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.