Mama You've Got This...

Categories A and B mean the ingredient has not shown any

evidence of posing a risk to mamas. Category C means the risk

is not ruled out. Categories D and X mean there is a positive

evidence of risk and the drug is not advised during pregnancy.

These common skincare ingredients fall under categories C, D

and X so should be avoided:

•

Salicylic Acid:

Watch out for this ingredient in acne products

as well as some exfoliating products.

•

Benzoyl Peroxide:

Another common acne fighting ingredient.

Find spot treatments that contain sulphur instead.

•

Retin-A, retinol and retinyl palmitate:

A very common

anti-ageing ingredient - vitamin A. Too much vitamin A in your

diet during pregnancy can cause birth defects, so why take a

chance and use it on your skin?

•

Hydroquinone:

Found in skin lightening products.

•

Aluminum chloride hexahydrate:

Found in common

deodorants and antiperspirants. Pregnancy is the time

to switch to a natural alternative, rather than your

regular deodorant.

While the below ingredients do not have a pregnancy

classification, they should still be avoided:

•

Parabens:

Have much controversy surrounding them and

whilst no clear link has been made between birth defects

and this class of preservatives, it’s still wise to try and

avoid it during your pregnancy. Parabens are thought

to mimic oestrogen and disrupt hormones, a very scary

thought during pregnancy.

•

Triclosan:

Is another ingredient that is thought to disrupt

hormones in the body. It’s commonly found in soap,

so making the switch to more natural soaps during

pregnancy is a good thing. A study showed that both

parabens and triclosan could disrupt the growth of boys

during fetal development and the first years of their live