Another bump shot… don’t worry, there’s only 7 weeks left of them. Today I thought we’d talk about something I’m asked about a lot when I’m pregnant. Pregnancy safe beauty products. It was honestly a topic I was not prepared for when I found out I was pregnant with Crosby. I was ready to give up raw fish, alcohol, etc… but beauty? It never crossed my mind. Luckily I’ve found several products that I love and are safe for pregnancy.

For the face:

First of all, ditch anything with retinol or salicylic acid. Definitely not recommended by doctors when you’re expecting. Aside from that there’s a lot of varying opinions on what else is out of harms way.

Here are the products I use to cleanse my face daily

Elemis Cleansing Balm

Colleen Rothschild Gel Cleanser 

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizer 

Elemis Superfood Facial Oil

Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Serum 

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask

*I don’t currently use them but I know Beauty Counter’s products are all pregnancy safe.

Self Tanning:

Ok, let’s talk tan. Being pregnant in the winter is a huge drag. Sure you’re not sweating to death like you would be if you were pregnant in the summer but your skin gets ghostly. I didn’t use self-tanner until the very end with Crosby because I wasn’t sure which were safe to use. This time I’ve found a few and when I use them I feel like a new woman.

Coola Sunless Tanning Anti-Aging Face Serum

NKD Skin Gradual Glow Daily Tan Moisturizer 

Both are organic and made of mostly natural ingredients. Which is big for a self tanner.

Body:

Dr. Bronner’s Body Wash

EOS Shave Cream for Sensitive Skin

Kopari Coconut Crush Scrub

Misc:

I switched to natural deodorants after Crosby was born and never looked back. I’ve been using this one from Kopari for the last several months and love it so much. I honestly think it works just as good as “normal” deodorants without anything toxic like aluminum. Honestly even if you’re not pregnant you should be using an aluminum free deodorant.

Stretch mark prevention: I’ve been oiling myself up like a Thanksgiving turkey since I was like 11 weeks pregnant with no visible bump. Bio Oil is my favorite belly oil. I also use it on my thighs, butt and chest just to be safe. Wait a few mintues after you apply before getting dressed.

If you’re pregnant and searching for safe products, I hope this helps. Always run products by your doctor if you’re concerned.

Thanks for reading – happy Friday! XO

Now that it’s warming up, I thought it would be a good time for a tanning refresher. I posted this last year before anyone read my blog, and I’ve updated it with new knowledge.

I’m a self-proclaimed self-tanning guru.  I’ve been doing it for years and while I haven’t always had a natural streak free tan, I’ve picked up a few tricks along the way.  I will say that the best way to sunless tan is to get an airbrush tan by a professional… but that’s not always an option.  So here are some tips for the next time you find yourself in need of a last minute glow to compliment your mini-dress or bikini.

Tan towelettes, in my opinion, are the easiest to do on your own.  The towel is a wipe-on cloth that gives you an even streak-free tan without a mess.

1 .My absolute favorite tan towel is by Kate Somerville, $48 for 8 wipes seems a little crazy, but when you think about it a good airbrush tan is about that price and you should be able to get at least 4 tans out of these.

2. Tan Towel makes a more affordable version that come in two different sizes.  I’ve found that although the full body size is bigger, it still wears out before you can tan your whole body, so I recommend getting the half size and using two for better coverage.

3. Loreal also does a great towelette that I use regularly. You can find these in the lotion section at most drug stores or Targets.

Other tips:

-Always exfoliate and moisturize really well an hour or two before you self tan.

-Use wet ones or makeup remover wipes on the palms of your hands and in between your fingers after you tan.  That way your hands will still match your body but won’t be stained.

Happy tanning!