Last Updated on December 19, 2020
Has the surge in hormones made your face greasy?
Then, you need the best face wash for oily skin during pregnancy.
It will help reduce shine and clear up acne.
But what makes a face cleanser safe to use while you’re expecting?
And how do you know if it’s suitable for treating pregnancy acne?
Before we review the oily skin face washes below, let’s discuss the answers to those questions.
Contents
If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.
European pharmacies have a whole section devoted to this brand, LaRoche-Posay. Each of their products is made with prebiotic thermal water from hot springs in France.
The mineral-rich water soothes sensitive skin and imparts essential nutrients.
Next, this gel cleanser is infused with niacinamide to soothe redness caused by acne or rosacea. Plus, it has glycerin, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid to restore healthy moisture levels and balance essential oil production. This is perfect for oily skin during pregnancy.
It’s fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. It doesn’t have sulfates, oil, or parabens, either. These are safe products without any synthetic fragrances and artificial dyes and it goes a long way.
Avene’s foaming cleanser is also based on thermal spring water.
It removes excess oil immediately after only one wash. Yet, it doesn’t leave the skin dry or feeling tight.
It has lactic acid, a safe and gentle exfoliant.
Moreover, it’s non-comedogenic and paraben-free. We feel this is one of the best face washes out there for pregnant women and is perfect for sensitive skin.
There are pros and cons to CeraVe’s face cleanser for oily skin.
On the plus side, you can use it anywhere on your body. That’s convenient if you have body acne. If the pregnancy acne is out of control, you might need a cleanser like this one.
Also, it’s fortified with essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients ensure that the skin stays moisturized without creating excess oil and is perfect for sensitive skin.
On the downside, although it’s fragrance-free, it contains parabens. Parabens are preservatives that keep the product fresh but may disrupt the endocrine system.
For the ultimate mild face cleanser for oily skin, use micellar water.
Garnier foaming face wash has taken micellar water and turned it into a gel cleanser. It’s enjoyable to use as it foams nicely and has no fragrance.
What is micellar water? The micellar technology uses tiny molecules to bond with impurities so that they rinse away clean without drying out the skin. This will keep your skin from drying.
It fixes the problems that come from using hard water to bathe.
Furthermore, this cleanser is free of alcohol, sulfates, parabens, and oil. It’s kind to sensitive skin, yet effective enough to remove makeup without scrubbing.
If you have very sensitive skin, you might already recognize this brand.
For the ultimate mild face wash, you need Vanicream. It’s also known as Free & Clear.
Honestly, you need to read the label. It lacks more ingredients than it contains. if the pregnancy acne is out of control, you might need a cleanser like this one.
Not only does it avoid perfumes and masking fragrances, but it doesn’t have parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde releasers, dyes, or even Cocamidopropyl betaine. We feel this is one of the best face washes for pregnancy out there.
Instead, it removes oil and makeup with one of the mildest coconut-based cleansers available.
Which is the best drugstore face wash for oily skin?
I’d be tempted to say it’s Clean & Clear. After all, this brand makes a variety of versions for specific needs.
Happily, they are inexpensive and easy to find.
I selected the Essentials Foaming Cleanser it is best for sensitive skin. It’s oil-free to avoid clogging pores.
It lathers up well, but won’t leave a residue. This safe to use face wash for pregnancy is perfect for oil-free and sensitive skin.
Unfortunately, this hydrating face cleanser has a fragrance and sodium Laureth sulfate. If you’re trying to avoid those ingredients, it’s best to look elsewhere.
Amazon’s Solimo brand created a knockoff of Cetaphil’s face cleanser for normal to oily skin.
The advantage of selecting this over Cetaphil gentle face wash product is that this one is paraben-free.
Some users say that the fragrance is a bit strong. But, since it comes with a satisfaction guarantee, you can return it for a refund.
Belli makes products for pregnant and nursing mothers. They use a screening process to avoid ingredients that cause miscarriages, birth defects, and harm to the baby while breastfeeding.
With that recommendation, it’s worth taking a second look at their face wash.
This facial wash is made with lactic acid to exfoliate sensitive skin and keeps your skin oil-free.
This facial wash also has lemon essential oil, which is naturally antibacterial. It helps brighten skin tone.
Lastly, there are plenty of antioxidants from green tea and cucumber. These promote healing and keep the skin firm.
There’s one more thing to love about this face wash. You can use it as an anti-acne mask by leaving it on your face for five minutes before rinsing.
Neutrogena offers more than one type of face wash. Some, like the famous pink grapefruit version, contain salicylic acid to battle acne.
This one, however, won’t make your skin sting or burn your eyes. It’s non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic and is perfect for oil-free skin.
The nice part is that it doesn’t just remove excess oil and clean the skin, but it can also take off makeup.
It lathers away impurities with plenty of foam that has a light, clean fragrance.
The formula is also alcohol-free. The detergent it contains is one of the mildest: ammonium laureth sulfate.
What if your face is sensitive to just about everything? Then, try Neutrogena’s gentle face wash.
This gentle face wash or facial cleanser is paraben-free, oil-free, and no artificial fragrance.
The first two ingredients are water and glycerin. Glycerin is a humectant that draws moisture into the skin. These are not recommended to use without water.
You might think that adding extra moisture would make your skin oilier, but oddly enough, it doesn’t. Instead, it keeps your face comfortably hydrated so that your natural oil production stays under control.
You never need allergens like gluten, nuts, artificial dyes, or fragrances to clean your skin.
This cleanser avoids all of that, plus it is paraben-free, sulfates, formaldehyde, alcohol, or several other harsh ingredients.
It has a whipped cream texture that infuses your skin with antioxidants to keep it young. It’s pH-balanced to prevent irritation and dryness.
Helpful botanicals like licorice, white tea, and feverfew leave your complexion radiant. We feel this is one of the best face washes out there for pregnant women.
Get rid of acne and reduce shine naturally with apple cider vinegar.
Instead of pouring the vinegar straight from the bottle, you might prefer this face wash. It’s formulated with a pleasant fragrance.
It comes with a silicone brush to cleanse pores and gently exfoliate dead skin cells and suitable for daily use.
The foaming mixture is free of sulfates and parabens. Alternatively, it uses gentle plant-derived surfactants or plant extracts to remove excess oil and dirt.
The fact that it has aloe vera, tea tree oil, glycerin, and allantoin ensures that your skin looks and feels refreshed afterward.
Dermatologists sometimes recommend glycolic acid(an alpha hydroxy acid) as an alternative to salicylic acid. It isn’t as drying, yet it’s still effective to treat acne, scars, etc.
InstaNatural’s dermatologist-tested /OB-GYN tested face cleanser also fades discoloration like acne scars and melasma and is a must-have skin-care product to wash your face.
The formula is packed with natural ingredients like sugarcane, apple, and lemon. These provide essential vitamins and brighten the complexion and it does not lead to any birth defects or hormonal changes.
Meanwhile, arginine draws out impurities from the pores while Centella promotes the healing of blemishes.
Happily, although there is a fragrance, it’s natural, not synthetic. And there are no parabens, either and it contains aloe vera and tea tree oil.
Not to be contradictory, but you might try fighting oil with oil. Some beauty experts advise oil cleansing for oily complexions.
In that case, Vera Botanic’s cleanser is a great place to start. There are only four ingredients: caprylic triglyceride (similar to fractionated coconut oil), olive oil, geranium oil, and PEG-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate. (The latter is an emulsifier that makes it possible to rinse the oil off your skin without leaving a residue.) It can also help you erase unwanted dark spots.
It easily dissolves makeup and sunscreen so that you don’t need to scrub. Then, it leaves the skin soft and smooth.
It’s suitable for all skin types as it won’t leave the face dry or prone to breakouts.
What about witch hazel for acne during pregnancy?
That’s actually a good suggestion as witch hazel is an ideal astringent. It cleanses and tightens pores without causing dryness.
Extreme dryness will simply cause your face to overproduce oil. But a little hydration will keep it happy.
This face cleanser keeps the complexion clear with a blend of witch hazel and contain salicylic acid. It cleans out the pores to get rid of the excess oil before the blemishes form and is perfect for oily skin. This is suitable for all skin types.
Take note that this is not the mildest face cleanser you could choose. It has menthol, which feels cooling, but may cause your skin to sting. It also has an artificial fragrance and sulfates and also contains aloe vera.
If your doctor approves of it, salicylic acid will keep an oily complexion under control.
This face wash formula contains 2% salicylic acid, the maximum over-the-counter concentration. It will leave your skin squeaky-clean and is perfect for oily skin.
The cruelty-free formula is free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. The light fragrance comes from natural ingredients like peppermint and orange peel oil.
After your first trimester, if the pregnancy acne is out of control, you might need a cleanser like this one.
Neutrogena’s formula has Micro-Clear technology that sends salicylic acid deep into pores. That’s where it breaks up the clogs the cause blemishes.
Using this face wash at least once a day will diminish blackheads and prevent pimples.
It’s free of oil, parabens, and sulfates. Regrettably, it does contain artificial dyes. We feel this is the best pregnancy face wash out there.
Here’s another acne-fighting face wash from a brand sold in pharmacies. What’s great about it is that it has only 0.5% salicylic acid. That’s a low concentration that’s typically safe for sensitive skin and oily skin. It can also help you erase unwanted dark spots.
It’s just potent enough to cleanse pores and reduce oil production. But it won’t make the skin feeling tight after washing and is perfect for acne treatment.
It even has zinc and copper to exfoliate and purify the skin and is the best pregnancy-safe face wash available out there and are non-comedogenic.
The cleanser has been tested against common allergies. It’s free of parabens, sulfates, dyes, and alcohol.
If you’re wondering which is the best face care for acne during pregnancy, you’re not alone.
Most pregnant women are concerned about the impact of using specific products.
My advice is to speak to your OB/GYN about your situation.
In the meantime, it’s smart to avoid any products with retinoids.
On the other hand, some sources suggest skipping salicylic acid, while others recommend it.
Salicylic acid is an over-the-counter acne fighting medication. It opens up clogged pores and exfoliates dead skin.
When it’s in a face wash, it only stays on the skin for a short time before it’s rinsed. It’s unlikely that it would be harmful to a developing baby as it doesn’t have a chance to absorb into the skin.
But when in doubt, avoid salicylic acid during the first trimester.
Benzoyl peroxide is another acne medication that kills bacteria. Although Benzoyl peroxide is effective against blemishes, there are no studies showing that Benzoyl peroxide safe to use during pregnancy. I would stay away from Benzoyl peroxide for now.
Don’t worry, you still have plenty of alternatives to care for oily skin while you’re pregnant.
For one, choose non-comedogenic cleansers. Generally, these are oil-free.
Even a mild face wash can help reduce oiliness. Choose one that’s fragrance-free if you have sensitive skin. If you can avoid parabens and other harsh ingredients, that’s even better.
You’ll see several gentle and safe face washes in the reviews below.
You may like them enough to continue using them during nursing and in the years to come.
On the bright side, after you give birth, your skin will likely return to normal.
Also Read:
If your pregnancy glow comes from extra oily skin, you might need a better face wash. To keep acne at bay, it’s crucial to cleanse morning and night.
I hope that you discovered your new favorite face cleanser in the reviews above. If so, please leave us a comment below.
We wish you and your baby the best of health.
Sources:
1. https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-life/beauty/pregnancy-skin-care-tactics/ by Laura Kenney and Alessandra Foresto,
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/pregnancy-acne/faq-20058045 by Lawrence E. Gibson,
3. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=pregnancy-and-skin-changes-134-7
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