The LOOKFANTASTIC Pregnancy Report – How to look after your skin when you’re expecting

Trimester Based Skincare Concerns And How To Treat Them

Researching into the world of skincare and pregnancy, we found that each trimester often brings a different skin concern to be aware of. As part of the Pregnancy Report, we’ve discovered what skin concerns you can expect when you’re expecting while giving you our group pharmacist, Aruj’s expert opinion on how to prevent and treat them.

Trimester one

A common skincare concern in the first trimester is Melasma. Melasma is when the skin develops brown or grey freckle-like spots and patches on the face. Often called ‘the mask of pregnancy’, Melasma is common in women expecting, particularly in the first trimester. Monthly searches for ‘Melasma’ are at 27,100 and searches for ‘Melasma’ are up by 100% in the past month. Aruj suggests using high SPF to prevent worsening of Melasma and using ingredients such as vitamin C to reduce dark areas of pigmentation caused by Melasma. If you have more sensitive skin or just prefer natural alternatives we recommend using black tea water. This should be dabbed on with a cotton ball and can lighten and soothe pigmentation caused by Melasma.

One of the most common skincare concerns in the first trimester is hormonal acne. This is due to the increase in your hormone levels when you first become pregnant. This fluctuation of hormone levels increases the skin's production of natural oils, which in turn clogs the pores and causes breakouts. These breakouts tend to be located around the chin and cheek area of the face and can be sore to the touch. The average UK monthly searches for ‘Hormonal Acne’ are at 8,100, showing just how common this skin condition is.

Aruj suggests using products containing benzoyl peroxide to reduce inflammation, unclog pores and kill bacteria that causes acne. Other natural alternatives suggested by LOOKFANTASTIC experts are the use of witch hazel for hormonal acne. This ingredient is anti-inflammatory and is known to reduce the redness and minimise acne breakouts.

Tender and swollen breasts is another common symptom of pregnancy and can carry on throughout your first trimester. This is another symptom triggered by the fluctuation of your hormone levels when pregnant, you may have also experienced this when menstruating. The hormones oestrogen, progesterone and prolactin increase the blood flow to the breasts causing changes to the breast tissue, in preparation for breastfeeding.

Aruj suggests using a warm compress to help ease the tenderness and avoid wearing tight fitted clothing.

To help your body prepare for pregnancy, and for all your first trimester skincare needs, Mama Mio’s Trimester one bundle is sure to aid any side effects you’re experiencing early on in your pregnancy.

At the end of trimester one your baby should be around 5.4cm long and weigh about 18g which is about the size of a lime, which is also the size of a beauty blender!

Trimester two

Pregnant women can be prone to skin tags during their second trimester. This is due to hormone changes and although harmless some women express they can be painful. In the UK there are 60,500 monthly searches for skin tags, showing just how common this skin concern is! Skin tags are generally harmless and don’t need treating but if you are experiencing pain or discomfort you can safely have them removed.

Spider veins are a common temporary side effect of pregnancy and searches for the term are at 12,100 per month in the UK. Spider veins are swollen veins that are visible underneath the surface of the skin, although they are common during pregnancy, they typically shrink back down after giving birth.

Aruj suggests avoiding sitting or standing for long periods of time while pregnant, wear maternity support hosiery, elevate your legs periodically to help with circulation and avoid wearing heels where you can.

To help soothe your legs we recommend using the Mama Mio Trimester 2 bundle, this includes a Lucky Legs cooling gel infused with nourishing aloe vera to help ease symptoms of Spider Veins.

During the second trimester skin can become sensitive and blotchy, this is due to increase in hormone levels and the stretching of your skin as the baby grows. With this said, if you have skin conditions like Eczema, these may be accentuated during pregnancy.

Aruj recommends using unscented products as fragrance can irritate the skin causing sensitivity. To soothe your irritated and blotchy skin we suggest using ingredients such as aloe vera, chamomile and shea butter to moisturise and protect your sensitive skin from worsening.

While the second trimester of pregnancy brings its own challenging skincare concerns, one positive change is your brand new glowing skin! We have all heard the concept of women’s skin ‘glowing’ during pregnancy and it is in fact true! During the second trimester an increase in hormones called androgens can cause the glands in your skin to grow and produce more sebum. This is referred to as ‘oil’ giving the look of dewy glowy skin. Embrace it and enjoy all the compliments while you can!

At the end of trimester two your baby should be around 36.6cm long and weigh about 875 grams! That’s about the size of a Cauliflower, which is also about the same size as a standard makeup bag!

Trimester three

In the third trimester, you and your baby are both at your biggest, which in turn means you will likely have developed stretch marks. Stretch marks are completely normal and are proof of the incredible growth you and your body have undertaken to bring new life into the world. However, if you wish to minimise the appearance of these then Aruj suggests using products containing Internal 10 Centella, hyaluronic acid and oils such as coconut oil. These ingredients will nourish your skin, help prevent stretch marks and promote cell turnover.

The Mama Mio Trimester 3 bundle includes all you need for the final stage of your pregnancy, from a nourishing tummy butter to ease itching sensations and appearance of stretch marks.

Another common skincare concern in the third trimester is Spider Nevus. This is a collection of small dilated blood vessels that group at the top of the skin, which then appears as a small dark red/purple mark. It is often caused when your body is producing a lot of oestrogen, such as when you are pregnant. Once you give birth this skin condition will go away on its own over time, so no need to worry!

Varicose veins are another common third trimester skincare concern. They are similar to spider veins that can often appear in your second trimester. The difference is varicose veins are raised, swollen blood vessels that twist and turn beneath the skin and Spider veins are much smaller blood vessels.

Aruj suggests to keep moving, avoid heavy lifting and wear compression stockings, to reduce the appearance of varicose veins.

At the end of trimester three your baby should be around 51cm long and weigh around 3.5kg! This is about the size of a Watermelon, which is about the same size as a hair waver.

Trimester four

Post birth bodies come in all different shapes and sizes. However, one common denominator can be loose skin. When your baby has been born you can often be left with excess skin from all the growing your body has had to do to accommodate the size of your baby! This may seem daunting to a new mother but your skin is made of elastin and collagen so will regain its natural form over time.

To help your body regain its shape Aruj suggests taking part in light exercise and drinking lots of water to keep your skin plump and hydrated! This will help support your body in its new stage of life and help your skin regain form.

Due to your body experiencing a dramatic drop in hormones, your nails postpartum can feel brittle and weak. Pregnancy can often increase your nail growth so when your nails aren’t flourishing post partum, this can be super frustrating. Aruj suggests taking postpartum vitamins including biotin tablets and vitamin C, these ingredients are great for nail growth and encourage collagen production, in turn meaning stronger bones, connective tissue and yes, nails!

Falling Oestrogen levels can cause hair loss or thinning. This is often referred to as excessive hair shedding and isn’t seen as true hair loss, as once your hormone levels even out your hair should return back to normal. If you are looking for quick ways to reduce postpartum hair thinning Aruj suggests making sure you are being gentle when brushing, taking vitamins and eating a balanced diet and using hair volumizing shampoo to make your hair appear thicker in the meantime.

Fluctuation in hormones like oestrogen and progesterone mean your skin's texture may change. This means skin can feel dry and itchy after giving birth. Our experts recommend introducing hyaluronic acid and a deep moisturising treatment into your routine to keep your skin as soft and subtle as your new born baby’s!

Another common postpartum skin concern can be pigmentation. This means you may start to see darker patches appearing on your face. We recommend using Vitamin C to tackle these dark patches and brighten up your complexion.

The Top 10 Most Influential Celebrity Pregnancies

In the last few years we have had some monumental pregnancies announced on social media, from the likes of Rihanna to Kylie Jenner, some of this decade's biggest celebs are starting the next generation of stars!

As part of the Pregnancy Report, we have discovered which celebrities' pregnancy influenced us the most by looking at what their following increase was during their pregnancy. We also researched what products they used during their 9 months to keep up that pregnancy glow, and how you can get the same effect at home!

Coming in as the most influential celebrity pregnancy we have Rihanna! This iconic celeb’s following increased by 8,255,621 during her pregnancy and we can only assume it is down to her impeccable pregnancy wardrobe and cool demeanour.