ok ok i just want to get your attention with the 911! since becoming pregnant(and my hubby in iraq)my skin has been a rollercoaster.sometimes i have that lovely mommy glow but alot of times it dull and i have been breaking out along my jawline.not too bad just a few here and there.the breakout also seem more of a dead skin buildup than actually those pus filled ones(eeww gross!).i am combo/oily and a little more dry in the winter.most products that are too heavy can break me out.should i maybe try a mild retinol product 1x or 2x a week to help turn over my skin cell(i am also all about antiaging products,i figure i should start now).or maybe an at home peel.i saw some nice looking philosophy peels on qvc but refrained before getting some more opinions.ladies help!!!i just want my skin back!!!!

Oh sweetie, skin can be SO frustrating!
But regardless of the skin, a beautiful baby is a pretty sweet trade-off!
(But a breakout can be so tough to get through!)

When I was pregnant my skin freaked out as well, and to make it worse I had to stop using peels/treatments with SALYCYLIC ACID in them! Just a heads up on that if you didn't know (you mentioned wanting to do a 'peel.') There are some peels that don't have no-no's in them...I've used MyChelle's Pumkin Peel, and Juice Beauty's Apple Peel. These are very 'light' peels, but do clear away dead skin and make it super soft! Of course, always check with your doctor about any peel/treatment while pregnant. Also, essential oils applied to the skin are supposed to be a no-no as well...

Here are a couple things that I've tried- they are 'natural' (because I was raised by a hippie mom) and don't work as fast, but do give results with patience...maybe they might work for you!

1. Tea Tree Oil/Manuka Oil (for breakout areas and spot treatment)
2. Kaolin/Bentonite clay powder- Just mix up with water, honey...whatever you like. (Use as an oil absorbing mask, or spot treatment)
3. Witch Hazel (a great soothing toner for reactive skin)
4. Manuka Honey (a great anti-microbial and softening mask)

I've also used Philosophy "On a Clear Day" sulfur wash- I really liked it! Very purifying!

Hang in there! (I know what it's like to have a husband away too- my hubby had 2 tours of duty in Iraq as well.) I hope your skin recovers soon!

~ Naomi

One suggestion: Ask your doctor if retinol is safe for pregnancy. I'm not sure about retinol, but Rx retinoids are NOT safe for pregnancy because they are similar to Vitamin A, and too much Vit A can cause birth defects

I'm pretty sure that all of the acne products I'm currently using are not safe for pregnancy so I'm not sure what to recommend for you (For that matter, I'm not sure what I'll do if I still have acne when we're ready for kids! lol... I'll figure it out later!)

i was thinking more of an over the counter retinol product or vit a product.i am not worried about topical applications of vitamin a and have been ok'ed for use.

i was also wondering if anyone has tried any of the AL skincare products such as the glycolic acid serum.

If the doc said it way okay for retinols, then I've got a recommendation...

I've used Philosophy's Vitamin A stuff called Help Me, and it really helped to improve texture and to clear the pores...It was a bit heavy for me- but I'm really oily, so the cream might be good for you. It's hard to say if what works for one person will work for another...especially with such a diverse organ like the skin!!!

I haven't tried AL glycolic serum, but I do love glycolic products. Great for speeding up the exfoliation and unclogging the pores. They can be drying though...So moisturizer is good!

If your Ob siad over the counter reinoid products are safe, then you might consider the ROC line - I get it at costco and really enjoy it. I use it between my RetinA rx days (wintertime is too dry even for me to use the RetinA nightly - talk about flaking!)

The Glycolic Acid itmes from Aromaleigh are wonderful, as are the Vit C things. That C Serum really helped with my texture and tone issues - I love it and consider it a HG product - above other more spendy Vit C serums, too.

Baking soda mixed with your regular foaming cleanser is an awesome exfoliant and polisher, too.

And perhaps the number one universally loved skin care iem around here is the Clarisonic brush. Not just a rotating or vibrating facial brush, it uses the same soundwave technology that the Sonicare toothbrush uses. I've had mine for about 2.5 years now and would NOT want to be without it. That item alone has done more to refine and balance out my oily, clogprone grandma skin than anything else. Expensive - yes, but a longterm investment in a durable good with long term results. About the price of 2-3 facials, depending on where you live and what you'd have done. And you can use it with any cleanser at all. I use mine with a pumice based exfoliant (I've got resistant skin) and an enzyme foaming cleanser - no flakies! And hardly ever a pimple anymore - occaisionally one on my jawbone, but it goes away quickly without getting to the pus stage (yuck).

hth -
-b.

quote:

Originally posted by armywife8108:
i was thinking more of an over the counter retinol product or vit a product.i am not worried about topical applications of vitamin a and have been ok'ed for use.

Interesting, I use a topical retinoid (Tazorac) and it explicitly says in the paperwork that it should not be used during pregnancy because it's similar to Vitamin A. Your body can absorb chemicals through your skin (think of nicotine patches, for example) so I would still be cautious. But maybe OTC products are just at a lower concentration and are OK, I don't know

I've also heard mixed opinions about whether BHA's (salicylic acid) and AHA's (glycolic acid among others) are safe for pregnancy. I'd ask your doctor before starting any new products just to be safe

For me personally, AHA's and BHA's (including AL's glycolic acid serum) do nothing on their own. However, if I combine a BHA with a benzoyl peroxide product, that's the best OTC treatment I could find for my acne. But I also have fairly resistant skin -- gentle products do nothing for me, I need the harsher stuff! More "normal" skin might benefit from the glycolic acid more

Definitely check with your OBGYN before using anything. Some docs are more cautious than others, and a lot will depend on your history. Personally, the only thing I used during this time period was an apricot scrub once a week, which got rid of any dry/dead skin but wasn't harsh.

The first trimester is the worst, your hormones are really going haywire, but once you get past it your skin will be wonderful. But look at it this way - it's a good sign, your body is doing what it's supposed to be doing.

Check out this site, I love there products http://www.makeupartistschoice.com/

I have oily skin, and get a few break outs from time to time. I use the following products:

Alpha Hydroxy/Beta Hydroxy Cleanser w/Tea Tree Oil
Blemish Buster Astringent
8% Beta Hydroxy Serum
Pumpkin Exfoliating Masque

For at home treatments I apply lemon juice on my face