What to Expect’s Pregnancy-Safe Beauty Award Winners 2024: A Gentle Retinol Alternative, Hydrating Eye Cream and More

There are a few reasons why this product has snagged the top pregnancy-safe cleanser title three years in a row. First, Cerave’s face wash is a drugstore classic that always comes highly recommended by dermatologists. It also works for all skin types; sensitive skin (including eczema), perpetual dryness, acne and oiliness, or combination skin. If your skin issues can be a bit unpredictable with the influx of pregnancy hormones, this face wash will be there for you for all the ups and downs of the next nine months.

The hero ingredients are hyaluronic acid, soothing ceramides and glycerin, all of which moisturize and nourish skin and leave it feeling soft. These also help protect the skin’s barrier no matter what elements you may be facing during the various seasons of your pregnancy. You also can’t beat the prince point! Community members agree that this cleanser is key for everything from moisturizing dry spots around the nose and mouth to tackling the most random breakouts of body acne.

The Ordinary is known for having pregnancy-safe skincare options and for its super reasonable prices. This $10 serum has a light, non-sticky and hydrating formula that’s meant to be a simple step sandwiched in between your cleanser and moisturizer. 

It’s not uncommon to lose some of the oil in your skin and have a dry, flaky complexion due to all the hormonal changes you’re going through. But hyaluronic acid, the key ingredient, works overtime to moisturize and nourish your skin. Other hydrators in the formula include ceramides and vitamin B5, a soothing, anti-inflammatory ingredient. You’ll need to replenish your skin with almost constant hydration, which is why you should rub it into clean skin both day and night.

A dermatologist-beloved brand, La Roche-Posay’s double repair moisturizer’s base is its signature French mineral water. But water isn’t the only moisturizing ingredient: Skin barrier-bolstering ceramides, as well as nourishing squalane and niacinamide are also key components. The best part is that you don’t even need to go anywhere close to France to get it: Grab it for under $25 in your local drugstore. 

With no added fragrances, it’s a win for anyone who is sensitive to scents during pregnancy or has dry and/or sensitive skin in general. Our community members love the lightness of the moisturizer and the non-greasy feel, too.

If pregnancy insomnia has you tossing and turning, it might be time to add this two-time Pregnancy-Safe Beauty Award winner to your routine. Neutrogena’s oil-, dye- and fragrance-free eye cream is a winner thanks to its light, gel-like consistency and accessibility. (You can find it at almost any drugstore and won’t break the bank!) It cools the area under the eyes while offering tons of hydration, which is why many What to Expect community members say it feels like a refresher that makes them look slightly less tired.  

The cream’s main ingredient is — you guessed it — hyaluronic acid, which hydrates, plumps and smooths delicate skin around the eyes. It is light enough to wear under makeup and ophthalmologist-tested, so you can feel comfortable dabbing it near your eyes.

Finding a pregnancy-safe acne product can be an extra challenge because go-to acne-fighting ingredients, salicylic acid and retinol, are off the table. But The Ordinary’s blemish-busting serum contains niacinamide, a derivative of vitamin B3, which can help tame inflammation that contributes to breakouts and brighten your skin at the same time. And according to our community members, it actually works just as well as pricey facial treatments to clear pores. It’s no wonder it’s won Best Acne Treatment three years in a row. In addition to being effective, the Ordinary serum is vegan, and free of parabens, fragrances and oils. 

Some rules of thumb: You’ll definitely want to follow this product up with a moisturizer to prevent dryness or flaking. And if you’re also using a vitamin C serum, use one serum in the morning and another at night to avoid compromising the effectiveness of these potent ingredients.

Many pimple patches are made with salicylic acid, commonly known to fight acne, but that’s on the no-go list for pregnancy. Mighty Patch Invisible+, however, uses hydrocolloid, commonly known for wound dressing, because it absorbs fluid from the pimple to prevent bacteria from entering the area. Our community of readers echoed that the patches are useful for "sucking the gunk out of" painful acne that exists below the skin’s surface. 

That’s not an appealing image to think about, but ultimately these patches are speeding up acne’s healing process. Once you press it on, you’ll barely know it’s there so you can camouflage any breakouts that come your way.

When you’re pregnant, experts recommend using mineral sunscreens, as they tend to be made without harmful chemical ingredients such as oxybenzone, avobenzone and octinoxate. What to Expect moms love that this Supergoop sunscreen offers more than SPF 30 coverage: It moisturizes the skin thanks to aloe leaf juice, and softens it with squalene. And, although many mineral sunscreens may leave a white cast behind, especially on deeper skin tones, community members emphasize that this one blends in smooth and clear. As with any SPF, apply it as the last step in your routine, and re-apply every two hours.

For those looking for a light and dewy moisturizer that doubles as a foundation, the Ilia Super Serum Skin Tintis a favorite of the What to Expect community. The serum-like foundation melts into the skin offering the slightest tint of coverage to veil your complexion. The cherry on top is that it also offers SPF 40 protection.

The formula is a hydrating concoction of skin-tightening squalene, texture-smoothing niacinamide and plumping hyaluronic acid that community reviewers agree glides onto the skin easily. It’s available in 30 different shades. Before applying and blending into the skin, shake the bottle well and warm the serum with your fingertips.

Why do you actually need a primer, you ask? It’s to set the stage for all the rest of your makeup. Primer goes on over your skincare products but underneath your makeup, and this one from Honest Beauty also has some skincare elements like hyaluronic acid and watermelon extract to prep the skin with some added hydration (primers can easily dry out the skin, but not this one). It’s tinted just enough to work with any complexion and give you the extra sun-kissed look. 

You can count on everything at Honest Beauty to be clean and cruelty-free too — this product, like most of their others, has no fragrance or parabens, so it’s pregnancy-friendly. 

You don’t have to spend a ton to get a foundation with solid coverage. This Maybelline Fit Me Matte Foundation is "poreless" and perfect for a clear complexion. It’s guaranteed to last 12 hours, mattifying normal or oily skin. It’s the best base to even out your skin before putting on a full face of makeup, and doesn’t feel chalky or leave skin dry.

We especially love that the Fit Me foundation has an inclusive 40-shade range. Our community commented on the accessibility of this shade range and the ability to find the exact right foundation to blend in with their skin tone. There are five different categories of shade families, ranging from deep to very light.

Retinol is such an important skincare multi-tasker: It has anti-aging, acne-banishing and scar-smoothing properties. But it’s off-limits for pregnancy, so you may want a comparable substitute for this powerhouse. The answer is bakuchiol, which is the key ingredient in this Herbivore Bakuchiol Retinol Alternative serum. This special plant-based extract is from the Bakuchi plant native to certain parts of Asia and, like retinol, acts as an anti-inflammatory, speeding along the process of cell turnover and stimulating collagen production to keep skin glowy and plump. The addition of tremella mushroom in the serum also helps skin lock in hydration. What to Expect community members rave about this serum, finding it just as effective as their retinol products and as well as being lightweight and fast-absorbing.

Waterproof mascara is an absolute necessity, but you probably didn’t think as much about waterproof concealer. A three-time Pregnancy-Safe Beauty Award winner, Tarte’s Shape Tape concealer can be worn all day without needing a touch-up; not only is that a testament to its sweat- and water-resistance, but also its ability to mask undereye darkness. 

To apply it seamlessly, use the plush doe-foot applicator or get out a wet beauty sponge and dab it on for sheerer coverage.

NARS is known for its light and silky powders that create an effortlessly gorgeous glow, and this blush and bronzer duo is no exception. What to Expect community members appreciate that it’s a two-for-one deal to cut down on getting ready time. Simply sweep the bronzer on the temples, under the cheekbones and the jawline, and swipe the blush onto your cheeks to enhance that natural pregnancy glow.

These compacts are offered in two classic shades that can work for a variety of skin tones. Apply it with a fluffy bronzer brush and a more condensed blush brush to get the best sheen.

It’s not easy to find a "clean" mascara, especially one that works without flaking, caking or smudging. But this drugstore staple is a unicorn: CoverGirl’s Lash Blast Clean Volume Mascarafeatures a vegan formula free of all the chemicals you’d like to avoid during pregnancy, including parabens, sulfates, talc and mineral oil. Yet it’s still a high-performing mascara that lengthens and lifts your lashes. 

What to Expect community members tout its great lash separating powers, plus its ability to give the illusion of longer lashes. Plus, it adds volume without clumping and helps lashes feel more conditioned thanks to argan and marula oils.

Color us (un)surprised that Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, which has gone viral on TikTok, was the hands-down winner for the best, most nourishing lip treatment. Available in four scents, Laneige’s formula contains antioxidant-rich vitamin C, coconut oil, shea butter and seed butter from the Murumuru palm tree to smooth and plump your pout overnight. And all without the addition of chemicals like parabens. 

If you’re waking up to other things like morning sickness, constipation or pure exhaustion, it’s nice to at least wake up with pillowy soft lips thanks to the mask you applied the night before. Community members also boast that the jar will go a long way, keeping your lips covered throughout your entire pregnancy and beyond. 

All the loyal MAC beauty lovers will be rejoicing knowing they can use their favorite shade all throughout pregnancy. Ingredients like castor seed oil and paraffin ensure you have a smooth, non-flaky swipe over your lips. And if you’re already a busy mom running after toddlers, this lipstick saves you the multiple reapplications, according to our community. 

Whether you select one of their signature reds or more muted beiges or nudes like the "Hug Me" color, you can always expect highly pigmented color payoff with MAC lipstick. 

If you can’t make time to get your brows tinted and shaped given, the next best option is to fake it with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Precision Brow Pencil. A three-time Pregnancy-Safe Beauty Award winner, this pencil-and-spoolie combo is beyond easy to use, even if you’re a makeup beginner. Start by using the spoolie side to brush hairs upward toward your forehead and into place. Then fill in sparse spots and define your arch with the pencil that What to Expect community members say is super precise, smudge-free, and has great color payoff.  

The pencil formula is vegan and made without parabens, sulfates and phthalates. It’s available in 12 different brow color shades, ranging from blondes to brunettes. Our community members rave about how seamlessly the product blends in to give you fluffy, natural-looking brows.

It’s not at all shocking that What to Expect readers love ColourPop’s eye shadows: Many swear that the product blends into lids easily due to the smooth texture and offers tons of long-lasting pigment. This particular palette features nine neutral hues, such as matte caramel, metallic gold and icy rose gold, in both creamy mattes and glimmering shades for a mix of bases and embellishing colors. Community members say the pigments highlight any color of eyes and skin tone, and the powder itself is long-lasting. At $14 a palette, ColourPop’s shadows are an affordable option that doesn’t sacrifice quality.

Widely available in drugstores, NYX’s waterproof liquid eyeliner stands out among others on the market for a variety of reasons. Its flexible precise tip received high marks from What to Expect community members because it can create an array of looks. Press down harder for a thicker line or less so for a thinner one, which is perfect for creating those outer-eye flicks. 

Community members also say that it doesn’t drag and glides across the eyelids smoothly — a must in an eyeliner pen. This liquid liner does its job of staying put all day or night as a waterproof product should, but it doesn’t dry out like some eyeliner markers might. And it’s super affordable, so you can buy it in both brown and black without breaking the bank.

You may experience changes in your hair during pregnancy, which is why a good set of shampoo and conditioner can go a long way. A three-time Pregnancy-Safe Beauty Award winner, Olaplex’s shampoo and conditioner are formulated to support and strengthen hair by repairing bonds, tackling heat damage and healing split ends. This duo also helps with frizziness in the hair and scalp area, making it an excellent choice for curlier hair. 

The vegan formula is safe to use on dyed strands and free of essential oils. The latter is important, as essential oils aren’t FDA-regulated and certain ones could potentially pose a risk to your baby’s health in the early developmental stages. 

It’s not out-of-the-ordinary to experience an oily or greasy scalp when you’re pregnant, and a dry shampoo is a great way to keep your hair looking fresh between washes. Amika Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo isn’t just like any other dry shampoo, though. It features a vegan formula that will keep your hair oil-free and voluminous, thanks to ingredients such as sea buckthorn and rice starch that will add volume and texture while absorbing excess oil.

You can even get it in a 1.8-ounce mini size for your gym bag or toiletry kit.

Your natural curls deserve to be nourished and taken care of, and this Shea Moisture duo is the right set to do that. Made with thick Manuka honey to draw moisture back into dry hair, Shea Moisture’s Intensive Hydration Shampoo and Conditioner also contains the fatty acid-rich Mafura oil, which is derived from the evergreen, southern African native trichilia emetica tree and naturally restores moisture. The hair health benefits don’t end there: There’s soothing vitamin C to calm the skin of the scalp to encourage hair growth.

It’s also a plus that Shea Moisture is cruelty-free and doesn’t contain chemicals such as parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. Prepare for these 13-ounce bottles to last you quite a long time, according to our community.

There are many potential hair changes during pregnancy, from dry scalp, to more brittle hair than usual, which is why many What to Expect moms-to-be use this OUAI Hair Oil to condition, moisturize and protect their strands. This hair oil contains just about every nourishing oil out there, including olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil and rice oil, without having SLS, parabens, or phthalates on its ingredient list. Founded by top celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin, OUAI is often touted as a favorite brand, and that’s no exception with this oil. Moms also noted that it leaves hair shiny and voluminous, perfect for a little lift before heading out for the day.

Typically, hairspray in general is a no-go during pregnancy because it often contains phthalates that can be harmful for you to inhale. This Amika hairspray, however, uses sea buckthorn (which is also found in their dry shampoo we highlighted previously) to nourish every coil or strand of hair and has a light smell that reviewers rave about. 

The Amika Fluxus Touchable Hairspray is meant to give your blowout some volume and definition without that typical hairspray "crunch." One reviewer can get her curls to last "for days" after spritzing the hairspray. 

This two-time Pregnancy-Safe Beauty Award winner serves as a two-for-one: Put on a thick layer to use it as a mask, or apply a thin layer on to use it as a night cream. Either way you use it, the Youth To The People Dream Mask is guaranteed to leave skin feeling soft and smooth. As a mask, the prickly pear and vitamin C work together to combat redness and brighten your skin. As a cream, the hydrating squalene and hyaluronic acid hydrate your skin without clogging pores. 

The vegan formula also includes a blend of "superberries" to offer antioxidants that prevent tissue damage while delivering light fruity scent, which some community members rave about. The mask works well for most skin types, too.

Although some body washes could further aggravate itchy pregnancy skin, others can actually help alleviate symptoms of dryness or even eczema. Dove’s Irritation Care Body Wash, winner of Best Body Wash for a third year in a row, does just that. The formula includes probiotics to make it extra moisturizing for your skin’s microbiome. The wash is non-comedogenic so it won’t clog pores, reducing the chance of pregnancy acne appearing on your body. It’s also fragrance-free, which anyone who has scent-related morning sickness triggers will appreciate over the next nine months (plus, it’s also good for sensitive skin).

The creamy body wash is known to lather well, so feel free to use it as a shaving cream, too. At $9 a bottle for 22 ounces, it’s an affordable and readily available option. 

It’s not a surprise that What to Expect community members voted CeraVe’s moisturizing cream the Best Body Lotion again. After all, the drugstore favorite has continuously proven to work for dry, eczema-prone skin. The buttery formula consists of hydrating hyaluronic acid as well as three types of ceramides, all of which help strengthen the skin’s barrier to lock in moisture.

Though the texture is buttery, it still absorbs quickly into the skin without oiliness or greasiness; it’s great for anyone who needs a thicker body cream, especially those with eczema who have a lot of dry patches. Reviewers touted that it rubs in seamlessly, and many appreciate that it doesn’t have any sort of odor. Because it’s so gentle, it can be used on the face or the body.

Bio-Oil’s body oil is as loved by celeb moms Kate Middleton and Kim Kardashian as it is by our community members. Part of that comes from its dual purpose: You can use it during pregnancy to rub on stretch marks and dry skin, then after birth to help reduce the appearance of scars (so you’re getting even more bang for your buck). It features a soothing blend of vitamin E, chamomile and lavender oil. Although this does mean it has a subtle scent, many people loved the aroma and described it as a "calming" one. It also helps with uneven skin tone, also known as hyperpigmentation, and dark spots. 

If the idea of applying oil makes you a bit nervous, note Bio-Oil’s formula doesn’t clog pores or stain clothes. 

For years, moms-to-be have sworn by Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks. (That probably explains why it won Best Stretch Mark Cream three years in a row!) The thick, hydrating body cream contains several powerful moisturizing ingredients, including cocoa butter, shea butter and lanolin. It also contains collagen and elastin, which help to strengthen the skin as it stretches along with your growing belly.

Although there’s no definitive research proving ingredients such as cocoa butter or olive oil can prevent stretch marks, it certainly can’t hurt to give your belly some extra moisture by using a stretch mark cream. Plus, many of our community members rave about how this lotion leaves skin nourished and super smooth. 

Breastfeeding parents have praised Earth Mama’s Organic Nipple Butter for years, but it’s not just for those who are nursing. The lanolin-free formula features a nourishing blend of olive oil, shea butter, beeswax and calendula flower extract to help calm the pain and tenderness caused by your ever-evolving pregnancy breasts. The soothing balm can be used on nipples (and, if you use it while nursing, it doesn’t need to be removed before baby latches), as well as lips, elbows and other dry skin patches. 

The price point is fair for a jar containing 100% organic ingredients. Not to mention a little goes a long way, so it’s sure to last for months. Though it’s a balm, it melts and spreads upon contact into more of an oily serum. This is great for application, but note that it could stain your bras and shirts.

Dove’s 0% alumninum deodorant is a drugstore staple that aims to be as clean as possible, without potentially harmful chemical ingredients like parabens. As for the aluminum, there has not been enough research to confirm that it poses a risk to human or fetal health — but many moms-to-be like to steer clear of aluminum deodorant until baby arrives just to err on the side of caution. 

Community reviewers note that it goes on clear and is "wallet-friendly and lasts all day." Plus, Dove offers delightful scents like this Cucumber & Green Tea as well as Coconut & Pink Jasmine.

Most self-tanners contain a lot of chemicals, which is how they give you that glow. But Beauty by Earth utilizes clean ingredients (think sugar beets and cranberry fruit extract) that don't leave an orange residue behind. There are three shades to choose between, and it shouldn’t leave patches or streaks. When you put it on, use a brush or mitt for the smoothest application.

You’ll never go back to disposable makeup wipes after trying this micellar water. Safe for all skin types, Garnier’s Micellar Water essentially takes the place of both a cleanser and makeup remover. That’s because micelles, the lipid molecules that act as building blocks of micellar water, draw out dirt and oil like a magnet, removing even the most stubborn of mascara stains under your eyes. 

This product is also a safe bet for pregnancy skin because it’s free of parabens, oil, alcohol or fragrance (which also means it isn’t going to irritate your eyes). It works well with reusable cotton pads, too.

There’s no at-home manicure quite like a color play session with Olive & June polishes. First of all, it’s headache-free, according to our community of reviewers. This is because Olive & June prides itself on being "15-free," meaning that it has nontoxic, pregnancy-safe ingredients and doesn’t include things like formaldehyde, BPA, parabens and phthalates in any of its formulas. 

You can shop around for an array of bright, cheery pastels, or find the perfect nude or pale pink to wear for everyday occasions. Olive & June guarantees a long-lasting manicure if you do it correctly, comparable to a gel mani at your local salon.

You might want to think about pregnancy safe-ingredients even during the most mundane moments, like brushing your teeth. Luckily, there are plenty of toothpastes that are free from the chemical sodium laureth sulfate (SLS), including this minty fresh option from Native. 

It’s a favorite of our community because it has a strong mint flavor, but is also gentle enough with "sensitive mouths" to not cause inflammation or irritation. The toothpaste also contains fluoride for cavity prevention and for whitening purposes.