Pregnancy-Safe Skincare Routine | What Jessica Recommends for Every Trimester

By Jessica Dash | TGS Beauty & Skin, Hammond Park

Pregnancy skin is one of those things that surprises most people. Some clients glow from the first trimester. Others find their skin doing things it's never done before — sudden breakouts, unexpected dryness, pigmentation appearing out of nowhere.

Neither experience is wrong. Both are completely normal. And both are manageable with the right routine and the right products.

Here's what I recommend to my pregnant clients at TGS — broken down by concern, with product suggestions and a few things to watch out for.

How pregnancy changes your skin

Hormonal shifts during pregnancy affect your skin in ways that can feel unpredictable:

Dryness and tightness — hydration is being redirected to support your baby, which means your skin can feel tight and dehydrated even if it never has before.

Melasma — increased melanin production causes dark patches to appear, particularly on the face. UV exposure makes it significantly worse, which is why daily SPF is non-negotiable during pregnancy.

Hormonal breakouts — changes in oil production can trigger congestion and breakouts, even in clients who've never had acne-prone skin.

Increased sensitivity — skin tends to be more reactive during pregnancy, meaning products you've used for years without issue can suddenly cause irritation.

What makes pregnancy skincare tricky is that many of the ingredients that would normally help with these concerns — retinol in particular — aren't appropriate during pregnancy. So the approach needs to be gentler and more targeted.

The routine I recommend

Morning

Cleanse The DermaFix Hydra-Silk Cleanser is gentle enough for sensitised pregnancy skin and won't strip your natural oils. Use it morning and night as your starting point.

Tone The DermaFix Revitalising Toner rebalances your skin after cleansing and preps it to absorb what follows. Apply on a cotton pad and smooth over face, neck and décolletage.

Hydrate The DermaFix Hyalu7 Boost is a hyaluronic acid concentrate that draws water into the skin and holds it there. Apply to slightly damp skin before moisturiser for best results.

Moisturise The DermaFix Argan Oil 100% Pure is one of my favourites for pregnancy skin — rich in fatty acids, it improves elasticity and softens without feeling heavy. A drop or two mixed with your moisturiser or applied directly is enough.

SPF — every single morning This is the most important step during pregnancy, particularly if you're managing melasma. The Mother SPF Mineral Matte Tinted SPF 50 is mineral-based, pregnancy-safe and genuinely one of the nicest daily SPFs I've used. Apply as the last step before makeup.

Evening

Double cleanse Remove SPF, makeup and the day's build-up properly. One cleanse after a full day of SPF isn't enough — use the Hydra-Silk Cleanser twice.

Tone Same as morning.

Hydrate Hyalu7 Boost again — your skin loses more moisture overnight than most people realise.

Repair and soothe The DermaFix Skin ResQ Cream is a calming, barrier-supportive cream that works beautifully as a night treatment for sensitised or reactive pregnancy skin. It calms irritation and strengthens the skin barrier while you sleep.

For melasma specifically, the DermaFix Vitamin B Cream used at night helps regulate oil production, calm inflammation and support skin repair — it's one of my most recommended products for pregnancy skin overall.

Managing specific pregnancy skin concerns

Melasma

The single most effective thing you can do for melasma during pregnancy is wear SPF every day without fail — UV exposure is what activates and worsens the pigmentation. The Mother SPF Mineral Matte is the one I recommend.

Avoid harsh brightening ingredients — hydroquinone in particular is not appropriate during pregnancy. Gentle hydration and consistent SPF will do more than any active treatment during this stage.

Hormonal breakouts

Keep your routine simple and consistent. The Hydra-Silk Cleanser, Revitalising Toner and DermaFix Vitamin B Cream is a solid, pregnancy-safe combination for managing hormonal breakouts — the Vitamin B regulates oil production, calms inflammation and supports the skin barrier without any aggressive actives.

Avoid retinoids, benzoyl peroxide and high-concentration salicylic acid — none of these are considered safe during pregnancy.

Dryness and stretch marks

Start layering hydration early — the Hyalu7 Boost under your moisturiser, then the Argan Oil to seal it in. For body skin, massage the Argan Oil into areas prone to stretch marks from the second trimester onward. Consistent, daily application makes a real difference to skin elasticity over time.

Sensitivity and reactivity

Simplify. If your skin is flaring up, strip your routine back to cleanser, moisturiser and SPF and add things back one at a time. The DermaFix Skin ResQ Cream is specifically designed for sensitised and reactive skin and is a good anchor product during flare-ups.

Ingredients to avoid during pregnancy

• Retinoids (Vitamin A in any form) — not safe during pregnancy
• Hydroquinone — absorbs easily into the bloodstream
• High-concentration salicylic acid — can cause complications
• Synthetic fragrances — often irritating to sensitised pregnancy skin
• Parabens and phthalates — worth avoiding where possible

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'd rather spend five minutes on that than have you using something that's not right.

Professional treatments during pregnancy

A good home routine is essential — but sometimes your skin needs professional support too. The Pregnancy Glow Facial at TGS is specifically designed for pregnant and postpartum clients, using pregnancy-safe products and protocols throughout. It's available in all trimesters and is one of the treatments I'm asked about most often.

For a full breakdown of what beauty treatments are and aren't safe during pregnancy, read the pregnancy-safe beauty services guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Vitamin C during pregnancy? Yes — Vitamin C is safe and genuinely helpful for brightening and managing early pigmentation during pregnancy.

When should I start adjusting my routine? As early as possible — ideally as soon as you know you're pregnant. The earlier you get your routine right, the better your skin will respond throughout.

How often should I moisturise? Morning and night as a minimum. If your skin is very dry, a light hydrating layer mid-afternoon helps too.

What if I've already used retinoids during pregnancy? Stop immediately and speak to your doctor or midwife. Accidental use before you knew you were pregnant is very rarely harmful — but medical guidance is always the right next step.

Are natural skincare products always safe? Not always. Some essential oils and herbal ingredients can be risky during pregnancy. Stick to products from brands with clear pregnancy-safe formulations and check with your midwife if you're unsure about anything specific.

Book your Pregnancy Glow Facial

If you're pregnant and want professional skin support alongside your home routine, the Pregnancy Glow Facial is the best starting point. It's available to new and returning clients and is safe throughout all three trimesters.

TGS Beauty & Skin is a private studio in Hammond Park, serving clients from Hammond Park, Cockburn, Atwell, Aubin Grove and the surrounding area.

Book your Pregnancy Glow Facial →

Read the pregnancy-safe beauty services guide →

Can you get a facial while pregnant? →

xx Jess