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.
During pregnancy, your skin undergoes changes as hormone levels fluctuate. Some may experience it as rosy, flushed cheeks and glowing skin, while others may experience changes that are undesirable, like increased skin sensitivity, oily skin, acne, and pigmentation marks.
Due to these changes, your usual products, such as face creams and face washes, may be too harsh or not the best match.
More importantly, certain common ingredients found in face wash and other skin care products may be potentially harmful to your developing baby.
Face washes have a short contact time with the skin, unlike leave-on products, so the concern of absorption and risk to the fetus is less. However, it is always better to seek pregnancy-safe face wash as a part of your skincare regimen.
Fortunately, there are many options available that are not only gentle but also pregnancy-safe.
A basic tip when selecting a face wash is to opt for creamy cleansers if you have dry skin, or foaming cleansers if you have oily or acne-prone skin.
If you have acne, I have a separate post about the best face washes for pregnancy with acne that I will link here:
Pregnancy Safe Salicylic Acid Face Wash
Here is a list of the best face washes for pregnancy that I have curated for you.
As always, all my pregnancy recommendations (at the time of writing) are free of:
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Triclosan
- Benzophenone 3 (also known as oxybenzone)
All of 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
It is a rich source of phthalates and a skin irritant, especially during pregnancy, when skin can become more sensitive due to hormonal changes. - Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers
These have been linked to cancer and are also known skin irritants.
*Always consult your treating doctor before starting any regimen. They are the best people to guide you based on your needs and medical history.
*Reminder: Companies change their formulas frequently, and the ingredient list may also vary by country. Hence, always check the ingredient list before using any product.
Normal to dry skin
La Roche Posay Toleraine Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser
- Nonfoaming creamy texture
- Sensitive skin suitable
- Sulfate free
- With ceramide & niacinamide
Cetaphil Gentle Foaming Cleanser
- Instant foaming formula
- Sensitive skin suitable
- Non comedogenic
- With glycerine, Vitamin E, and panthenol (Vitamin B5)
- Gentle foaming formula
- Sensitive skin suitable
- Non comedogenic
- With glycerin, vitamins B3 (niacinamide) & B5 (pantothenic acid)
CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser
- Non foaming creamy cleanser
- Non comedogenic
- With ceramides, hyaluronic acid, gylcerin
Acure Radically Rejuvenating Cleaning Cream
- Cream to foam formula
- With olive oil, cocoa butter, and mint.
Normal to oily or combination skin
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
- Gel to foam formula
- Non comedogenic
- With niacinamide, glycerin, and panthenol.
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
- Foaming gel cleanser
- Non comedogenic
- With ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide
La Roche Purifying Facial Cleanser
- Gel to foam formula
- Sensitive skin suitable
- With ceramide & niacinamide
Paula’s Choice Resist Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser
- Cream to foam formula
- Non comedogenic
- With hyaluronic acid, ceramide, and aloe
Origins Checks & Balances Frothy Face Wash
- For combination skin
- Gel to foam formula
Dry skin
Clinique All About Clean Foaming Facial Soap
- Also suitable for very dry to dry combination skin
- Cream to foam formula
- With hyaluronic acid & glycerine
Clinique All About Clean Micellar Milk
- Also suitable for very dry to dry combination skin
- Non comedogenic
- No water required cleansing milk- wipe off or rinse off
The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser
- Balm to oil-like formula
- Removes makeup
- Silicon and oil-free
Attitude Foaming Facial Cleanser
- Micellar foaming formula
- 96% natural ingredients
- Vegan
Acure Seriously Soothing Cleaning Cream
- Creamy formula
- Sensitive skin suitable
- With peony, camomile, sunflower
Oily skin
Paula’s Choice Skin Balancing Oil-Reducing Cleanser
- Cream to foam formula
- Also suitable for breakout-prone skin
The Ordinary Glucoside Foaming Cleanser
- Gel to foam formula
- For textural irregularities and skin barrier repair
- Foaming formula
- Also suitable for blemish-prone skin
- With tea tree oil, aloe, and shea.
Codex Labs Shaant Balancing Foaming Face Cleanser
- Foaming formula
- Non comedogenic
- With glycolipids and holy basil
All skin types
Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser
- Cream to foam formula
- Sensitive skin suitable
- Non comedogenic
- Free of gluten, lanolin, botanical extracts
Attitude Oceanly Stick Cleanser
- Stick form that foams up
- With peptide, glycerin, oarweed
- 94.3% natural origin, vegan
Attitude Micellar Foaming Cleanser
- Foaming formula
- With blueberry leaves, Indian Cress, and water cress.
- 98.3% natural origin, vegan
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser
- Creamy non-foaming formula
- Removes make-up and supports the skin barrier
- Vegan and cruelty-free
Fresh Soy Hydrating Gentle Facial Cleanser
- Gel to foam formula
- Non comedogenic
- With aloe cucumber, soy protein
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Barrier Hydrating Cleanser
- Cream to foam formula
- Sensitive & eczema-prone skin suitable
- Non comedogenic
- With amino acids, squalane, and glycerine.
- Gel to foam formula
- Sensitive skin suitable
- Non comedogenic
- With glycerine, squalane, and avocado oil
This post is in collaboration with Amazon, but all the product choices and opinions are my own.
