Photo: Getty
By: Angela Yeo
During pregnancy, women’s bodies go through A LOT of changes. Some expectant moms get the pregnancy glow all throughout the nine months, while others get more blemishes due to the increase in hormone levels. You may have given up sushi and alcoholic beverages for now, but does it mean you have to give up make up too? The good news is, you do not have to—just consider to use less products and be more conscious of what you slather on your face.
My advice for pregnant women is to simplify your make up routine. This is not the time to cover your face with heavy make up as if it were a mask and clog your pores. Let your skin breathe and only target problem areas. Here are a few problems that can occur during pregnancy:
Problem: Pimples and Dark Circles
Pimples are caused by the hormone imbalance in your body during pregnancy and the dark circles are due to lack of sleep, especially during the third trimester when sleeping at night gets more uncomfortable and trips to the bathroom are more frequent.
Solution: For the dark circles, apply a concealer that is two shades lighter than your skin tone to lighten the under eye area. For the pimples, get a concealer brush and spot conceal your blemishes. Use a concealer color that matches your skin tone because using a lighter concealer will highlight the pimple instead of covering it. Remember to set it with powder so it lasts the whole day.
Problem: Nose widens
The nose widens because of excessive fluid retention during pregnancy that usually happens during the last trimester.
Solution:
Contour the sides of your nose to make it appear slimmer. I prefer doing this with a foundation or concealer that is 2-3 shades darker than my skin tone. You may also use a matte brown contouring powder.
Keep It Simple
You don’t need to wear foundation all the time, but if you have uneven skin tone, sparingly apply a light liquid foundation, bb cream or a tinted moisturizer. Just always curl your eyelashes to open up your eyes, fill in your brows to frame your face, and apply blush to give the appearance of healthy skin. A good product to try is Pixi’s H20 skin tint. It has a cooling and refreshing formula that’s lighter and more breathable than regular foundation. It’s paraben and fragrance-free, too so it’s safe for moms-to-be.
Go Natural
For those who are worried about ingredients like lead, paraben, phthalate, and other harmful chemicals, you may also opt for brands that are organic, natural or vegan. As for what I apply on my lips, a good brand that is free of harmful chemicals is Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics–their lip tar is excellent! It is long wearing and pigmented.
The changes women experience during pregnancy seem daunting, but not to worry, what you have growing in your belly is priceless and beautiful. So, take care of yourself, smile, be confident and let that pregnancy glow radiate from within you!
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