13 Best Pregnancy-Safe Skin Care Products, Tested and Reviewed

Since launching in 2016, Biossance has built a name for itself as a biotech-driven beauty company that leans on plant-based ingredients to create clean, sustainable products that are safe and effective for a wide audience—all but one of their products are pregnancy-safe (the exception is their Retinol Night Serum, a product that is under no circumstances suitable for expectant moms). But the effectiveness of their products and the top-tier quality of their ingredients are what makes Biossance our Best of The Bump winner for best pregnancy-safe skin care brand of 2024. (See all of this year’s Best of The Bump winners.)

Biossance products all share the same proprietary ingredient: squalane oil, a fermented sugar cane derivative that the brand describes as a “molecular match for the moisture found in human skin.” Among their most popular products is a pump bottle of 100 percent squalane oil, which I’ve used throughout my pregnancy to seal in moisturizer and keep my skin hydrated from head to toe—I even use the residue on my palms to tame my frizz-prone hair. And once I fell for the multipurpose oil, I had to see what feats it could accomplish when combined with other active ingredients. Biossance’s squalane-based skin care line includes exfoliants, cleansers, serums, eye treatments, heavy-duty night creams, mineral sunscreen and more. They also happen to sell extremely well-priced sample-size bundles of their products, so it didn’t take long for me to wind up with a bathroom cabinet packed to the brim with their offerings. Over the course of my pregnancy I’ve become especially devoted to the Squalene + Enzyme Sugar Body Scrub, the Squalane + Omega Repair Cream and the Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil, all of which offer terrific results in a pregnancy-safe package.

I’ve spent years looking for a face moisturizer that’s light enough to layer with sunscreen and makeup for daytime wear, but creamy and hydrating enough to nourish and replenish my skin while I sleep. Little did I know an ideal candidate was sitting on my local pharmacy shelf all along—and at a virtually unbeatable price.

CeraVe’s formula—our Best of The Bump winner for best pregnancy-safe moisturizer—is advertised as “ultra lightweight,” and sure enough it has a smooth, whipped consistency that spreads easily and sinks right in. This was a pleasant surprise—I’ve tried the daytime version of this lotion, which contains SPF, and found that it pills quite easily, especially when I try to apply makeup over it. I’ve long been a fan of CeraVe’s pricier Skin-Renewing Night Cream but would hesitate to make a habit of using something quite so heavy as part of my morning routine. This product, despite its “PM” label, offers the best of all worlds. Provided you pair it with an appropriate pregnancy-safe sunscreen in the mornings, it’s a real 24-hour workhorse.

I’m chalking up the effectiveness of CeraVe’s PM Facial Lotion to a trifecta of pregnancy-safe moisturizer ingredients: niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, which is known to soothe and hydrate; ceramides, which behave like wax to restore and reinforce the skin’s natural barrier; and sponge-like hyaluronic acid, which is known to retain moisture and keep skin soft and dewy. The oil-free formula has also kept my newly acne-prone forehead clear and breakout-free.

I’ve had an extremely sensitive nose this pregnancy and I can confidently say that this cream is one of the relatively few “unscented” products we tested that is legitimately odorless. It’s packaged in a convenient pump bottle that locks with a single twist and is compact enough to stuff in a toiletry bag for any pre-baby travel plans—or your trip to the hospital for labor and delivery. At a quarter of the price of my pre-pregnancy moisturizer, this one’s definitely going to stay in my rotation moving forward.

Quantity: 3 fl. oz. | Active ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide

Like many a woman in her mid-30s, I’ve spent over a decade relying on a combination of retinoids and beta hydroxy acids like salicylic acid to keep my skin bright, smooth and blemish-free. Suffice it to say I was pretty devastated when I learned that both of these active ingredients should be avoided during pregnancy. When I got hit with hormonal acne in my first trimester, I tried everything from physical exfoliants (a dermatological no-no for delicate face skin) to pregnancy-safe alpha hydroxy acids like glycolic acid and lactic acid, but nothing gave me consistent skin-clearing results until I picked up a tube of The Ordinary’s Azelaic Acid, our Best of The Bump winner for best pregnancy-safe retinol alternative. With a smooth, gel-like consistency, it glides on easily and absorbs quickly. I use it nightly as a serum, after cleansing and before moisturizing.

I’m not alone in finding it highly effective. “Even after just a handful of uses, [my skin is] clearer,” another acne-prone product tester told us. “It absorbs super quickly and left my skin feeling very soft. I have a lot of texture on my cheeks, and this seemed to smooth that out basically after the very first application—just about immediately. With further use, it will prove to be a game-changer in my skincare collection!”

As a chemical exfoliant, azelaic acid isn’t really capable of generating the same level of cellular turnover as a true retinoid, but it’s often praised for its skin-brightening properties, and The Ordinary advertises their 10 percent formula as a treatment for “dull, blemish-prone skin.” Like the brand’s entire product line, it’s also extremely well priced, earning a 10 out of 10 from our tester in value for money. “This brand overall is super affordable,” she said. “High-quality ingredients and a product for a great price!”

Quantity: 1 fl. oz. | Active ingredients: Azelaic acid

There are few things I hate more than the feeling of clothing clinging to my body lotion, so I’m pleased to say that Aveeno’s Daily Moisturizing Lotion strikes a great balance of absorbent and emollient—it definitely leaves a nice sheen on the skin once rubbed in, but doesn’t feel heavy, greasy or sticky. This Best of The Bump winner for pregnancy-safe body lotion is packed with prebiotic oat, intended to support your skin’s microbiome and restore its natural barrier. Aveeno says their lotion is clinically proven to provide moisture for 24 hours, and sure enough I found no evidence of dry skin throughout the day, even in typical problem areas like my shins and elbows.

And if you enjoy a good bargain, few items on this list offer better bang for your buck. At roughly $10 for a generously sized 18-ounce pump bottle, it’s kind of a steal. It’s also easy to dispense, fragrance-free (by which I mean legitimately undetectable to my sensitive pregnancy nose), non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog your pores) and super hydrating.

This light and creamy pregnancy-safe body lotion contains relatively few ingredients, and I like that the Aveeno website provides a breakdown of each one, with a concise explanation of what purpose it serves and how dominant it is in the formula. And while I wouldn’t say the packaging is stunning, for a large item that’s likely to sit out on a shelf, the neutral tones and muted labeling make it pretty discreet, and it definitely appeals to me more than some of the loud, brightly colored bottles on the market at similar price points. All told, this is an excellent full-body lotion that suits virtually any budget.

Quantity: 18 fl. oz. | Active ingredients: Oat kernel flour

Micellar water is a longstanding French beauty staple that’s more recently become popular in the US. Part of its success is thanks to the fact that it can double up as both a makeup remover and a toner, especially for those who find traditional toners too astringent for their sensitive skin.

Drunk Elephant’s micellar water, our Best of The Bump winner for pregnancy-safe makeup remover, features a blend of emollients to remove dirt, ceramides to add moisture to the skin barrier and antioxidant-rich wild melon seed oil. There’s also a medley of natural oils to help the skin stay hydrated, but without the odor those oils sometimes bring. “You can even use it on your lips to remove lipstick, and there’s no weird taste or smell,” our product tester noted. Applying it couldn’t be simpler: just soak a cotton pad in it and gently swipe anywhere you want to remove dirt and makeup. “It’s also less greasy than a typical makeup remover, so you can wear it daily—and even under makeup,” she added.

Our tester also noted that the bottle is easy to use and spill-proof. Just flip open the cap, turn it over and watch the milky drops pour onto a cotton pad. At eight ounces, it’s a big bottle, so you can count on it to last for a couple of months. Plus, it’s a colorful addition to your cabinet thanks to its cheery orange accents.

Quantity: 8 fl. oz. | Active Ingredients: Ceramides, vitamin E, oils (wild melon seed, virgin marula, mongongo, baobab and passion fruit)

If you’re looking for a tried-and-tested toner, this Best of The Bump-winning option has been around for some time, and there’s a reason people keep coming back to it. Its hero ingredient, witch hazel, is one of the most effective ways to keep pores clear and unclogged, control shine and eliminate oil without drying your skin out.

This product is best for oily, acne-prone and combination skin, making it an excellent choice for anyone experiencing pregnancy acne. “It has helped me with my skin a bit,” our product tester said, “and I’m sure it can help others with theirs.”

“There’s no scent from the product, which I love,” she added, giving the toner 10 out of 10 for fragrance. “It makes it easy to apply without having a crazy smell lingering on your skin.” She also noted that the recently updated bottle is well-designed. “It’s a good size and easy to carry around if you were to travel with it,” she added. And when it comes to value, this toner is very competitive. “It’s a good price… it does the job for anyone not looking to spend so much on a skin care product.”

Quantity: 16 fl. oz. | Active Ingredients: Witch hazel

If, like me, you start and end your day with face wash, it’s important to find one you truly love. The Honest Company’s Gentle Gel Cleanser received a glowing 10 out of 10 across all categories and a Best of The Bump win for best pregnancy-safe facial cleanser, making it a promising candidate for your daily cleansing ritual. The formula is gentle and non-drying, thanks to skin-calming ingredients like chamomile and calendula extracts. Plus, it’s vegan, cruelty-free and dermatologist-tested, and the bottle is made with 100 percent recycled plastic.

Our tester couldn’t have been happier with this cleanser. “It was very easy and simple to use!” she said. “I loved it. I’ve been looking for a good pregnancy-safe gel cleanser for a while and this one did wonders. It made my skin feel clean and soft.”

Honest is a popular brand among our readers, thanks in part to the pregnancy-specific Mama Care section of their website, and their roster of clean, reliable products. It doesn’t hurt that their offerings, including this bottle of face wash, look as good on your shelf as they feel on your skin. “The style and design are good,” our tester noted. “I love the simple packaging, and it’s cute to keep out on the counter. It’s not bulky.” That said, you’re not paying a massive price for a pretty package. “I feel like it came with a lot of product, and the size was great!” she noted. “A good money value for sure!”

Quantity: 5 fl. oz. | Active Ingredients: Chamomile, calendula extract

Between your growing belly and the head-to-toe swelling that comes with increased blood volume and fluid retention, it’s common to experience itchy, sensitive skin as your pregnancy progresses. As of this writing, I’m nearly 37 weeks along and nothing feels quite as delightful as stepping into a hot shower and coating my skin in this luxuriously moisturizing (and Best of The Bump-winning) body wash. The formula doesn’t lather up very dramatically and can almost feel like applying a cream, so on days when I’m too lazy to apply a full layer of body lotion, I can feel good knowing that I’ve gotten a generous dose of topical hydration from this body wash. These same traits also make it an excellent product for shaving in the shower if that’s part of your routine.

That’s not to say it doesn’t feel cleansing, though—if you aren’t a fan of the slightly filmy quality I’m describing, rest assured that applying it with a loofah or washcloth instead results in more suds and less residue. Scent-sensitive moms-to-be should note that while Dove doesn’t specify the scent of this body wash, it’s definitely perfumed. I happen to love the scent, which reminds me of a laundry detergent that might be labeled “spring rain” or “afternoon sunshine”—it has a slightly powdery, cucumber-meets-floral aroma that isn’t overwhelming and definitely doesn’t linger once you’ve dried off, so it won’t clash with a scented body lotion or perfume. Best of all, ringing in at under $7 for a 20-ounce bottle, this body wash gets a resounding 10 out of 10 in the value for money category.

Quantity: 20 fl. oz. | Active Ingredients: N/A

Let’s be real: Pregnancy can do some funky and surprising things to your skin. I’ve always been plagued by keratosis pilaris (you might know it as “chicken skin”) on my thighs and upper arms, and during pregnancy it’s gotten more noticeable—along with a new crop of tiny skin tags (thanks, hormones!) that have left my skin feeling rougher than ever before. Having a good body scrub has been non-negotiable, and this Best of The Bump-winning scrub by Biossance is my absolute favorite.

The EWG-certified formula is a hybrid chemical and physical exfoliant, combining a pomegranate enzyme that breaks down dead skin, sugar crystals that polish it away and squalane to leave behind a hydrated finish. You can feel the granules when you first apply it—they’re abrasive enough that I wouldn’t advise using this on your face—but they dissolve as you scrub so that the mixture finishes like a body oil. Most importantly, a few applications a week has definitely tamed the worst of my skin bumps.

“This worked amazingly on my skin!” said another tester, who gave it a 10 out of 10 across all categories. “It made it feel super soft and refreshed!” Like me, she was also drawn to the product’s lavender-tinged scent. “The smell was great! Not too strong but the perfect amount, and wasn’t overwhelming,” she noted. “I loved the smell, and the feeling it gives your skin is super nice.”

Quantity: 6.7 fl. oz. | Active ingredients: Squalane, pomegranate enzyme, sugar crystals

I’ll admit I was a little skeptical about this little pot of eye cream when it first came across my desk, in no small part because the company makes some very big claims. For instance, the website says it “brightens, visibly diminishes dark circles and crow’s feet and improves concealer application and wear.” As someone with pretty pronounced dark circles, I was ready to be underwhelmed, but it turns out I’m team Ole Henriksen all the way. The Best of The Bump-winning formula contains reflective minerals and colloidal gold that really do seem to leave a lasting iridescent glow. I thought this benefit would be lost once I applied my concealer, so I went so far as to do an A/B test on each side of my face. Lo and behold, even my not-so-detail-observant husband could detect a glow under the Banana Bright-treated eye a couple of hours later. My concealer also really did crease less under that eye, compared to the side that just had moisturizer underneath.

The cream itself comes in a cute frosted orange jar with an extra tabbed plastic cover underneath the lid, presumably to reduce oxygen and light exposure and extend its shelf life. It feels really nice going on, cooling and hydrating all at once. While I can’t speak specifically to the role of vitamin C in the formula, since this ingredient typically takes a longer period of time to produce visible results, the cream definitely gets a 10 out of 10 in the effectiveness department for delivering on all the smoothing, hydrating and immediate (mineral-based) brightening it promised. I can see myself using it as a base for a heavy makeup event, but it’s also really nice for a light makeup day in summer. Plus, I can already see myself loving it as a one-step routine to perk up my appearance once the baby comes and I’m constantly sleep deprived.

Quantity: 0.5 oz. | Active ingredients: Gold complexed vitamin C, 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbic acid, bioflavonoids, hardy orange extract, light-reflecting minerals

This glow-inducing, Best of The Bump-winning face oil is another show-stopper product from Biossance. Everything about the bottle screams decadence, from the glinting pink jar to the glass dropper to the enveloping floral aroma. It’s really a “treat yourself” product, with—it must be said—a price tag to match. Happily, it glides on easily and a little goes a long way, so just a few drops are enough to add a layer of dewy shine and lasting hydration to your face, neck and chest. I’ve been working my way through my bottle twice a day for months and I still have more than half of it left. And the dropper makes it incredibly easy to dispense the correct amount—so much so that I gave this product 10 out of 10 for ease of use.

Biossance lists a number of active ingredients in this formula, including an oil-soluble and shelf-stable form of vitamin C that’s intended to boost your skin’s elasticity and bounce. As recommended, I use the oil as the final step in my skin care routine, after cleanser, serum and moisturizer.I also love Biossance’s recommendation to mix a drop or two into your foundation for “extra dewy coverage.” To top it all off, I find the scent incredibly soothing. And hey, if you buy a bottle and find the scent isn’t for you, the beautiful packaging makes it an excellent candidate for regifting.

Quantity: 1 fl. oz. | Active ingredients: Vitamin C, rose extract, chios crystal oil, squalane

I first learned about Tubby Todd while perusing forums for parents of newborns, where moms and dads frequently recommend it as a miracle treatment for everything from cradle cap to diaper rash to baby acne. The brand also touts it as something of a cure-all (“A balm for everything!”)—and I have to admit I’m becoming a convert. I hadn’t really considered Tubby Todd for personal use until signing on to write this article, but I’m so glad I wound up trying this Best of The Bump winner out on myself.

At 28 weeks pregnant, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which required a new routine of hand-washing multiple times a day for finger-sticks and insulin injections. Thanks to further hand-washing after each of the comically frequent pee breaks that come with pregnancy, I quickly developed incredibly rough, dry, cracking skin on the backs of my hands. Nothing—from my regular body lotion to hydrating oils to slathering my hands in Eucerin before bed each night—made a lasting difference. Then I received a sample of Tubby Todd’s All Over Ointment and, encouraged by how thick and emollient the lotion looked, I immediately coated the backs of my hands in it. By the next morning, my damaged skin was completely restored. Now, anytime I sense that dryness starting to creep back in, I swipe on a small dollop of Tubby Todd to keep it at bay.

The version I tested contains 1 percent colloidal oatmeal, which is essentially just finely ground oatmeal dispersed throughout the ointment. Tubby Todd says it performs double duty as both an exfoliant and a skin protectant, which could explain why my skin appeared so smooth and refreshed after just one use. For those with a sensitivity to oats, there’s also an “original” formula available, with an identical ingredient list save the colloidal oatmeal. The ointment itself is quite thick and a bit on the greasy side, so a little goes a long way. I recommend starting with a pea-size amount and building it up as needed.

When purchasing Tubby Todd’s All Over Ointment, you can choose between fragrance-free and lavender-rosemary scent; I only tested the former and found it to smell faintly medicinal, a bit like sunscreen. It’s not particularly offensive or lingering, but I wouldn’t call it odorless either. That said, the degree to which it restored my cracked skin definitely makes it a keeper in my book. If it does half the things for my baby’s skin that other parents swear by, I'll absolutely continue to invest in it in the future.

Quantity: 3.5 oz. | Active Ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, jojoba esters, camellia leaf extract

Don’t be fooled by the word “acid” in its name—there’s nothing drying or corrosive about this particular ingredient. Quite the opposite, in fact: You’ll find hyaluronic acid as a key ingredient in any number of hydrating skincare products because it draws and binds moisture to itself like a sponge, visibly plumping the surface of your skin. This serum, our Best of The Bump winner for pregnancy-safe hyaluronic acid, combines a generous 2 percent dose with vitamin B5 to give your skin a soft, smooth finish all day long. Best of all, it’s free of parabens and phthalates and designed to work with all skin types, whether oily, sensitive or dry.

“I appreciate that this product is vegan; I’m a mom to two doggies and love animals in general,” said our product tester. “I didn’t recognize many of the ingredients but appreciate the glycerin, which I know to be hydrating. I felt my skin looked and felt more hydrated after using this product.” What’s more, “the size is one fluid ounce, so it's perfect for any bathroom drawer, cabinet or countertop,” she added, giving the product 10 out of 10 for ease of use. “The bottle is beautiful and clean, and the soft dropper top makes it easy to squeeze a drop onto your hand or directly onto your face.”

Plus, it’s not going to mess with your aesthetic if you forget to put it away. The style and design of the product (which earned another 10 out of 10 from our product tester) are “very simplistic and clean-looking—all white/clear packaging with a clear potion inside,” she said. “I appreciate the minimalism.”

Quantity: 1 fl. oz. | Active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin b5