Clean Beauty For Pregnancy
Being pregnant has been a bit of a 180 on the way I’ve started thinking about things I used to take for granted. From the foods I put in my body (so many favorites are now on hold for the next 5 1/2 months) to the chemicals we use in the house, to the products I put on my body. Listening to this episode of the GOOP Podcast, on how chemicals can disrupt our hormones and other scary side effects, also put things in perspective - and fast.
That being said, I’ve actually always been pretty good about these things. I would say my eating is naturally 85% organic, 15% Del Taco. We use only a few heavy chemical cleaning products and rarely, and 90% of what we use to clean are either store-bought natural products, or just plan vinegar and water (I have several glass amber spray bottles with 1/3 vinegar 2/3 water stored in each room around the home for quick and easy nontoxic clean ups). And although I will probably never hold back from trying a new beauty product (in a way, it is part of my job, after all), my go-to everyday products tend to be from brands that are clean and nontoxic.
However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement - especially now that my own self-care encompasses more than just myself!
The minute I found out I was pregnant, I started cutting out certain things from my life - from heavily chemical’ed (not a word but it is now) sunscreens that included ingredients (such as oxybenzone, homosalate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, octocrylene or para-aminobenzoic acid), to deodorants with aluminum (amongst other harmful ingredients), to skincare ingredients you just shouldn’t use during pregnancy (such as retinol, and even salicylic acid to be safe). But cutting out can only do so much. With all the other things I needed to focus on to prepare for with the baby, I wanted beauty to be easy and stress-free.
At around 15 weeks, I reached out to Biossance, which, if you follow me on Instagram, read this blog, or have ever even talked to me in person about beauty, you will know is my number one favorite beauty brand of all time. Not only are they a clean beauty brand, but their products seriously changed my skin - and my health. Seriously, I can’t say enough good things about them.
If there is one brand I can trust throughout my pregnancy, Biossance is the brand. Which is why I basically forced them into working with me throughout my pregnancy! Using Biossance products as my base, I am cutting out over 2,000 toxic ingredients without blinking an eye - that’s one less thing to stress about as I figure out this pregnancy thing!
But the other thing that’s great about it, is that I’m not compromising on product quality or effectiveness either. I don’t feel like I have to sacrifice my self-care or vanity in any way, which is important to me, as I really believe that maintaining confidence is going to be key to this entire pregnancy journey. But more on that later… in the meantime, here’s a quick breakdown of how I’m using the products:
MORNING:
Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil
NIGHT:
Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil
Squalane Phyto-Retinol Serum (not actual retinol, but a great nontoxic alternative to it that is less harsh)
I also carry the Squalane +Micronutrient Fine Mist in my purse, which is essential for desert living or dry climates, and use the Squalane + Glycolic Renewal Facial 1-2 times a week as a great hydrating, gentle exfoliating mask.
And I’ll get into the 100% Squalane Oil in a later post, as there are literally a billion ways to use this product and it definitely deserves it’s own focus!
But in the meantime, if you want to try any of these products out for yourself, I asked Biossance for a personalized code just for you guys, because this really is a brand I believe you need to try for yourself to understand how crazy good it is. Use the code: THOUGHTFULMISFIT15 for 15% off your order - and let me know how you like it.
One More Quick Tip: The hormonal changes that come with pregnancy can result in a lot of changes to skin, for sure, but also for our hair. Hair loss can be particularly prevalent, so you want to prevent it while strengthening your existing hair with the help of products like Actiiv Hair Treatment. Whatever you use, always check the label to ensure that you’re going with natural options, as you definitely don’t want to be overloading a sensitive scalp with too many chemicals.
xx,
Tienlyn
