Picking out pregnancy-safe skincare can seem complicated. I have an entire page on pregnancy beauty dedicated to which skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy, breastfeeding, or IVF.
Today, we discuss Vitamin C- an antioxidant that increases collagen production, tackles melasma (pregnancy-induced hyperpigmentation), helps combat free radicals, and helps with acne scars.
And yes, it is pregnancy-safe.
For more information on using vitamin C safely during pregnancy, read:
Is Vitamin-C Serum Safe During Pregnancy?
- Topical vitamin C formulations have had many issues, such as being highly unstable and thus quickly inactivated, causing skin irritations, and being costly. Over time, these issues have been fixed. Vitamin C preparations are now stabilized, come in various formulations and combinations, e.g., with moisturizers and sunscreen, and are sold at many price points.
- Always keep your vitamin C serum in a cool, dark place and away from direct heat or sunlight. If you live in a hot place, storing it in the refrigerator is better than keeping it on the counter.
- Always close the container tightly to limit exposure.
- If the serum changes color, smells off, texture changes, or separates into different components, it is a sign of the vitamin C degrading, and you are better off discarding it.
- Keep an eye out for the ‘best by’ or ‘use within X months of opening’ that will be mentioned on the label. Once opened, the serum will typically last 3-6 months, depending on the product. If you do not intend to use it regularly (which you should to get the maximum benefit from vitamin C), buy a smaller bottle.
As always, all my pregnancy recommendations (at the time of writing) are free of:
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Triclosan
- Benzophenone 3 (also known as oxybenzone)
(All the above four are endocrine disruptors. They interfere with the normal functioning of the endocrine system and the reproductive and other biological processes regulated by it.) - Added fragrance or perfume
(a rich source of no.2 and a skin irritant, especially in pregnancy, when, due to hormonal changes, skin can become more sensitive) - Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers
These have been linked to cancer and are also known skin irritants.
*Always consult your treating doctor before starting any beauty regimen. They are the best people to guide you based on your needs and medical history.
You can build your own list of pregnancy-safe vitamin C serums. To know which ingredients should be eliminated during such life events, you can go through the following posts:
Part I: Pregnancy Safe Skincare- Avoid These Ingredients.
Part II: Pregnancy Safe Skincare- Avoid These Ingredients.
Reminder: Companies change their formulas frequently, and the ingredient list may vary by country. Hence, always check the ingredient list before deciding if it is a pregnancy-safe vitamin C serum or not.
Here is a list of the best vitamin C serums safe for pregnancy, which will help you keep your glow when you are expecting.
CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
- Vitamin C as 10% ascorbic acid
- With ceramides & hyaluronic acid
- Labeled non-comedogenic
- For all skin types, including sensitive skin
- Vitamin C as 15% ascorbic acid
- Has vitamin E and ferulic acid
- With hyaluronic acid and peptide
- Free of gluten, sulphate, and cruelty-free
- For all skin types
- Vitamin C as sodium ascorbyl phosphate
- With hyaluronic acid to hydrate and pearl for glow
- Cruelty-free, vegan
- For all skin types
Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster
- Vitamin C as 15% ascorbic acid
- With vitamin E and ferulic acid, both are antioxidants and increase the stability of vitamin c
- Cruelty-free
- For all skin types, including breakout-prone skin
Paula’s Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione serum
- Two forms of Vitamin C- Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Ascorbyl Glucoside
- With glutathione, an antioxidant and a skin brightener
- Labeled non-comedogenic
- Cruelty-free
- For all skin types
Sunday Riley CEO 15% Vitamin C Serum
- Vitamin C as Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
- With phytosterols (reduces redness), saccharides (reduces pores), glycolic acid (refines skin texture)
- Cruelty-free, plastic-neutral
- For all skin types
The Inkey List Vitamin C Serum
- Vitamin C as 15% ascorbyl glucoside
- With plant-derived peptide
- Vegan, gluten and cruelty-free
- For all skin types
The Ordinary AG 12% Vitamin C Serum
- Vitamin C as 12% ascorbyl glucoside
- Water-based serum
- Free of alcohol, silicon, and gluten. Vegan & cruelty-free
- For all skin types
The Ordinary AT 20% in vitamin F
- Vitamin C as ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate
- Formulated in oil to hydrate and brighten. With essential fatty acids
- Vegan, free of gluten, alcohol, and silicon. Cruelty-free
- For dry skin
- Vitamin C as sodium ascorbyl phosphate
- With vitamin E, an antioxidant that stabilizes vitamin C and extends its shelf life
- Cruelty-free
- For all skin types
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This post is in collaboration with Amazon, but all the product choices and opinions are my own.
