I am officially in my third trimester. I feel like my body has been pushed to its limits, but there’s still more to go through to make it to the finish line. The global pandemic is also nearing the end, allowing people to have some hope to return to the outside world. I have been procrastinating on writing this post. My hormones are really swelling up my hands and loosening my ligaments. I felt that much of my skincare regime stayed the same since the second-trimester skincare post. But I tried a few new items that really helped my winter, acne-prone skin.
I still have a few favorites that I prefer from my first-trimester skincare post as well. I still use www.15minutebeauty.com as a guideline for all my pregnancy skincare purchases. But I changed out a few items that really helped my winter, acne-prone skin. Perhaps the hormones calmed down, but my skin also has been the clearest it has ever been in my final trimester.
Here is my third-trimester skincare and makeup routine, but please discuss which product/ingredient is acceptable during your pregnancy with your medical provider.
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Morning Cleanser
NEUTROGENA TRANSPARENT FACIAL BAR, ORIGINAL FORMULA
I’m trying to use less plastic in my life, which prompted me to buy more bar soaps as a part of my daily cleansing routine. Ironically, each bar in this pack is wrapped individually with plastic. Does it count if it is considered less plastic than a bottle? Despite the packaging, I’ve been enjoying using the bar soap in the morning. I don’t need a powerful cleanser since I’m just trying to remove my night moisturizer and drool remnants. It is a very gentle cleanser that doesn’t strip off my natural skin barrier. I wet the bar and swipe it a few times on my konjac sponge to create a slight lather. Then I rub the soapy sponge all over my face. I also use the bar to clean my makeup brushes as well, and it does a great job. I also feel like I get more product usage with the bars. Perhaps I’m not paying for water? ☆☆☆☆
Morning Exfoliation
ORGANIC NATURAL FACIAL KONJAC SPONGE AND FACE SCRUBBER
I really enjoy using konjac sponges as a gentle morning exfoliator. You can read more about the benefits of konjac sponges from Allure’s article. I find the sponge helps with clearing away last night’s skincare regime while getting into all my nooks and crannies on my face that my fingers can’t reach, specifically around my nose. I tend to over-exfoliate when I use certain physical/chemical exfoliators. These sponges help me move away from my bad habits. Konjac sponges give me a fresh start with daily exfoliation in the morning for my skincare and makeup routine. I haven’t noticed a big difference between the ‘flavors’. It is also 100% biodegradable, which I love. I try to change out the sponge every three months. I also air dry it after I’m done with my morning wash. I will continue to use this in my daily morning skincare routine even after my pregnancy. ☆☆☆☆☆
Moisturizer (Morning & Night)
NEUTROGENA® HYDRO BOOST GEL-CREAM WITH HYALURONIC ACID FOR EXTRA DRY SKIN
I’m still using this moisturizer since my second trimester. I attempted to look for a replacement since I like to rotate my moisturizers every few months, but why change something that’s working? It still creates a great base under my makeup or sunscreen. The dry down is quick, but I feel moisturized all day. I’m still delighted to use this twice a day, every day. ☆☆☆☆☆
Tinted Moisturizer with Sunscreen
MAYBELLINE DREAM FRESH BB CREAM in 110 Light/Medium
I still enjoy using this product. I’m currently a 110 Light/Medium for winter, which I still find a bit too dark for my lighter winter skin tone. My energy comes and goes in my third trimester. I just need a bit of sunscreen for those short 15-minute walks I’m trying to still take while my belly grows larger and larger. It’s still very sheer coverage for my hyperpigmentation, but it hasn’t made my skin break out during these few months. I currently use my fingers to apply since I want more of a heavier application to ensure there’s a lot of sunscreen on my face. SPF 30 works for me now when I’m mostly staying indoors. ☆☆☆☆☆
Lip Care (Morning & Night)
AQUAPHOR LIP REPAIR OINTMENT
The cold wind is pretty harsh in the valley. In addition to the dry air and all the havoc a pregnancy wreaks on your body, I really needed a moisturizing lip balm. It was a bit hard searching for a lip balm that didn’t have sunscreen in it. Most of the SPF ingredients in lip balm uses chemical sunscreen. I preferred the Aquaphor’s lip balm’s slick, shiny texture over other lip balms, which is why I chose it over Burt’s Bees. I wear this lip after I finish my makeup and before I go to bed. My lips have never looked better. ☆☆☆☆☆
Setting Powder with Sunscreen
PHYSICIAN FORMULA MINERAL WEAR® TALC-FREE MINERAL AIRBRUSHING PRESSED POWDER SPF 30 in Translucent
I purchased this powder when I was sitting in traffic with the sun beating down on my face through my car window. I recently rediscovered it and started using it to set my tinted moisturizer. My current tinted moisturizer provides a bit of coverage along with SPF 30 sunscreen. This mineral powder works great for setting my BB cream. I’m not sure if it helps, but it allows me to reapply an additional SPF 30 sunscreen throughout the day. The packaging is all plastic, which broke on me. The powder is still intact, but it doesn’t close properly anymore. I despise the brush it came with. I prefer using a fluffy brush to tap the powder all over my face. It provides me with decent coverage for about 3-4 hours. It’s a decent alternative to more expensive powder sunscreens. ☆☆☆☆
Makeup Remover
NEUTROGENA® DEEP CLEAN® PURIFYING MICELLAR CLEANSING TOWELETTES
Makeup wipes are so convenient. I’ve used my fair share of wipes over the years but trying to use fewer single-use disposable items. I happen found one last unopen package in one of my gym bags during a bout of nesting/decluttering. This was one of my favorite makeup removers for going to the gym and traveling. These wipes do a great job of removing makeup without over-drying my skin. The wipe material is very sturdy and through with removing performance makeup along with matte long-wear lipstick. I like the size of the wipe. It eliminates a lot of makeup without running out of space. It is also great for removing heavy sunscreen. ☆☆☆☆☆
Night Cleanser
LA ROCHE-POSAY TOLERIANE PURIFYING FOAMING FACIAL WASH
This is still my favorite cleanser for removing the day off my face. I will probably continue to use this long after my pregnancy. There’s not much to say here that I haven’t already said in my first-trimester and second-trimester skincare posts. Love Love LOVE this cleanser.☆☆☆☆☆
Night Exfoliation
BLISS JELLY GLOW GENTLE EXFOLIATOR PEEL
I noticed that I have an obsession with exfoliation. This might be one of the reasons why my skin is so bad sometimes. Perhaps my bad skin is all self-inflicted. I picked this up on a whim. The Bliss Jelly Glow Peel uses a combination of cellulose and enzyme exfoliates to loosen dead skin cells. On damp skin, you rub the product on your face until little balls of cellulose build up. The enzyme exfoliants come in pineapple and papaya, which help gently breakdown dead skin cells. With a combination of these cellulose balls and fruit enzymes, you gently scrub away dead skin, leaving refreshed smooth skin. I enjoy the feeling of peel compared to other scrubs. Forming the cellulose clumps allows me to slow down and spend more time getting each area of my face. I feel so squeak clean after each peel. ☆☆☆☆☆
Body Lotion
BURT’S BEES MAMA BEE BELLY BUTTER
This is a follow-up review from my second-trimester post. I’ve been using it nightly on my belly, and I’m happy to report no stretch marks yet. I’m still 6 weeks out, so there is still time for me to blow up. So far, I’ve gained about 20 pounds, with a few more pounds to go. I think the slow rate at which I gained weight help with the stretch marks. Burt’s Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter has really help curbed the belly itching by keeping my skin moisturized all day long. It also feels relaxing to end the night with a little belly rub against all the internal kicks. ☆☆☆☆☆
diana luong 