By Jessica Dash | TGS Beauty & Skin, Hammond Park
Pregnancy changes a lot of things — including your skin, your sensitivity levels and what beauty treatments are appropriate. And honestly, this is one of the questions I get most often from clients who are newly pregnant and not sure what they can and can't continue booking.
The short answer is that most beauty services are completely fine during pregnancy — with a few important exceptions. Here's the honest breakdown.
How pregnancy affects your skin
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect your skin in ways that feel unpredictable. Some clients find their skin genuinely glows throughout — others deal with:
- Increased sensitivity and reactivity
- Dryness or dehydration
- Hormonal breakouts, particularly in the first trimester
- Melasma — dark patches that appear due to increased melanin production
- A feeling that products that used to work fine are suddenly irritating
None of this is permanent, but it does mean that the approach to your skin and beauty treatments needs to be a little more considered than usual.
What's safe during pregnancy
Pregnancy Glow Facial — $250
This is the treatment I designed specifically for pregnant and postpartum clients. It uses pregnancy-safe products throughout — no retinoids, no high-concentration acids, nothing that raises questions — and it's one of the most relaxing appointments on the TGS menu.
Every appointment includes a pregnancy-safe consultation, double cleanse, gentle enzyme exfoliation, face and neck massage, hydrating mask, scalp or hand massage, toner, serum infusion, moisturiser and mineral SPF.
It's not just for skin that's struggling — plenty of pregnant clients book it simply because they want an hour of genuine rest and skin that feels looked after. That's more than enough reason.
It's available to new clients and is genuinely one of my favourite treatments to perform. Book it as early in your pregnancy as you like.
Brow waxing and tinting Generally fine throughout pregnancy. Skin can be more reactive so there's occasionally a little more redness than usual — it settles quickly. If you've had brow waxing regularly before pregnancy, you're unlikely to notice much difference.
Brow lamination Most clients who've had brow lamination regularly before falling pregnant are fine to continue. If you've never had it done before, pregnancy isn't the ideal time to try it for the first time — skin is more reactive and you don't know yet how you'll respond. If you're unsure, get in touch before booking and we'll work it out together.
Lash lift Same principle as brow lamination — if it's already part of your regular routine, continuing is generally fine. The solutions are applied close to the eye and skin sensitivity is heightened during pregnancy, so it's worth discussing before booking if you have any concerns.
Lash tinting Fine during pregnancy for most clients.
Waxing Brazilian, leg and body waxing are all generally safe during pregnancy. Sensitivity is often higher so expect the area to be a little more reactive than usual. Mention you're pregnant when booking so I can take extra care.
Facials — with the right products The Pregnancy Glow Facial is the safest and most appropriate option during pregnancy. Other facial treatments at TGS use products that may not be appropriate during pregnancy — get in touch if you want to discuss whether a specific treatment is right for where you are in your pregnancy.
What to avoid during pregnancy
Retinoids and prescription-strength actives Vitamin A (retinol, retinoids, Retin-A) is the main one to avoid — it's well established that high doses can cause harm during pregnancy. Stop these before any facial treatment and ideally pause them from your home routine too. If you're unsure whether something in your routine counts, bring a list to your appointment and I'll go through it with you.
High-concentration chemical peels Strong peels using salicylic acid, glycolic acid or similar at professional concentrations aren't appropriate during pregnancy. The Express Power Peel and Skin Renewal Treatment fall into this category — worth waiting until after you've finished breastfeeding.
Spray tanning with DHA DHA hasn't been extensively studied during pregnancy and most guidelines recommend avoiding it, particularly in the first trimester. Self-tan applied topically is considered lower risk but still worth discussing with your midwife or GP.
Heat treatments Saunas, steam rooms and prolonged heat exposure can raise core body temperature to unsafe levels. Avoid these throughout pregnancy.
Microneedling, laser and invasive treatments Skip these until well after pregnancy and breastfeeding. No exceptions.
Skincare products to use (and avoid) during pregnancy
Use:
- Gentle, fragrance-free cleansers — the DermaFix Hydra-Silk Cleanser is a good option
- Hyaluronic acid for hydration — DermaFix ACC Hyaluronic Gel
- Vitamin C at lower concentrations for brightening
- Mineral SPF daily — the Mother SPF Mineral Matte Tinted SPF 50 is pregnancy-safe and one I recommend to all clients, pregnant or not
- Ceramide and niacinamide-based moisturisers for barrier support — DermaFix Vitamin B Cream
- DermaFix Skin ResQ for sensitivity, redness or skin that needs calming
Avoid or check first:
- Retinoids in any form
- Salicylic acid at concentrations above 2%
- Glycolic acid at high concentrations
- Products with synthetic fragrance if your skin is reactive
- DermaFix MelanoDerm — while it contains a skin-lightening complex, check with your midwife before using any brightening actives during pregnancy
A note on comfort during your appointment
TGS has a fully adjustable treatment bed with pregnancy pillow support — so whether you're six weeks or thirty-six weeks, we can position you comfortably throughout your appointment. You won't be expected to lie flat if that's uncomfortable, and we adjust throughout the treatment as needed.
This is something I take seriously — a relaxed client gets better results and has a better experience, and that matters even more during pregnancy when your body is working harder than usual.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a facial in my first trimester? The Pregnancy Glow Facial is safe throughout all trimesters. For other facial treatments, the first trimester is when I'd be most cautious — get in touch and we'll work out what's appropriate for where you are.
Is brow lamination safe during pregnancy? For clients who've had it regularly before pregnancy — generally yes. For first-timers — I'd wait. More detail in the brow lamination guide.
Can I wax while pregnant? Yes. Sensitivity is often higher so expect a little more redness than usual. Mention you're pregnant when you book.
What skincare should I stop using during pregnancy? At minimum — any retinoids or vitamin A products. If you're unsure about anything in your current routine, bring a list to your appointment and I'll go through it with you.
I'm postpartum — when can I restart my normal treatments? It depends on the treatment and whether you're breastfeeding. The Pregnancy Glow Facial is safe postpartum and during breastfeeding. For treatments using stronger actives, I'd recommend waiting until you've finished breastfeeding. Get in touch and we'll work out a plan.
Book your pregnancy-safe appointment
TGS Beauty & Skin is a private studio in Hammond Park, serving clients from Hammond Park, Cockburn, Atwell, Aubin Grove and the surrounding area. All appointments are one-on-one, by booking only.
The Pregnancy Glow Facial is available to new and returning clients. If you're not sure what's right for where you are in your pregnancy, get in touch before booking — I'd rather have a quick conversation than have you second-guess yourself.
Book your Pregnancy Glow Facial →
Can you get a facial while pregnant? Read more →
xx Jess
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Pregnancy-Safe Skincare Routine | What Jessica Recommends for Every Trimester