Why pregnancy changes the rules
Hormonal shifts make skin drier, tighter and more reactive than usual, and some ingredients that were fine before are now worth avoiding. Suddenly every label feels like a question mark. Here's how to read them with confidence.
The three to skip
- Retinoids (vitamin A derivatives): the most widely advised ingredient to avoid during pregnancy. Check labels for retinol, retinyl palmitate and tretinoin.
- Parabens: a preservative family many parents choose to avoid. Gentler preservative systems exist: Mamave uses benzyl alcohol and dehydroacetic acid, free from parabens, isothiazolinones and formaldehyde.
- Synthetic fragrance: a common irritant for sensitised pregnancy skin. Naturally derived essential oils like lavender, frankincense and mandarin can scent a formula gently instead.
Mamave formulas also leave out mineral oils, almond and peanut oils, and are completely SLS and SLES free, because what we leave out matters just as much as what we put in.
What to reach for instead
Look for plant oils rich in Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) such as borage seed and evening primrose, which support the skin barrier and relieve dryness. Squalane mimics the skin's own oils to lock in moisture, and vitamin E-rich oils like argan and jojoba keep stretching skin supple.
Remember: 'natural' isn't automatically 'safe'
Natural doesn't always mean pregnancy-safe, and pregnancy-safe doesn't have to mean ineffective. Every Mamave product is developed by a qualified formulation chemist using science-backed ingredients, so you don't have to decode a single label.
