Pregnant female applying cream on stretch mark

Pregnant women: cosmetic ingredients to avoid to protect baby's health

Pregnancy is a time of many changes and adaptations for a woman's body. Among these adaptations, we must be vigilant about the cosmetics we use, as some can have harmful effects on the unborn baby. In this article, we'll take a look at the most common ingredients to be avoided in beauty care products during pregnancy.

Retinoids!

Retinol and retinal are forms of vitamin A that are teratogenic, meaning they can cause birth defects.

Exfoliating acids!

Glycolic acid, lactic acid and salicylic acid should be avoided!

Hydroquinone and pregnancy

Hydroquinone, commonly used for pigmentation problems, is not recommended during pregnancy due to limited data and potential risks.

Essential oils: caution during pregnancy

Despite their health and beauty benefits, certain essential oils are not recommended during pregnancy, due to the risks they may pose to the baby. Indeed, essential oils have a powerful action on the body and can cross the placental barrier, reaching the fetus directly.

Which essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy? All

  • Essential oils of star anise, tropical basil, cinnamon, clove, fennel, sassafras, sage, peppermint and thyme are potentially neurotoxic, abortifacient or irritating to the fetus.
  • Hormone-mimetic essential oils such as rosewood, clary sage or niaouli, which can have an impact on fetal hormones.

Endocrine disruptors: a danger to fetal health

Endocrine disruptors are chemical substances capable of altering the functioning of the hormonal system. The consequences of this exposure can be varied, affecting growth, neurological development, reproduction and immunity. Some studies have shown that in utero exposure to endocrine disruptors can have long-term consequences on a child's health..

Where can I find them?

These substances can be found in many everyday products, including food packaging and plastics, but also in cosmetics such as moisturizers, shower gels, shampoos and make-up. Endocrine disruptors in cosmetics include parabens, phthalates and certain forms of triclosan.

How to avoid them?

To limit exposure to endocrine disruptors during pregnancy, we recommend choosing cosmetics with the most natural composition possible, free from parabens, phthalates and triclosan. You should also read labels carefully, giving preference to ecological and organic labels.

The INCI Beauty list of endocrine disruptors:

4,4′-ISOPROPYLIDENEDIPHENOL/EPICHLOROHYDRIN COPOLYMER
4-METHYLBENZYLIDENE CAMPHOR
ACETYL CEDRENE
ACETYL HEXAMETHYL TETRALIN
ACETYLCEDRENE
ALUMINUM BROMOHYDRATE
ALUMINUM CHLORIDE
ALUMINUM CHLOROHYDRATE
ALUMINUM CHLOROHYDREX
ALUMINUM CHLOROHYDREX PEG
ALUMINUM CHLOROHYDREX PG
ALUMINUM CITRATE
ALUMINUM DICHLOROHYDRATE
ALUMINUM DICHLOROHYDREX PG
ALUMINUM SESQUICHLOROHYDRATE
ALUMINUM SESQUICHLOROHYDREX PG
ALUMINUM SULFATE
ALUMINUM ZIRCONIUM OCTACHLOROHYDRATE
ALUMINUM ZIRCONIUM OCTACHLOROHYDREX GLY
ALUMINUM ZIRCONIUM PENTACHLOROHYDRATE
ALUMINUM ZIRCONIUM PENTACHLOROHYDREX GLY
ALUMINUM ZIRCONIUM TETRACHLOROHYDRATE
ALUMINUM ZIRCONIUM TETRACHLOROHYDREX GLY
ALUMINUM ZIRCONIUM TRICHLOROHYDRATE
ALUMINUM ZIRCONIUM TRICHLOROHYDREX GLY
AMMONIUM ALUM
BEHENTRIMONIUM DIMETHICONE PEG-8 PHTHALATE
BENZOPHENONE
BENZOPHENONE-1
BENZOPHENONE-2
BENZOPHENONE-3
BENZOPHENONE-4
BENZOPHENONE-5
BENZOTRIAZOLE
BHA
BHT
BUTYLPARABEN
BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL
CALCIUM PARABEN
CETRIMONIUM DIMETHICONE PEG-7 PHTHALATE
CETYL TRIETHYLMONIUM DIMETHICONE PEG-8 PHTHALATE
CHOLECALCIFEROL
CLIMBAZOLE
CYCLOMETHICONE
CYCLOPENTASILOXANE
CYCLOPENTASILOXANE (AND) DIMETHICONE
CYCLOTETRASILOXANE
DIBUTYL PHTHALATE
DICHLOROMETHANE
DIETHYLHEXYL 2,6-NAPHTHALATE
DIETHYLHEXYL TEREPHTHALATE
DIGLYCOL/ISOPHTHALATES/SIP COPOLYMER
DIHYDROGENATED TALLOW PHTHALATE
DIMETHICONE PEG-7 PHTHALATE
DIMETHICONE PEG-8 PHTHALATE
DIMETHYL 2,6-NAPHTHALATE
DIMETHYL PHTHALATE
ETHYLENE/SODIUM SULFOISOPHTHALATE/TEREPHTHALATE COPOLYMER
ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE
ETHYLPARABEN
FORMIC ACID
GENISTEIN
HEXAMETHYLINDANOPYRAN
HEXAMIDINE DIPARABEN
HEXAMIDINE PARABEN
HOMOSALATE
HYDROXYPROPYL METHYLCELLULOSE PHTHALATE
ISOAMYL P-METHOXYCINNAMATE
ISOBUTYLPARABEN
ISODECYLPARABEN
ISOPROPYLPARABEN
KOJIC ACID
MEK
METHYLPARABEN
OCTOCRYLENE
OXIRANE
PHENOXYETHYLPARABEN
PHENYLPARABEN
POLYETHYLENE NAPHTHALATE
POLYETHYLENE/POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE LAMINATED POWDER (JPN)
POLYETHYLENE/POLYPENTAERYTHRITYL TEREPHTHALATE LAMINATED POWDER (JPN)
POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE/POLYPENTAERYTHRITYL TEREPHTHALATE/STEARATE/PALMITATE LAMINATED POWDER (JPN)
POLYPENTAERYTHRITYL TEREPHTHALATE
POTASSIUM BIPHTHALATE
POTASSIUM BUTYLPARABEN
POTASSIUM ETHYLPARABEN
POTASSIUM METHYLPARABEN
POTASSIUM PARABEN
POTASSIUM PROPYLPARABEN
PROPYLPARABEN
RESORCINOL
SODIUM ALUM
SODIUM ALUMINUM CHLOROHYDROXY LACTATE
SODIUM BUTYLPARABEN
SODIUM ETHYLPARABEN
SODIUM ISOBUTYLPARABEN
SODIUM ISOPROPYLPARABEN
SODIUM PARABEN
SODIUM PROPYLPARABEN
SOY PROTEIN PHTHALATE
STEARALKONIUM DIMETHICONE PEG-8 PHTHALATE
SUCROSE BENZOATE/SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE/BUTYL BENZYL PHTHALATE COPOLYMER
SUCROSE BENZOATE/SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE/BUTYL BENZYL PHTHALATE/METHYL METHACRYLATE COPOLYMER
TOLUENE
TRIBUTYL CITRATE
TRICLOCARBAN
TRICLOSAN
TRIETHYLHEXYL TRIMELLITATE
TRIMETHYLBENZOYL DIPHENYLPHOSPHINE OXIDE
TRIPHENYL PHOSPHATE
UNDECYLENOYL PEG-5 PARABEN
ZINC DIMETHICONE PEG-25 PHTHALATE

Sun filters: beware of old chemical filters

It's important to protect your skin from the sun during pregnancy, as it becomes more sensitive to UV rays. However, some sunscreens contain chemical ingredients that can be harmful to the fetus by passing through the placental barrier. These include oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene.

Which sunscreens to choose?

To protect baby's health, it's best to opt for mineral sunscreens composed of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.. These natural filters are safe for the fetus and also offer effective protection against UVA and UVB rays.

The new organic sunscreens are also very safe!

The importance of medical consultation

It is important to consult a doctor, dermatologist or gynecologist for specific product recommendations and advice during pregnancy, as each case is unique.

In short, pregnancy requires special attention to skin care. With the right information and the advice of your doctor, you can take care of your skin while protecting your baby.