How should you care for your face during pregnancy?

Keep facial skin care during pregnancy simple: cleanse gently, use a moisturiser that feels comfortable and protect exposed skin when you are outdoors. Review your existing skin products and medicines with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist too. Do not use retinoids, including retinol, during pregnancy. You do not need to put together a whole new routine or a set of replacement treatments by yourself.

What might change in your skin?

Your skin may become drier or more sensitive during pregnancy. Acne and dark patches, such as melasma, can also occur. Changes differ from person to person, and unsettled skin alone tells you nothing about how your pregnancy is progressing. A cream that used to feel comfortable might now sting, for example; that is a reason to review your routine.

Start with what you notice: tightness after washing, a step that stings or concerns about new marks. Write the question down. Avoid immediately explaining every sign through hormones or reaching for another serum. A new or persistent concern may need its own assessment. Gentle care supports everyday comfort; diagnosis and treatment belong with your healthcare professional.

How can you cleanse without extra irritation?

Use a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser, lukewarm water and your fingertips. Spread the product carefully and rinse well. Pat dry with a soft towel. Scrubbing with a brush, rough cloth or grains is unnecessary for clean skin and can irritate it.

The AAD advises cleansing up to twice a day and after heavy sweating. Keep washing brief and gentle; do not keep adding another wash because your skin feels tight. Remove the day's make-up and sunscreen carefully in the evening without rubbing hard. If your skin burns after every wash, discuss your cleanser and routine. Read more about gentle care in our guide to an irritated skin barrier.

Choose care that stays comfortable

Apply a moisturiser suited to your skin regularly, for example after cleansing if your skin feels dry. A manageable routine that you tolerate well is preferable to adding another layer to soothe the previous one. Leave out an extra cosmetic step that stings or burns, and ask about persistent irritation.

Simple packaging, the word ‘natural’ or a pregnancy label does not establish that an entire formula suits you. A cream your friend enjoys may not be your best choice either. Consider comfort and have questions about specific ingredients or medicines assessed personally. Good basic care does not require adding peels, masks and several active serums.

List what you already use

Before an appointment, gather your cleanser, moisturiser, sunscreen, serums and any skin medicines. Take the packaging or clear photographs of the name and ingredients. Include products bought without a prescription and medicines you take by mouth. A brand name does not always identify the variant or active ingredient.

Beside each item, note why you use it, where you apply it and how often. Add when you started and what has changed since. A short list helps your doctor or pharmacist give more specific advice. Have prescribed treatments reviewed and agree what to do with them; do not replace them yourself with an online ‘pregnancy-safe’ regimen.

Retinol and retinoids: where is the boundary?

Retinol belongs to the retinoids, a group of vitamin A-based substances. Some cosmetics contain retinol, while medicines may contain other retinoids. The AAD advises against retinoids during pregnancy. That includes retinol serums sold without a prescription. Do not start one during pregnancy or continue an existing retinoid product; discuss its use with your healthcare professional.

Ideally, discuss skin medicines when planning a pregnancy. The general advice in our guide to what helps with wrinkles is not a retinol routine for pregnancy. You do not need to immediately replace an omitted serum with an acid, peel or another acne treatment. An appropriate treatment depends on your circumstances and needs personal assessment.

What if you have already used a cream or gel?

Keep the packaging and note the product, dates of use, application area and frequency. Contact your doctor, midwife or pharmacist with this information. The word retinoid alone is not enough to assess your past exposure. A small amount applied to skin is also different from taking a retinoid medicine by mouth.

BUMPS, the UK Teratology Information Service's patient resource, advises avoiding topical retinoids as a precaution. Absorption is usually low but varies. Many reports after skin use describe unaffected babies; there are also reports of birth defects, and a link cannot be ruled out. This does not predict an individual outcome. Have your use assessed without concluding that harm has occurred or guaranteeing safety. If you have taken an oral retinoid, discuss it directly with the prescribing doctor; do not draw conclusions from information about skin creams.

Acne, pigmentation and sensitivity need different approaches

Spots, dark patches and tightness can occur together without needing the same approach. A moisturiser does not treat a hormonal cause, and sunscreen does not clear acne. Discuss troublesome acne, persistent irritation or uncertain skin changes with your doctor or dermatologist. Do not add a medicinal treatment based only on a photograph or ingredient list.

For dark patches, limiting excessive sun exposure and irritation helps. Further care depends on the cause. Our guide to dark spots on the face provides broader context. Do not start a pigmentation treatment or strong peel on your own during pregnancy. First write down what you want to improve and which products you currently use.

Sun protection on an ordinary day

Protect skin not covered by clothing outdoors. Seek shade, wear suitable clothes and consider a wide-brimmed hat. Apply enough broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, following the label. The AAD also recommends water resistance. Applying sunscreen well helps prevent skin cancer and protects against sunburn and premature skin ageing; clothing and shade remain part of protection.

Consider your actual day: a lunchtime walk needs different preparation from spending hours outside. Apply before going outdoors as directed. If you stay outside, reapply about every two hours and after swimming, heavy sweating or towelling, following the label. This is not a fixed schedule for a whole day indoors. Take sunscreen on a longer walk, including in autumn or winter when your skin is exposed to UV.

Mineral filters may be an option if they feel comfortable on your skin. That does not establish that other filters are unsafe during pregnancy. Discuss a particular formula or skin reaction with your healthcare professional. Choosing sunscreen does not replace that conversation, and a higher SPF does not provide unlimited protection.

Make mornings and evenings manageable

Set out your simple morning basics: gentle cleansing, moisturising and protection before going outdoors. In the evening, gently remove products worn during the day and moisturise dry skin. Leave out cosmetic extras if they unsettle your skin. A short, comfortable plan is easier to maintain than changing everything daily.

Take these questions to your appointment: which products and medicines can I keep using, what needs adjusting, and which symptoms mean I should get back in touch? Write down the agreed steps. This means you will not have to piece together separate advice from packaging and social media at home.

Soluveli is developing facial sunscreen. A pregnancy formula or tested suitability for pregnancy has not been established. On the homepage you can follow development and sign up for one launch notification. There is no fixed launch date yet.