There are a lot of things to take into account when you’re pregnant. Besides physical changes, you also have to be mindful of what you put on your body, including everything from your sunscreen, shampoo, face wash, and more. So while you may already be enjoying that pregnancy glow, you may also want to look at the makeup you wear every day, like your favorite foundation, to make sure it’s pregnancy-safe.
As a major part of many women’s beauty regimens, finding a pregnancy-safe foundation is a must. Your body can absorb substances through the skin, so expectant moms need to be careful about the ingredients in their makeup. For example, parabens are common ingredients found in lipsticks and foundations to preserve their shelf-life. But parabens are also linked to developmental issues in fetuses and neurological and reproductive disruptions during pregnancy.
Besides avoiding parabens, you should also avoid products that include fragrances, phthalates, BPA, triclosan, and DEP. To check if your foundation is pregnancy-safe, you can look at its ingredient list either on the bottle or online.
You may want to try a non-comedogenic foundation, which means they are products that are said not to clog pores. Other pore-clogging ingredients to steer clear of include coconut oil, jojoba oil, and avocado oil. If you haven’t tried a BB or CC cream yet, this may be the time to. BB and CC creams are gentler on your skin and provide it moisturize at the same time. In addition, all-natural BB or CC creams usually have fewer and less harsh ingredients than the typical foundation.
With all that said, if you have concerns or questions, speak with your health care provider. To help you find a pregnancy-safe foundation, we’ve gathered eight that you might want to try:
Best Pregnancy-Safe Foundations
Tarte High-Performance Naturals Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation
Tarte’s vegan foundation has a water-based formula that works to hydrate your skin while providing coverage. It contains vitamin E and marine plants to smooth and nourish your skin. Free of parabens and phthalates, Tarte’s foundation also has broad-spectrum SPF 15 sunscreen.
One reviewer of Tarte’s High-Performance Naturals Rainforest of the Sea Water Foundation says, “I have combination skin, and this wears great. It’s blendable and buildable. Lasts all day yet very lightweight.”
Supergoop! CC Screen SPF 50
You may have heard of Supergoop! sunscreen, but did you know that they make CC screen too? It provides SPF 50 that’s formulated with only clean ingredients and is reef-safe. Supergoop’s CC screen is 100% mineral, non-comedogenic, and available in 15 different shades to help even out a variety of skin tones. If you’re looking for a lightweight, tinted sunscreen that provides light coverage and doesn’t make your face feel greasy, you’ll want to give this one a try!
Maybelline Dream Fresh Skin Hydrating BB cream
Maybelline’s BB cream is on the more affordable end, with a price point under $7. Containing SPF 30, it provides light coverage and brightens, hydrates, and smoothes. Available in five different shades, Maybelline’s BB cream is oil-free and non-comedogenic.
IT Cosmetics CC Matte Cream
IT Cosmetics CC cream was developed alongside plastic surgeons and has an oil-free, full-coverage matte formula with SPF 40. The product also does more than just even out your skin tone. It contains charcoal to help detoxify, tea tree extract to handle blemishes, and an anti-aging serum made with peptides and antioxidants to make you glow!
Physicians Formula Super CC Color-Correction + Care CC Cream SPF 30
This CC cream is another multi-tasker — it protects from the sun, color corrects, moisturizes, AND has anti-aging properties! Like most products from Physicians Formula, it’s hypoallergenic and safe for sensitive skin, as well as oil-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, and non-comedogenic.
Says one reviewer, “This is my go-to, daily foundation. It’s a lifesaver for someone who wants a product that can do a little bit of everything.”
COOLA Organic Rosilliance BB+ Cream SPF 30
Active mamas-to-be will appreciate that COOLA’s BB cream is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes and has mineral broad-spectrum SPF 30. Not only that, but it’s also reef-friendly, non-comedogenic, and made with 70% certified organic ingredients. Included super ingredients are acai fruit oil, rose stem cell extracts, and plankton extract to smooth and restore your skin.
bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF 30
The final pregnancy-safe foundation on our list comes from bareMinerals. Their clean, water-based tinted moisturizer is designed to keep your skin hydrated and has buildable coverage for those times where your skin needs to be evened out. You can apply one layer for very sheet coverage like a tinted moisturizer provides, or add more for when you want more coverage. “A few layers does really provide nice coverage. It has a nice hybrid gel-slash-lotion texture that allows you to layer it,” shares one reviewer of bareMinerals’ product. In addition, it’s non-comedogenic, free of parabens and synthetic fragrances, and is 98% naturally derived.
For more ideas to change up your daily beauty routine so that it’s safe for your growing baby, check out our series on pregnancy-safe beauty products!