by Bahar Etminan, Editor RESCU.com.au – The Expert Site to RESCU Your Life
As I embrace the third trimester of my pregnancy, one thing that is abundantly clear is the changes I can see in the mirror. The other day, over hot chocolate (my daily guilty pleasure) a friend who’s known me since I was 21 commented that my face was changing and that it’s true that pregnancy makes a woman look softer and more womanly. I think that’s a good thing. She also said that your face changes forever!
On the plus side, I’ve definitely noticed smoother, plumper skin that looks permanently hydrated. On the negative, my face looks fuller and I can wake up a little puffy if I’ve had anything with salt the night before. Botox and harsh chemical peels are a no no during pregnancy so it’s a good thing the lines are looking full and skin is naturally glowing.
As I am fortunate enough to have access to wonderful beauty products, treatments and expert advice in my job as Editor and Publisher of online women’s lifestyle site www.rescu.com.au I thought I’d share a few of my own experiences and also top tips and products to consider during pregnancy. Of course you will have your own tried and true solutions, but I’ve found that I’ve had to change a few beauty routines and some of the new habits, I’ll be keeping after the birth as they have been an improvement on the old!
1. Hair- Go for low maintenance and high impact hair care and styling. I spoke to Joh Bailey my hairdresser for over 15 years when I got pregnant and asked him about the road ahead. His tip was to switch from highlights to a tint and regular toning and deep conditioning treatments. Highlights require regular visits to the salon which is time consuming, expensive and irritating if you are getting bigger and more uncomfortable. Switching to tinting my roots and going for a glossy semi permanent on the ends means less trips to the salon and really glossy, healthy hair. I’m also not using bleach or harsh chemicals as you can opt for a safe dye. He also suggested I lose a few inches and get some good layers around the 8 month mark so I don’t need to come in for a ‘do’ until the baby is at least 2 months and I can face the world again.
2. Body- Exfoliate, moisturise and treat. This is your pregnancy mantra. Dr Mark Kohout, our resident plastic surgeon and skin expert told me to start right at the beginning and be vigilant about this so skin stays supple, hydrated and stretch mark free. I have been using an excellent Body Scrub by True Solutions. It’s organic and leaves my skin supple and smooth. I moisturise daily from head to toe using a simply delicious body lotion by Planet Eve Certified Organics. It leaves my skin feeling like velvet and there is absolutely no residue. As a treatment, on my bottom, hips, belly and boobs I alternate morning and night between Eleusian Divine Creation Oil with organic rosehip, geranium and lavender and Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Gold Ultra Restorative Capsules. These are amazing for spot treatment of collagen loss and stretch mark prevention. Yes, it’s a little more than normal but the skin on my body has NEVER looked or felt better. In the bath or shower, try the very excellent and safe Dr Lewinn’s Medic Protective Bath Oil with St John’s Wort and Camellia Oil.
3. Nails- switch to a formaldehyde free formula even if you are planning pregnancy. My favourite brand of minimally toxic nail polish is Zoya. They have an incredible colour collection and the results are super professional. OPI have also just launched a great range of nail polishes which are safe during pregnancy. Dr Lewinn’s Revitanail strengthener also comes in a formaldehyde free version. Brilliant and effective. If you prefer the professional touch, Endota spas do a brilliant, safe and luxurious mani or pedi at all of their salons. Their nail polishes are free from formaldehyde, toluene and DBP- all nasty chemicals when you are pregnant!
4. Face- If you are thinking of going natural during your pregnancy, you are actually in luck. The past few years have seen wonderful advances in natural and organic skincare without sacrificing any of the anti-ageing benefits and results. Brands that deliver results and are safe to use include: Juice Beauty (an organic brand from the US); Judith White Organics; Trilogy and Kosmea. Each have their own hero products but I’ve been slightly addicted to the Judith White Rose Facial Mist, The Juice Beauty Green Apple Face Peel, Trilogy’s Rosehip Oil and Kosmea’s the 8th Natural Wonder. These products work and are a pleasure to use. If pigmentation has you in a flap, you will absolutely love the results of Clinique Even Better dark spot corrector. Safe during pregnancy, and over time delivers the same results as Hydroquinone. This little serum has had my pigmentation in check and I won’t be separated from it. You must use an spf 30 over the top and to keep pigmentation in check.
5. Make Up- You are naturally glowing so this is the best time to go easy on heavy foundations and show some skin. Glenn Nutley, Hollywood based makeup artist and RESCU expert told me to switch to either a mineral foundation (loving Bare Minerals for good coverage and flawless finish) or play with some tinted moisturisers. When I am feeling confident, I go with a tinted moisturiser from Laura Mercier (the best in the business) and dust some Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick to my cheeks, temples and voila, I am all aglow. Glenn swears by Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks and I have to say I agree, they are very flattering and even more so now that I am pregnant and already have a good glow on! His other tip was to keep things simple and to focus on good features. He introduced me to the eye opening and instantly glamorising benefits of false eyelashes and the importance of great mascara. The best I’ve tried so far is from Giorgio Armani, Chanel and Lancôme. If you are looking for a chemical free mineral version, try Vibrate Lash by Divina- it has organic Argan leaf extract and minimal nasties. Don’t forget we eat most of what we put on our lips so if you are being super strict, seek out brands that contain minimal chemicals. Burt’s Bees have a great collection of tinted lip products that are free from chemicals that may harm your baby. Our makeup expert Stephen Gaskett introduced me to Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream lipsticks and the face slimming benefits of mineral bronzer to sculpt and flatter the face.
6. Fragrance is a little tricky in the first trimester particularly if you are suffering from morning sickness and have a highly developed sense of smell as I did. Those first few months, I stuck to men’s colognes (Guerlain Vetiver is great as is DKNY for Men) with a citrus or oceanic notes. I also banned my husband from wearing anything with a musk or patchouli base and generally avoided the fragrance department of stores. The past three months however have been fantastic and I feel that I am back and getting a little experimental. Fragrance experts will recommend you never try more than 3 fragrances at one time as your nose can get confused. I agree. If you are looking for a new fragrance to mark this wonderful time in your life (remember fragrance is the most powerful memory trigger so what you wear now will always remind you of this time), do your testing over a few days. My tip: take some ribbon, have the fragrance consultant spray the fragrance on the ribbon then tie it around your wrist. See how you like it, how it reacts to your skin and your now raging hormones responsible for even a change in the way you smell. I have found fragrant success with the following fragrances: Diorissimo by Dior (fresh, elegant with top notes of Lily of the Valley and Jasmine); Tuberose Gardenia by Estee Lauder is very grown up and sexy; Chanel’s Eau Premiere, a modern lighter version of No. 5 makes me feel pulled together and chic for business meetings and Juicy Couture has launched Couture Couture with the most amazing body products that smell incredible and make you feel like a movie star.
The thing to remember is to simplify and organise your beauty routine and to keep checking in the mirror. Age, pregnancy and time all play a factor in how you look so use these nine months to get to know yourself better as god knows, you won’t have much time to yourself soon. Resist the temptation to let yourself go during and after pregnancy. Looking good is a major mood booster and shows the world you care. Take a little extra time to pamper and nurture yourself during this beautiful time and benefit from the rewards. For more expert advice, beauty news and product road tests visit www.rescu.com.au/beauty.
