These Are The Safest (And Most Effective) Face Washes During Your Pregnancy

Sea Kelp and French Green Clay are the ingredients behind this softening, detoxifying cleanser. It’s paraben free, sulfate free, mineral oil free, petrolatum free, formaldehyde free and cruelty free— but full of plant extracts and antioxidants. With more than 10,000 reviews on Amazon, Eileen raves, “I have been using the ACURE Brilliantly Brightening Facial Scrub for over 3 years. It is fantastically luxurious at a very affordable price.” Use the scrub 2-3x per week to keep skin-tones even. Pregnant and new mamas, you know what we mean.

Of course the company that started with baby products can make skincare safe for pregnant mamas! This hypoallergenic, gentle gel cleanser contains a botanical blend of chamomile & calendula to help calm & soothe. It’s made without parabens, phthalates, SLS, dyes, SLES, PEGs, and synthetic fragrances. Since the Sweet Orange + Vanilla Body Wash is already a baby staple, we trust Jessica Alba with our own skin.

You had us at “Burt’s Bees.” This gentle foaming cleanser has cucumber and mint to nourish and hydrate, plus vitamins A, B2, and E. It’s allergy and dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, and formulated without parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, and SLS. Male and female customers love this product (and full product line) as it can be used on the reg, day and night.

This foaming face wash is chock full of naturally-derived ingredients such as soothing aloe, brightening sugarcane, moisturizing rice seed and cleansing coconut-derived surfactants. It has none of the bad stuff (including synthetic fragrance or color) but does have a natural, woodsy scent with notes of cedar, spearmint, lime, lemon, rosemary, black spruce, owyhee, vetiver and lavender. That’s plant-powered skincare (as they call it) at its best.

Perfect for sensitized skin (hello pregnancy), this formula by REN is 100% naturally derived, right down to the surfactants that turn the product from a rich oil into a rinse-clean milk. It not only thoroughly cleanses your skin of makeup, but also of SPF and pollution. Pro-tip: leave it on for 10 minutes without water, and it doubles as a nourishing mask. REN has been a leader in clean skincare (all the way down to its packaging, which is fully recyclable where facilities exist) and has been a staple in our beauty regimen since before clean became cool.

Tula’s Cult Classic Facial Cleanser is loved. Seriously. Created by an MD using probiotics (she’s a gastroenterologist, after all), this cleanser is gentle and effective— never over-drying— but tough enough to remove your makeup including eye makeup. The probiotics calm and soothe, on the inside and out. The smell is light and clean and the gel formula turns into a light foam when you use it.

Before you think this price is just too much, know the reviews are glowing. “I always thought people were dumb to spend a lot of money on any sort of skin care product thinking they could could get something of equal quality for way cheaper at any drug store,” admitted one Amazon reviewer. “After using this product I now know that I was wrong to think that way because this face cleanser is the best product I have ever used hands down. I highly recommend this product.”

Yep – old trusty. This is one of those situations where sometimes, less is more. Cetaphil is known for its to-the-point formula that’s pretty much as simple as it gets: It’s clear, fragrance-free, gentle, and suitable for just about everyone, including those with sensitive skin. It’s also a top-seller, with over 13,000 (overwhelmingly positive) reviews to prove it. Oh, and did we mention it’s super affordable? Done and done.

Romer products are specifically formulated with clean ingredients — and without hormone disrupters — making them safe and nourishing for expecting moms’ skin (as well as for everyone else, regardless of gender). This gel-oil cleanser gently cleans while locking in moisture, helping to retain and restore your skin’s natural balance without drying it out. “I love all the products but the cleanser is really something special. The natural scents are so relaxing. The formula is super effective yet gentle,” one customer raved.

Formulated with probiotics, BIOMILK’s probiotic face scrub is designed with nourishing ingredients — and without hormone disruptors — to feed the delicate biome of the face. We like that this wash contains fine exfoliants that give you a deep, detoxifying clean that’s safe to use even if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. It’s made with 98% natural ingredients, and as a bonus, it’s also cruelty-free.

This pregnancy-safe cleansing balm from eco-conscious, cruelty-free brand True Botanicals removes makeup, sunscreen, and dirt without drying out your skin. It’s great for sensitive skin as well as skin affected by redness, roughness, and rosacea. True Botanicals’ website features each product’s full ingredient list — full of natural substances like turmeric, yucca extract, jojoba oil, and things that are fun to (try to) say, like “persea gratissima” and “zingiber officinale.” One reviewer called it “a dream come true!”

Here’s some good news to make your pregnancy skincare shopping easier (easier ANYTHING is great when you’re expecting!): All of Drunk Elephant’s products are safe for pregnant and nursing women (except for only two items: their A-Passioni and Babyfacial). This cleanser removes makeup, dirt, and sunscreen to help reveal your gorgeous skin. This Slaai Makeup-Melting Butter Cleanser also comes with a magnetic spoon, to ensure you’re using the right amount of product. Many people use this as a second step to another cleanser, ensuring their face is as clean as possible before heading to bed or to work in the morning. “This product is amazingly nourishing while melting away the day from your face. Gentle enough for everyday but magically removes any makeup. Cleans deeply and leaves fave feeling nourished, not dry. Great little scoop that keeps hands out and attaches to lid magnetically,” said one Amazon reviewer.