My Daily Pregancy-Safe Skincare Regimen

As I continue my journey of motherhood with baby #2 arriving this summer, I’ve been reflecting on my pregnancies and the expectations vs. realities along the way.

In my opinon, generally speaking, when a woman becomes pregnant, suddenly the word “restriction” seems to be associated with the journey — be it dietary, socially, physically, mentally — and I wish such a tendency to generalize and “restrict” our daily decision-making wasn’t the case! Yes, we have to forego the cocktail and sashimi, limit our loads, and put Advil in the cabinet until further notice. However, as I’ve learned firsthand, our routines and our everyday luxuries don’t have to pivot as much as we’d think.

When it comes to skincare, I caught myself immediately jumping to the conclusion that no retinol and no Botox essentially meant I’d be left with a basic face wash and unsatisfying moisturizer and hope for the best until baby arrives. Aesthetician Lulu Martin and the team at PSG Skin & Laser Center quickly corrected me, as I now have a pregnancy-safe morning and evening regimen that has kept hormonal acne at bay and my rapidly changing body feeling somewhat balanced. And while I’m counting down until I can get Botox again, I’ve been introduced to Botox in a bottle (ha!) — and my skin is drinking it up.

Here’s what I’ve been utilizing each day with Lulu’s direction in between my monthly hydrafacials. An investment? Absolutely. Worth it? 100000%. The results have been remarkably refreshing!

You can learn more about the SkinBetter line here on PSG’s website and attend their SkinBetter Spring Skincare event on April 17!

MORNING

Oxygen Wash: A lightweight, multi-tasking cleanser with slow-releasing alpha hydroxy acids and an infusion of oxygen to purify and refresh. Best for normal to oily skin!

Mystro Active Balance Serum: This has been a game changer for attacking the redness and rosacea on my cheeks. The product is specially designed to improve visible skin quality by addressing the global appearance of redness, rough skin texture, dullness, pore size and/or uneven pigmentation.

InterFuse Intensive Treatment LINES: A no-needle, hyaluronic acid solution that improves the appearance of deep expression lines and wrinkles. I lather it on my forehead!

sunbetter Tone Smart SPF: No skincare routine is complete without sun protection. This isn’t your ordinary sunscreen – it’s a daily essential that effortlessly blends into your routine, offering broad-spectrum protection with a touch of elegance. This SkinBetter Science product is their highest level of sun protection in a tone-adapting, creamy lotion with a hint of color. Their oil-free, broad-spectrum sunscreen acts as a primer under makeup or in place of a light coverage foundation.  

Trio: Because this moisturizer is crafted precisely, it goes beyond basic hydration, balancing your skin’s natural oils and restoring equilibrium. The result? A complexion that exudes luminosity and a newfound confidence in your skin’s health. Say goodbye to dryness and hello to a radiant glow that lasts all day with a patented formulation that uniquely brings balance back to dry, aged skin. 

Techno Neck Perfecting Cream: The patented complex in this cream harnesses the power of the body’s natural processes to visibly improve aging skin of the neck and décolleté. Improves the appearance of crepiness, laxity and texture. Intensely hydrates to improve the suppleness of the skin.

EVENING

Oxygen Wash: Goodbye, makeup and dirt from the day!

InterFuse Intensive Treatment LINES: A no-needle, hyaluronic acid solution that improves the appearance of deep expression lines and wrinkles. I lather it on my forehead.

EyeMax AlphaRet Overnight Cream: This is a concentrated, hydrating complex that provides rich, luxurious moisture to support the barrier of the delicate skin around the eyes.

Trio Luxe: It’s like butter. An ultra-rich, emollient cream that helps skin look luminous, feel deeply moisturized, and more comfortable — And while it’d seem more appropriate for cold months, Lulu pointed out that my skin might need the extra moisture during the second half of pregnancy. She was right!

Techno Neck Perfecting Cream: Intensely hydrates the neck and décolleté to improve the suppleness of the skin.

The Halfway Point

Today marks twenty weeks of my pregnancy with Hudson’s little sister. I can’t believe I’m halfway to two under two (15 months, to be exact)!

The pace this round is lightyears faster than with Hudson — which is a blessing and a curse, considering how much we need to do in our home and lives to make room for another human. My body is growing faster, and time is moving faster, so much so that I’m losing track of it!

The line, “the only constant is change,” couldn’t be more representative of our lives right now.

It’s funny how we’re naturally marking time these days by Hudson’s milestones and messy, adorable meals rather than the usual moments. A Friday like today rolls around, and the idea of a “weekend” no longer correlates with a natural feeling of a pause or a release — but that’s okay, because I love that each day feels full in its own way. I am so enamored with the time I’m able to spend with Hudson and Alex — it’s only a few hours each day, but they are so precious. It’s funny to think that, last night, we could have asked our babysitter to arrive 30 minutes earlier to give us an early dinner date before a fundraiser we attended — but both of us, without question, wanted to stay home and do Hudson’s dinner and bath routine together instead. I ate buttered noodles and laughed while Hudson scarfed down the remaining tofu in our fridge. I’m almost slightly scared we’re exiting this one-child stage so quickly and will soon have our hands doubly occupied and stretched—with a newborn and a newly mobile one. So, since our routine will change pretty drastically in five months, I’m soaking up this sweet spot with one almost-one-year-old boy.

As a whole, my mind is so ADD these days, jumping from list to list and project to project. From Hudson’s first birthday to the nursery’s new wallpaper to Hudson’s new room layout — to closet clean-outs and more blog content than ever before — it’s been a lot. I’m tired, but rather than feeling drained or “on empty,” I’m feeling so filled that it’s explosive at times! How do I lessen the volume? I’m unsure at this point, but I take every decision or completed “to-do” as a little victory.

I know the second half of the pregnancy will be harder, a lot of heavier (ha), and stressful. But I’m choosing at this moment to look at the glass half full rather than half empty. There is so much ahead and so much to embrace in the process. Thanks for being here on this journey with me and our growing family.