I’ve always prioritized my skin above all else, investing in the latest products, treatments and tools to help treat inflammation, blemishes, texture, tone and pigmentation. But when I began the journey of trying to conceive, my whole skincare regimen came crashing down. Who knew so many products were not recommended for pregnancy and the TTC journey?! With this new ingredient minefield to navigate, I began the challenge of crafting an updated skincare regimen with pregnancy-approved products, and proved to myself that I can still get similar results with gentler products. Behold, a pregnancy-approved list of skincare products and treatments you don’t want to miss.

Step No. 1: Get Balanced

Acupuncture is a MUST. Full stop. This treatment has been around for centuries, and for good reason. It’s effective, natural and has a host of valuable benefits. Find a provider that specializes in fertility and hormone acupuncture, and you’ll be shocked at the almost instantaneous results. I started getting acupuncture for my irregular cycles, and after one treatment I saw results. (More on that in a separate post.)

I also see my acupuncturist to treat hormonal acne. I don’t know the methodology behind it, but it works. In addition to hormonal elements, acupuncture throughout your pregnancy can help alleviate nausea and morning sickness, constipation, achiness and can even help induce labor in the final days.

Step No. 2: Leave it to the Pros

So many ingredients are off-limits when trying to conceive, pregnant and breastfeeding, including harsh chemical peels, retinoids, prescription topical agents and more. That’s why when I found this incredible pregnancy-approved facial treatment, I was hooked.

The Biomedic Peel is available at my favorite skin clinic, Minneapolis Skin Clinic. (Full disclosure, I get paid by them now, but I’ve been seeing them for services since 2011, well before receiving a dime.) The Biomedic Peel starts with a mild cleanse followed by a dermaplaning treatment. Dermaplaning is used to gently exfoliate the face by removing the outer layer of dead skin, debris and peach fuzz. The result is a baby’s-butt smooth texture. Lactic acid (a gentler, pregnancy-safe form of glycolic acid) is applied to help increase cell turnover, eliminate any remaining dead skin cells, reduce acne conditions and provide a smoother appearance, tone and texture. After that, a calming agent is applied based on your skin’s needs. Essentially it’s a spa massage in a facial, with incredibly satisfying results. I aim for 1-2 Biomedic Peels a month. The best part about this milder strength peel is that there’s no down time and no harsh peeling, just a safe, smooth and glowing result.

Step No. 3: Effectively Cleanse

Not all cleansers are created equal, and sometimes you need something with a little kick to help rid your skin of blemishes. We love the Obagi C-Cleansing Gel because it’s pregnancy safe, has a mild aroma, a great lather and leaves your skin feeling fully cleansed. It’s especially useful during pregnancy, when hormones can ramp up oil production leading to increased breakouts.

Step No. 4: Spot Treat

With hormones going all over the place, breakouts are bound to happen. Our go-to pregnancy-approved spot treatment is the Kate Somerville EradiKate Blemish Spot Treatment. It uses sulfur to treat blemishes at the source, and either eliminates it altogether or significantly reduces breakout healing time.

Step No. 5: VitC

SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic Serum really is the only VitC you need in your life. Not only is it great for treating existing hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and discoloration, but it’s also shown to help prevent further damage and discoloration caused by UVA rays. It’s pregnancy-safe and can help combat aging and acne-related pigmentation. Win-win in our books!

Step No. 6: Hydration

A great alternative to a thicker moisturizer is SkinCeuticals Phyto Corrective Gel. It contains hyaluronic acid, a gentle ingredient shown to boost hydration, reduce redness and eliminate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This hydrating, soothing gel serum also contains botanical ingredients that calm visual redness and inflammation.

Step No. 7: Protection

Sun protection is a must, no matter what time of year. End your routine with the first line of defense against harmful UVA (ultraviolet aging) and UVB (ultraviolet burning) rays with our absolute favorite SPF formula. The All-Physical Lightweight Wrinkle Defense Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 by Dr. Dennis Gross is a phenomenal option that leaves your skin silky smooth, protected and a little dewy glow to boot. Physical sunscreens repel UV rays while chemical sunscreens absorb them, so you can rest assured that your skin is highly protected from damage.

Step No. 8: Don’t Forget the Neck

Tech neck is a real thing, and if that’s not creating deep wrinkles, then years of sun exposure will surely show your age. Keep your neck in check (and the rest of your body and belly, for that matter), with the Revision Skincare Nectifirm Cream. It has an amazing soothing fragrance coupled with a thick cream, and helps keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay that may crop up due to natural aging, tech neck and more.