Life
Breakouts, dark spots, puffy eyes – these are just a few of the lovely side effects pregnant women suffer when carrying small humans in their bodies for 40 (more or less) weeks. Some women roll with these changes forced upon their bodies, and to those women I say, "Bravo. You're badasses." Me? Well, I freaking fought the good fight using makeup brushes as my weapons. There are a lot of things no one tells you about your pregnancy makeup routine and how it might change once your whole body chemistry changes when carrying a baby. That is, until now, because I am here to give you the inside scoop.
I made some mistakes along the way but, for the most part, I figured out a few things makeup-wise to help me through some major "pregnancy uglies." For example, I learned you can't just expect things to continue as"business as usual." A lot of the makeup we use contains chemicals that are not ideal for pregnant women and their developing fetuses. Example: red lipsticks.
Now, if you're like me and you wear red lipstick two or three times a year, maybe you don't need to go out and buy a whole new lipstick when you're pregnant (even though I did, but that's because I take any excuse to buy new makeup). However, if you're the girl with a Signature Red Lip, maybe buying a preggo-friendly lip color would be nothing short of a wise investment. Here are some other things you might want to consider about your makeup routine when you're pregnant, that no one else might have told you:
You Might Need A Really Good Concealer
Pregnancy hormones can wreak havoc on your skin, especially in the first trimester. Cystic acne and breakouts can appear out of seemingly nowhere, and anywhere from your face to your back to even your chest (ew).
Finding a good, creamy and easy-to-blend concealer is key. You probably won't be able to make the acne look like it doesn't exist, but at least you'll be able to make it appear less angry and painful looking by finding a concealer that can diminish the redness of the spots themselves. It is important that you find one that won't irritate your skin even more, so first test it on a small area of your body before going all out with your concealer wand.
Ditch The Heavy Foundation
Sensitive skin during pregnancy does not appreciate being suffocated by a heavy layer of makeup, so ditch heavy, potentially pore-clogging foundation. Your skin can start to feel itchy as it stretches, which is why pregnant women often complain about itchy skin (logic). Foundation can exacerbate that even more.
A BB Cream, CC Cream, Or Tinted Moisturizer That Masks Dark Spots Is A Must
If you are like me (and like Zorro), and you develop what is called the "Mask Of Pregnancy" (aka melasma) a CC cream could become your best beauty friend. The day I began using CC cream was the day that everyone started complimenting me on my "pregnancy glow."
I was six months into my pregnancy and quite honestly, the glow had come and gone from the building a long while ago. I also suffered a lot of broken blood vessels from my seven months of vomiting and dry heaving (thanks again hormones) so my dark spot correcting cream was ridiculously helpful.
Never Underestimate The Distracting Power Of A Bold Lip
A bright and bold lip can serve as a big arrow pointing away from your torpedo-shaped belly, and right at your gorgeous and glowing face surrounded by your thick, lustrous pregnancy mane.
You might want to consider looking into the ingredients in your red lipstick, however, before slathering it on your kisser. The main ingredient in a lot of red lipstick colors tends to be Aluminum, which could be potentially harmful to your growing fetus.
Bronzer For Those Puffy Days (Or Months)
I had quite a few puffy days, or, well, puffy months. Which is why, even though I didn't enjoy having one more thing to add to my beauty routine (because normally I'm a simple swipe of cream blush to my cheek kind of girl, or nothing at all), I did it because it was such an easy way to make my cheeks appear less, well, large.
I applied bronzer under my cheekbones for a contouring effect. As a result, even though from the neck down I was very much an uber pregnant lady, from the chin up I was waif-like extra from Les Misérables.
Always Bring Your Own Nail Polish When Getting A Manicure Or Pedicure
One of my weekly self-care pregnancy routines was getting a manicure at my local nail place. However, it wasn't until a few months into my pregnancy that I read that my usual go-to brand of nail polish contained chemicals like Formaldehyde, which are known to not be safe for pregnant women.
Luckily, this didn't seem to have any effect on my (now 5-year-old) child, but I made sure to choose the mama-friendly formulas at the salon after that, or (when I remembered) to bring my own pregnancy-safe nail polish.
Go With An Oil-Free Powder
Pregnant skin tends to be slick and shiny (because pregnancy hormones), so try to find an oil-free powder that is also matte so as not to draw even more attention to your shine. (There's a difference between a glow and an oil slick.) However, I wouldn't suggest simply caking it on. Less is always more when putting makeup on your skin when you're pregnant.
