The Best Body Washes & Soaps for Pregnancy Safe to Use
It’s only common to wonder what are the best body washes & soaps for pregnancy? After all, it’s inevitable for the skin to undergo some major changes during pregnancy. Your body and mind do, so why not the skin, right!
These changes, more often than not, involve the skin becoming more sensitive or drier. And sometimes pregnancy also gives rise to more acne breakouts. It’s all connected to your hormone levels after all.
Whatever the case though, you simply cannot keep using your regular soap or body wash if it’s causing irritation during those 8-9 months. Instead, your skin demands a gentle formulation that not only cleanses but also moisturizes and soothes. This means the right set of ingredients should be included.
That said, you might appreciate the ingredients added to the following baby-friendly and skin-friendly body washes and soaps.
Top 12 Body Wash and Soap for Pregnancy Reviews
1. Earth Mama Calming Lavender Pure Castile Germ-Fighting Body Wash
Earth Mama, the brand name itself is so self-assuring, isn’t it? This is pure Castile-based calendula, vanilla, and lavender liquid soap suitable for not just pregnant women but also little newborns. It has been clinically tested for irritation, which means the body wash is mild for daily use.
Infused with organic rooibos as well as pure plant oils and butters that share the common goal of moisturizing the most delicate or sensitive skin. A germ-fighting solution too.
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2. Earth Mame Morning Wellness Pure Castile Germ-Fighting Body Wash
Now this one’s formulated with grapefruit, lime, and ginger for your pregnancy-induced morning sickness. The natural scents of this body wash last all day long just so you know. Once again, the formulation is clinically tested for irritation and contains no parabens, artificial fragrances, sulfates, etc.
Just the use of organic oils and herbs, that’s all there is to know. With pure Castile that brings forth safe, effective germ-fighting properties.
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3. Belli Pure and Pampered Body Wash
It’s a dermatologist-recommended body wash for pregnant women. All thanks to the use of gentle cleansing with natural ingredients. Such as green tea extracts, cucumber, and lavender. Green tea and cucumber are packed with antioxidants while lavender lends its calming, aromatherapy experience.
You can continue using this body wash even after pregnancy i.e. during breastfeeding. Because, even then, it’s important that no harmful ingredients come in contact with your skin.
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4. The Moms Co. Natural Body Wash
Moms-to-be can place their trust in this brand because The Moms Co. have managed to create a concoction that’s not only toxin-free but also coconut-based. The latter is what makes the formulation so gentle for sensitive skin. Plus, it restores your skin’s natural moisture levels, thus being a suitable choice for dry skin.
The mild, refreshing scent of ginger, mint, and orange is also something that pregnant women appreciate as it helps with their morning sickness. And there’s Pro-Vitamin B5 included as well for improving the natural elasticity of your skin and preventing dryness.
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5. Aveeno Skin Relief Fragrance-Free Body Wash
With colloidal oatmeal, this Aveeno body wash is sure to soothe your sensitive skin, whether your pregnant or not. The gentle formulation cleanses your skin simply by getting rid of oil, bacteria, and dirt. Its soothing relief in the case of dry and/or itchy skin is the reason for Aveeno’s popularity.
Aveeno is not dermatologist-recommended for no reason at all. After all, their body washes are known to balance the condition of the skin using nothing but natural, effective ingredients.
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6. Babo Botanicals Moisturizing Baby Bubble Bath & Wash
If it’s 100-percent good for your baby, then it’s 100-percent good for your pregnant skin too. The comforting, nourishing formula gently cleanses delicate skin. With organic calendula and oatmilk, it also relieves the symptoms associated with skin conditions like eczema. These ingredients moisturize dry skin as well.
It’s a plant-based wash with nothing but pure botanicals. And without allergy-triggering ingredients of any kind, this means no sulfates, soy, gluten, nuts, etc.
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7. BIGGREEN Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
It’s a pediatrician-approved, pH-balanced body wash for babies and pregnant women. Simply because the surfactants are all plant-based. More specifically, derived from fruits and coconut oil. Plant-based oils include jojoba seed oil and sunflower seed oil for energizing the skin and for the refreshingly sweet scent.
Even lavender essential oil is added to calm and soothe the delicate skin of babies and sensitive skin of pregnant women. Also, It’s a tear-free shampoo and body wash.
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8. Iris & Hope’s Pregnancy Soap
A pregnancy soap like this is very difficult to come across. Let me tell you that it has supernatural powers when it comes to rejuvenating the skin of expectant mothers. What with its list of natural ingredients like organic shea butter!
Shea butter also helps in dealing with stretch marks by soothing the irritation caused by them while also tightening the skin. And, obviously, no amount of chemicals, toxins, or other harmful ingredients are added.
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9. Mountain Ocean Mothers Special Natural Blend Cocoa Butter Soap
How is this one a good choice for pregnant women? The creamy soap is sanctified with cocoa butter and vegetable glycerin to moisturize your delicate skin like no other. The special blend even contains naturally-derived lemon essential oil for a light, refreshing fragrance.
You know you can actually relive the irritation of your growing, itchy belly using this soap. The lather is abundant and the effects of the soap mild and moisturizing.
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10. I Am Happy Baby Shampoo Bubble Bath and Body Wash
Before your baby arrives, why not treat your skin with this 3-in-1 formulation! All ingredients are 100-percent natural with zero sulfates and parabens. The mild, sweet scent is also a beloved aspect.
Organic calendula extract and aloe vera take care of soothing skin, fighting bacteria, and moisturizing the skin. Its gentle cleansing agents are great for just about anyone with sensitive skin.
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11. Eucerin Baby Wash & Shampoo
Here’s another baby shampoo and body wash pregnant women can use before their newborns arrive. The formulation contains Pro-Vitamin B5 as well as shea butter. So you don’t have to worry about nourishment, even if you have delicate or sensitive skin.
Gentle cleansing is unpreventable. In fact, the hypoallergenic and fragrance-free qualities of this body wash can also relieve symptoms commonly associated with eczema. So you know that it soothes the sensitive skin of moms-to-be.
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12. Nature’s Baby Organics Baby Shampoo and Body Wash
A cleansing product for adults and kids, this formula is gentle enough for pregnant women as well. With its organic ingredients, it leaves your skin and hair feeling soft. Top that off with the refreshing, natural scent of pineapple and coconut, and you can have a luxurious shower experience.
You’re most likely to love this stuff mainly because it gets the job done, that is make the skin and hair feel super-soft, without dehydrating or irritating the skin.
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7 Ingredients In Body Washes and Soaps to Avoid During Pregnancy
You hear rumors about ingredients in skincare and beauty products that are harmful or detrimental to the health of your unborn child during pregnancy. These are also the kind of ingredients not added to body washes and soaps formulated for sensitive skin. So how about I discuss that aspect of body washes and soaps now?
1. Artificial Fragrances
Artificial fragrances are associated with hormonal disruption and even cancer. They often tend to give rise to allergies, dermatitis, and respiratory distress. So it’s best to keep away from them during pregnancy.
2. Artificial Colors
These are coal tar or petroleum derived components that show up in beauty and skincare products. And your skin absorbs them. And let me also tell you that artificial colors induce major behavioral problems in children.
3. Triclosan
It’s an antibacterial chemical most commonly used for hand soaps. And since 2017, triclosan has been banned in liquid soaps because it acts as an endocrine disruptor. So why mess with your hormonal levels when your pregnancy is already doing that to you!
No wonder dermatologists recommend body washes with natural antibacterial properties for germ-fighting.
Also, triclosan is proven to cause reproductive and developmental concerns in humans.
4. Phthalates
If you can’t pronounce it, then why use it! Jokes aside, phthalates are often added for increasing the flexibility of other ingredients. And just like triclosan, it’s a hormone disruptor that negatively impacts fetal development.
5. Parabens
These are synthetic preservatives that get easily absorbed into your skin only to mimic estrogen, thus boosting their levels and your chances of developing breast cancer.
6. Propylene Glycol
It’s a very common ingredient, but that doesn’t mean it’s a safe one for pregnant women or the skin. Propylene glycol is added for enabling other chemicals to penetrate deeper into your skin. And let me also tell you that it ranks as a moderate-level health hazard by environmental communities.
7. Sulfates
SLES and SLS should also be avoided. But not just because it clogs your pores and causes acne breakouts and skin irritation. But also because this particular chemical surfactant is directly linked to birth defects in animal studies. So why take the chance, right?
Choosing A Body Wash/Soap for Pregnancy
Now that you know what to avoid, let’s find out what to look for in a body wash or soap safe for use during pregnancy...
Natural, Skin-Soothing, Moisturizing Ingredients
Firstly, the ingredients used should be all-natural. Such as plant-based oils and organic botanicals. These, more often than not, feel gentle on delicate or sensitive skin.
Then comes in the list of skin soothing or calming ingredients. Like colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, cocoa butter, calendula, etc. These are very important because skin, during pregnancy, stretches, thus resulting in skin irritation and even dryness.
And that opens the door to moisturizing ingredients such as aloe vera, Pro-Vitamin B5, vegetable glycerin, and more. And please note; when the skin is well moisturized, it’s less likely to develop stretch marks.
Hypoallergenic and Dermatologist-Recommended
Make sure the product you choose is hypoallergenic, meaning suitable for sensitive skin. So you know that it’s not going to trigger any allergies or irritation. These formulations, more often than not, are also dermatologist-recommended.
Conclusion
It’s almost unavoidable for your skin to become more sensitive during pregnancy. And that is why it’s so important to upgrade your daily skincare routine. You have to protect your delicate skin, at such times, not only from dryness and itching but also from the harsh or harmful ingredients commonly found in regular body washes and soaps.
On top of that, choosing a special formula packed with natural, moisturizing, soothing ingredients also lowers the chances of stretch marks formation. But, more importantly, these types of gentle yet effective ingredients are safe for your growing fetus.
Pregnancy skincare doesn’t necessarily have to be a challenge you know.
If you’re looking for body washes and soaps for different specific concerns, you can refer to the top recommendations from other posts: Body Wash for Oily Skin, Body Wash for Body Odor.
