Homemade Moisturizing Face Masks During Pregnancy
Homemade moisturizing face masks are an advisable option to incorporate into your daily skincare routine during pregnancy. In fact, maintaining a correct skincare routine helps prevent hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and premature aging. Keep in mind that not all the products on the market are suitable for use in this type of cosmetic treatment, as they’re easily absorbed by the skin and can cause irritation or dermatitis.
Learn about these homemade moisturizing masks that you can use during pregnancy
During pregnancy, the body undergoes many changes caused by hormonal alterations. Dehydration of the skin, its increased sensitivity, and the appearance of stretch marks are some of them. There are many products that aren’t suitable for the skin, and much less for pregnant women.
Aloe vera face masks
Aloe vera has several active components, including vitamins, enzymes, minerals, lignin, sugars, saponins, amino acids, and salicylic acids. In fact, its high concentration of mucopolysaccharides contributes to the retention of moisture in the skin.
Also, it achieves smooth skin through its amino acids and zinc. Therefore, aloe vera masks improve skin integrity and decrease redness and the appearance of fine wrinkles.
You might be interested in: 10 Interesting Facts About Your Skin When You’re Pregnant
Honey masks
Unpasteurized honey, such as manuka honey, accelerates healing processes and reduces inflammation of the skin surface. It can even be effective as a treatment for acne, scars, and dry or dull skin. However, the pasteurization of honey removes both the propolis and the pollen it contains, which reduces its antioxidant effects.
Before applying honey, it’s essential to do a patch test. That is, place a small amount on a small area of skin and wait at least 20 minutes to rule out allergic reactions.
Rosehip oil
Rosehip oil contains vitamin A, vitamin F, and vitamin C, along with essential fatty acids, such as the following:
- Oleic acid
- Palmitic acid
- Gamma linolenic acid
- Linoleic acid
A review by Nutrients concludes that vitamin C has antioxidant properties, promotes collagen production, increases wound healing, and helps prevent dry skin.
Vaseline Face Masks
The main ingredient in petroleum jelly is petroleum, but unlike other forms of petroleum, is safe to use on the skin or hands. In fact, it works by sealing in moisture that already exists in the skin and protects it when it’s injured or irritated by developing an occlusive barrier. Therefore, it’s safe and recommended for use on dry or irritated skin.
What is skin slugging?
Slugging is a skincare technique that has become very popular today because of its use in TikTok. Simply put, it’s the procedure of sealing the skin with an occlusive agent, such as petroleum jelly, overnight. This process works not only on the face, but also on other parts of the body, from the lips to the ankles. In addition, it’s non-comedogenic. In other words, it doesn’t clog pores, as the size of its molecules is too large.
Green tea masks
Green tea has multiple therapeutic properties for the skin due to its high content of polyphenols and catechins that act as antioxidants. In addition, it contains vitamins, including vitamin E, which has the ability to nourish and hydrate the skin.
A study by Dermatologic Therapy found that applying green tea to the forearm of participants increased moisture in the skin and reduced roughness.
Read also: Oily Skin During Pregnancy: Advice and Care
When to use face masks?
Always clean the skin surface before applying face masks in order to achieve the expected results. In addition, applying them every day isn’t recommended, but rather, once a week, leaving them on for between 10 and 20 minutes before rinsing.
When removing homemade moisturizing masks, it’s a good idea to use warm water, without generating too much friction on the skin so as not to injure or irritate it. It’s even good to have a towel exclusively for the face and another one for the body. In addition, before applying any mask, it’s important to perform a test on a small part of the skin to rule out allergies or irritation.
The use of moisturizing face masks during pregnancy
During pregnancy, caution should be taken with the products used, as the active ingredients of some cosmetics can reach the baby through the skin. Homemade masks aim to keep the skin hydrated and contribute to minimizing the development of stretch marks during pregnancy.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Sánchez M, González-Burgos E, Iglesias I, Gómez-Serranillos MP. Pharmacological Update Properties of Aloe Vera and its Major Active Constituents. Molecules. 2020 Mar 13;25(6):1324. doi: 10.3390/molecules25061324. PMID: 32183224; PMCID: PMC7144722.
- Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients. 2017 Aug 12;9(8):866. doi: 10.3390/nu9080866. PMID: 28805671; PMCID: PMC5579659.
- Gianeti MD, Mercurio DG, Campos PM. The use of green tea extract in cosmetic formulations: not only an antioxidant active ingredient. Dermatol Ther. 2013 May-Jun;26(3):267-71. doi: 10.1111/j.1529-8019.2013.01552.x. Epub 2013 Mar 13. PMID: 23742288.
- Vora, R. V., Gupta, R., Mehta, M. J., Chaudhari, A. H., Pilani, A. P., & Patel, N. (2014). Pregnancy and skin. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 3(4), 318–324. https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.148099