Lindsey Garcia – Co-Founder of Skin at Peace
Pregnancy should be a time of joy, excitement, and preparation for a new baby. Unfortunately, new mothers are met with many concerns about their diet, environment, and health. The last thing new moms should worry about is toxic ingredients in their personal care products that could affect their babies.
The standard for personal care products in the United States is alarming, and no regulations exist. Many other countries have set laws to ensure chemicals linked to cancer and reproductive harm are banned from public consumption. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration does not require any safety testing of ingredients in personal care products before they’re used. Companies can get away with using any ingredients they want and usually use the least expensive option for mass production.
A closer look at pregnancy and postpartum skincare-
What is safe? What is toxic?
Skin is the largest organ in the body and is comprised of many layers. Absorption of topical products can reach different layers depending on their chemistry and the skin's current health. Due to hormonal fluctuation during pregnancy, hair, skin, and nails often change. Melasma (hyper-pigmentation or dark spots) and hormonal acne are common during and after pregnancy. Using retinoids to solve these issues may be tempting, but studies have proven they are unsafe for the baby. Therefore, here at Skin at Peace, we use a natural retinol alternative called Bakuchiol. It is a plant and has been shown to have the same effect on the skin as synthetic retinol. We combine this ingredient with rosehip seed oil and niacinamide (vitamin B3) in the serum and moisturizer, Night, which is just as effective in clearing and calming skin but with no side effects.
TOXIC INGREDIENTS during pregnancy and breastfeeding:
Retinoids
Salicylic acid
Hydroquinone
Chemical sunscreens
Topical antibiotics
Benzoyl peroxide
Formaldehyde
Phthalates
Phenols & Parabens
Avoid retinol during pregnancy-
Fetal retinoid syndrome
Fetal retinoid syndrome is a proven cause of specific congenital disabilities (congenital malformations) that can result from a mother taking oral retinoids during pregnancy. Studies are still being conducted on how many malformations result from using topical retinoids, but it has been confirmed there is a chance of a connection.
Avoid hydroquinone during pregnancy-
Hyper-pigmentation toxic ingredients and alternatives
Another synthetic skincare chemical to avoid is hydroquinone. This ingredient is prescribed for the treatment of hyperpigmentation or skin lightening. Research has shown that the skin absorbs 35% and 45% of hydroquinone in these prescribed topical products. Cited from the article, “Hydroquinone” by Schwartz C, Jan A, Zito PM.
Skin at Peace recommends using a stable form of vitamin C in skincare products. L-ascorbic acid and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate are safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding and an excellent alternative for lightening hyper-pigmentation and brightening skin tone. They are stable forms of vitamin C and antioxidants that help strengthen and protect the skin from future oxidative stress. You can find these ingredients in our serum and moisturizer, Day.
Avoid phthalates during pregnancy-
Bad for thyroid and sex hormones
Phthalates are chemicals that make plastic soft and durable or dissolve materials and are in many personal care products. Prenatal exposure to phthalates can disrupt levels of thyroid and sex hormones, which can lead to preterm birth, preeclampsia, glucose disorders for the mother, and birth abnormalities. A study of 6,000 pregnant women in the United States found that women with higher concentrations of phthalates in their urine were more likely to deliver their babies preterm, three or more weeks before their due date. “Having a preterm birth can be important to identify risk factors that could prevent it,” said Kelly Ferguson, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
Avoid formaldehyde during pregnancy-
Linked to cancer and pregnancy loss
A hazardous ingredient to avoid during and after pregnancy is formaldehyde. This toxic ingredient is commonly used in beauty products as a preservative and is carcinogenic. It has also been linked to pregnancy loss. When inhaled, it is a toxic gas that can harm humans. It is essential to know that formaldehyde releasers also go by other names, so always check the labels and look up any ingredients you have yet to hear of.
Formaldehyde releasers:
5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane
bronopol, also called 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
Diazolidinyl urea
DMDM hydantoin
hydroxymethyl glycinate
imidazolidinyl urea
quaternium
Avoid parabens and phenols during pregnancy-
Parabens and phenols are banned in Europe
Other preservatives to be aware of are parabens and phenols. “Exposure to phenol may irritate the skin, eyes, nose, throat, and nervous system.” cited from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website (cdc.gov). Although sources within the US determine them safe for skincare in small amounts, they are prohibited in Europe. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency of Denmark (echa.europa.eu) for a complete list of banned ingredients. A high level of developmental and reproductive toxicity for phenols results in small birth weight and viability and increased neurological symptoms. This is precisely why Skin at Peace offers a monthly subscription program, so no harmful preservatives or chemicals are needed.
Avoid Chemical Sunscreens during pregnancy-
Mineral-based are safe
Sunscreen is essential to prevent skin cancer and premature aging, but it is crucial to choose a mineral-based formula. The FDA states two sunscreen ingredients are “generally recognized as safe and effective.” These ingredients are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, used in Day, from Skin at Peace. Mineral-based or physical sunscreens sit on top of the skin, reflecting UV rays like a barrier. In contrast, chemical sunscreens absorb the rays and break them down within the body, eliminating toxins similarly. Clinical trials have proven these chemicals were detectable in the bloodstream for weeks after application.
Toxic chemical sunscreen ingredients are:
oxybenzone
avobenzone
octisalate
octocrylene
homosalate
octinoxate
Conclusion about safe ingredients during pregnancy-
Skin at Peace is safe
Our purpose and promise at Skin at Peace is to provide fresh, safe, trustworthy ingredients that promote skin health and vitality. Although disturbing, it is essential to offer this cautionary information to everyone. A medical doctor with cosmetic lab experience formulates all our products. Please get in touch with the Skin at Peace team with any questions or additional information.
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Work Cited
professional medical sources – NOT sourced by other blogs:
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.“Skin Conditions During Pregnancy”
- California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment- https://oehha.ca.gov/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- Phthalates Factsheet- https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/Phthalates_FactSheet.html
- Environ Res. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 Nov 1.Published in final edited form as:Environ Res. 2016 Nov; 151: 30–37.Published online 2016 Jul 21. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.002
- Hydroquinone, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK539693/?report=reader#_NBK539693_pubdet_ -Schwartz C, Jan A, Zito PM.
- Kim K, Shin HM, Busgang SA, Barr DB, Panuwet P, Schmidt RJ, Hertz-Picciotto I, Bennett DH. Temporal Trends of Phenol, Paraben, and Triclocarban Exposure in California Pregnant Women during 2007-2014. Environ Sci Technol. 2021 Aug 17;55(16):11155-11165. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01564. Epub 2021 Aug 4. PMID: 34347462; PMCID: PMC8405127.
- Makino ET, Jiang LI, Stephens TJ, Mikati M, Mehta RC. Pigmentation control in pregnancy-induced melasma: Clinical assessment of a non-hydroquinone, non-retinol pigment-correcting serum. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2022 Jun 16. doi: 10.1111/jocd.15165. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35708506.
- Mother to Baby- Topical Acne Treatments- www.mothertobaby.org
- National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences- News release- Preterm Birth More Likely With Exposure to Phthalates. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsroom/releases/2022/july11/index.cfm