Safety First

Protect your baby and your own skin with these tips.

As your body changes during pregnancy, so may your beauty routine. You'll want to be extra vigilant about which beauty products you use, because your regular regimen may not be safe for your baby. Check out our product guide on the following page to help prepare for the biggest change of all—a new addition to your family.

The Mane Event
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists OK's hair-dye use during pregnancy, but other experts urge caution. To err on the side of safety, avoid coloring your hair during your first trimester or space out color treatments as much as possible, advises Lois E. Shulman, M.D., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Highlighting, a precision application that avoids the scalp, is also a safe way to color your hair. To extend the life of your color choice, use products like L'Oreal Nature's Therapy Color Confidence Anti-Fading Shampoo ($9) and Conditioner ($7), which contain vitamin E to moisturize hair and fruit acids to prevent color from fading.

About Face
While makeup can enhance your pregnancy glow, oral or topical vitamin A-derived skin medications, such as Accutane and Renova, can cause birth defects. "Salicylic acid also needs to be avoided," cautions Leslie Baumann, M.D., professor of dermatology at the University of Miami and author of The Skin Type Solution (Bantam). Baumann explains that salicylic acid is in the same family as aspirin, which has been linked to fetal brain bleeding. Also, consult your doctor before using products containing alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids. Along with the same sun-exposure risks as others, you're prone to UV-exacerbated melasma (the "mask of pregnancy"), says David E. Bank, M.D., a dermatologist in Mount Kisco, N.Y. Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Daily Regenerating Moisture Lotion with SPF 15 ($13) protects skin and contains vitamin C to prevent skin damage from free radicals.