, but does it cleanse well?
Users say that it does. They love how the lightweight lather forms immediately when mixed with water. They say that it removes all types of makeup, leaving the skin silky smooth.
Some have commented that their acne has diminished since they started using it. That’s not surprising as it contains aloe vera, tea tree oil, olive oil, allantoin, glycerin, and antioxidants.
French pharmaceutical brand La Roche-Posay isn’t found only in European drugstores these days. You can purchase it worldwide online.
Their Toleriane face wash is ideal for moisturizing sensitive skin. We feel these are the best face washes out there for pregnancy.
It can remove all sorts of makeup without the need for scrubbing.
It’s a milky cleanser based on prebiotic thermal water, glycerin, niacinamide, and ceramides. These ingredients rehydrate and promote healing. They restore the skin’s natural barrier against moisture loss. It also includes glycolic acid (alpha hydroxy acid)
Moreover, the formula does not contain artificial fragrances, oils, sulfates, soap, or parabens, the formula contains only natural ingredients.
Perhaps you’ve heard of the brands CeraVe and Cetaphil gentle face wash. They create products to care for sensitive skin. But I’ve left Cetaphil out of the reviews today because their cleanser contains parabens.
Fortunately, CeraVe’s face wash is paraben-free. It doesn’t have a fragrance, and it won’t clog pores, and is perfect for daily use.
It’s suitable for dry to normal skin; plus, you can use it anywhere on the body. They restore the skin’s natural barrier against moisture loss. It can also be used as a body wash and is perfect for all skin types.
Like all products from this company, it has three essential ceramides. This helps replenish moisture in the skin as they reinforce the protective skin barrier and is non-comedogenic.
Then, there’s hyaluronic acid, a potent humectant. It draws in as much as 1000 times its own weight in water.
Neutrogena’s gentle face cleanser was developed by dermatologists for sensitive skin. Although it sulfate-free, it has an artificial fragrance, however. It is not recommended to use it without water.
It can remove makeup, dirt, and excess oil without disturbing the skin’s delicate balance and is non-comedogenic.
It won’t leave a residue, although it leaves the skin soft to the touch. We feel these are the best face washes out there for pregnancy. This can also be used as a body wash. It also includes glycolic acid (alpha hydroxy acid).
Here’s another Neutrogena face wash, this time with hyaluronic acid. The gel feels refreshing to use as it increases the skin’s hydration and is non-comedogenic. These products use natural ingredients and are safe products that do not use any kind of synthetic fragrances and it goes a long way. Do not use products that contain harsh chemicals to wash your face.
It’s free of parabens, soap, and oil. If you’re dealing with pregnancy acne, it won’t clog pores.
The Burt’s Bees cleanser won a Best of Beauty Award from Allure in 2016. It also carries the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association.
Not only is it mild enough to prevent allergic reactions, but it’s also very hydrating and is non-comedogenic.
The 98.9% natural formula is based on aloe vera, plant extracts, rice extracts that soothe irritation and dryness. It also has cotton extract to soften the skin. If you’re dealing with pregnancy acne, it won’t clog pores.
Tidy up the bathroom faster when you have fewer bottles on the counter.
Eucerin’s cleanser works for both your face and body when you have dry or sensitive skin. If you’re dealing with pregnancy acne, it won’t clog pores. This was also help get rid of dark spots and will keep your skin healthy.
It doesn’t have artificial dyes or fragrances, and it won’t clog pores, and is non-comedogenic.
It’s has a pH of 5, perfect for keeping the skin without clogging.
If you’re a mother-to-be with mature skin, take a look at this anti-aging face wash.
It has several skin-texture enhancing ingredients like caprylic/capric triglyceride and glycerin. These are designed to rehydrate and firm the skin.
The mild cleansers, like soapberry extract and decyl glucoside, remove impurities without stripping moisture.
Furthermore, it maintains a healthy pH balance and avoids harsh ingredients like parabens.
You can use it to remove eye makeup as well as cleanse any other part of your face. If you’re dealing with pregnancy acne, it won’t clog pores.
When surveyed, 98% of the users said their skin feels refreshed after washing with it and is free of harsh ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.
If you like the scent of roses, try this calming cream cleanser. This acne-fighting organic facial wash is perfect to treat dark spots and will leave your skin feeling rejuvenated.
It’s vegan and 96% natural. That means it’s free of artificial colors, sulfates, and parabens.
The same manufacturer also created a matching moisturizer and rose water facial mist. We feel this is the best pregnancy-safe face wash for pregnant women out there.
Sample what K-beauty fans love about Korean cosmetics. Try this foaming cleanser with rice water.
This facial cleanser is designed to brighten the complexion while it moisturizes.
Rice water is packed with minerals and vitamin B to strengthen the skin at a cellular level and this leave your skin feeling rejuvenated.
The formula also has soapwort for gentle cleansing and moringa oil to leave your face supple.
Although there is an artificial fragrance, there are no sulfates or parabens and is free of harsh ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide
If you’ve never tried cleansing with a Clarisonic brush, you’ll be amazed at the results. This face wash is formulated to accompany the Radiance brush head to pamper stressed skin.
This gentle facial cleanser is pH-balanced, sulfate-free, and does not contain parabens.
When you wash with it, soothes and revives dull skin with peppermint leaf extract and licorice root.
What about an oil cleanser for dry skin? This one won’t leave your skin greasy as it rinses clean.
Oil cleansing thoroughly removes makeup and dirt without stripping moisture from the skin.
After you massage it into your face, it emulsifies in warm water, leaving no residue behind. You’ll end up with very soft skin.
It has a soft scent from natural geranium oil, too, and is free of harsh ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. We feel this is the best pregnancy-safe face wash for pregnant women out there.
Just because you have dry skin doesn’t mean you’re safe from blemishes. But most cleansers for acne-prone skin are targeted at oily complexions.
If that doesn’t describe you, you might be at a loss. They are too drying for dehydrated faces.
Try this foaming face wash instead to prevent dryness.
It contains pharmaceutical-grade tea tree oil to clear up pimples.
Then, it has natural emollients like aloe vera, tea tree oil and shea butter to seal in moisture without clogging pores.
The addition of green tea, açai berry, and pomegranate ensures that blemishes heal more quickly.
Here’s a face wash made especially for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Although this facial wash clears up acne, it’s free of harsh ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Of course, it is paraben-free, oil-free, and does not contain phthalates, artificial dyes, or fragrances, either.
This hydrating facial cleanser has been rigorously tested to protect your health and the health of your baby. Each ingredient goes through a special safety screening process, too.
Not only is it a face cleanser, but also an intensive mask. You can leave it on for up to 5 minutes before rinsing for that purpose.
The magic comes from lactic acid, which exfoliates gently without drying. There’s also lemon essential oil to neutralize bacteria. Lastly, cucumber and green tea speed up healing and rejuvenate stressed skin.
I wanted to love Aveeno’s cleanser, but I was disappointed with the ingredients. It contains 4 types of parabens, which are preservatives that can mess with the endocrine system.
I’m sorry that such a popular product has such an unfortunate ingredient when there are so many other advantages to it.
For example, it’s fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. It contains calming feverfew, similar to chamomile, to reduce redness if you have rosacea or acne-prone skin. This dermatologist-tested face wash does not lead to any kind of birth defects and hormonal changes.
Not only can it remove makeup, but it also has a pleasant lather.
As a rule, I use products that are paraben-free and oil-free. when I review items for use during pregnancy. But in this case, I thought you should be aware of the situation due to its popularity.
You can learn more about all types of parabens on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database.
Dove’s fragrance-free face wash is creamy and effective. Tests show that using it only 4 times visibly rehydrated the skin.
Now, it’s also described as hypoallergenic. Sadly, that doesn’t mean much as it’s only a label. The FDA has no regulations declaring what “hypoallergenic” actually means. It’s left to each manufacturer to decide how they use the term.
This dermatologist-tested face wash does not lead to any kind of birth defects and hormonal changes and is perfect to treat acne during pregnancy.
If you have sensitive skin, you’ll have to check the label for ingredients that might trigger a reaction. Or you can visit a site like the EWG (Environmental Working Group) to see what they think of the product.
Olay’s gentle face wash is oil-free, creamy, and soothing.
Regrettably, it contains a preservative called DMDM Hydantoin. It’s formaldehyde-releaser.
To be fair, it’s the last ingredient listed on the label, so there probably isn’t much of it. Plus, this component is listed as safe for normal levels of use.
I’m mentioning it as I want you to be well informed to better protect your health and the health of your baby.
Can washing your face restore moisture?
Yes, if you cleanse twice a day with a gentle product that doesn’t strip the natural oil.
Be sure to use lukewarm water, never hot. Washing with hot water can dry out the skin further.
It’s essential to remove impurities and prevent clogged pores. But you want to avoid disrupting the pH balance with harsh soap.
There are many moisturizing face washes to choose from, even if you’re trying to avoid paraben-free and oil-free products.
While you’re at it, steer clear of retinoids, too. Those could be harmful to a developing baby.
Fragrance-free face washes protect against allergic reactions. They are also more pleasant to use if you’re dealing with morning sickness.
Lastly, even though you may be urinating more frequently, you need to replace the water you’re losing. Drink an extra glass to rehydrate your complexion.
Refresh a dry complexion starting with a moisturizing face wash.
There are many pregnancy-safe cleansers that respect your health and protect your baby from harm.
If you found a product here today that has worked wonders for your skin, please come back and tell us about it in the comments below.
Sources:
1. https://www.thebump.com/a/dry-skin-during-pregnancy by C. Joseph Cadle, MD
2. https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/is-dry-skin-normal-during-pregnancy/
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