Pregnancy brings about a handful of changes to your body, hair, and skin. It also requires some tweaks to your skincare routine that will require omitting certain products and treatments. Among the most notable treatments and ingredients that are off-limits during pregnancy are Botox, many chemical peels, and the most famous anti-aging skincare ingredient of them all, retinol.
Pressing pause on your most trusted retinol products may be frustrating, but rest assured, several safe and effective dermatologist-approvedretinol alternativescan help keep your skin clear and glowing during this special time. Ahead, board-certified dermatologists Nazanin Saedi, MD, Marisa Garshick, MD, and Corey L. Hartman, MD, break down everything you need to know about the best skin-safe retinol alternatives to use while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Meet the Experts
- Nazanin Saedi, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Plymouth Meeting, PA
- Marisa Garshick, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City
- Corey L. Hartman, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham, AL
Before we proceed, a reminder: While these ingredients are generally considered safe, it's always best to check with your doctor for 100% certainty.
Why Can't You Use Retinol or Retinoids When Pregnant?
Despite the anti-acne, anti-aging, skin-brightening, and collagen-boosting benefits that vitamin A-derived retinol and retinoids are known for, the ingredients are off-limits when expecting and breastfeeding. That's because they are believed to cause potential risks, so a better-safe-than-sorry approach is best. Board-certified dermatologist Nazanin Saedi, MD, shares that it is important to avoid all oral and topical retinoids and retinol while pregnant because they can potentially harm the developing fetus.
While it's unknown how much of the ingredient needs to be absorbed to cause potential abnormalities, isotretinoin (the prescription high-dose oral form of a retinoid) has been associated with developmental disorders and birth defects, so dermatologists take a precautionary approach and recommend avoiding topical versions, too. Wait until after you deliver your baby or finish breastfeeding before adding retinoids and retinol back into your skincare routine, since there is a chance they can cross over to breast milk.
Pregnancy- and Breastfeeding-Safe Retinol Alternatives
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Glycolic Acid
Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) derived from sugar cane. It offers pimple-improving benefits and reduces common signs of aging since it exfoliates dead skin cells while hydrating and boosting collagen production. All of this makes it a great swap for retinol or retinoids. "Glycolic acid is great for weakening the connections between the cells in the top layer of the skin to remove them, giving the skin a refreshed and glowing complexion," Garshick explains. "By exfoliating the dead skin cells away, glycolic acid helps to brighten, soften, and smooth the skin while also improving hyperpigmentation."
The easiest way to incorporate glycolic acid into a pregnancy- and breastfeeding-safe skincare routine is with a cleanser (although you can find glycolic acid in many other skincare products) with a concentration of no more than 10%. Saedi recommends using a cleanser such as BioPelle Exfoliating Gel Cleanser a few times a week at night and following up with a non-comedogenic moisturizer.
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Vitamin C
The benefits that vitamin C offers the skin are seemingly endless, and when it comes to limiting and reducing pregnancy-induced discoloration, vitamin C is the way to go. The antioxidant is also known to offer collagen-stimulating and wrinkle-minimizing benefits like retinol, but without the potential side effects. "It is a safe ingredient to use on the skin during pregnancy. I often recommend vitamin C products to pregnant patients, especially if they use retinol to help reduce hyperpigmentation," Hartman shares. "It effectively treats skin discoloration but does not work as fast as retinol."
Saedi adds that pregnancy- and breastfeeding-safe vitamin C can also improve the skin's firmness and elasticity. "Using a vitamin C serum during the day that includes the addition of other antioxidants, like ferulic acid, will help to combat free radicals, protect collagen, and boost the effectiveness of the vitamin C."
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Bakuchiol
Most dermatologists turn to the gentle plant-based ingredient bakuchiol when a comparable, pregnancy-safe, and breastfeeding-approved retinol substitute is needed. It helps boost cell turnover and stimulate collagen production, creating a strong skin barrier while softening the look of fine lines and wrinkles sans the irritating and drying effects associated with retinol and retinoids. (This makes it especially beneficial for more sensitive skin.) "I even recommend it to patients trying to get pregnant as a safety precaution," Hartman says. However, he cautions that although bakuchiol has similar benefits to retinol, it does not work as quickly. Find it in Verso Natural Glow and Valmont V-Lift Cream.
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Azelaic Acid
According to Garshick, dermatologists often prescribe anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial azelaic acid to help alleviate the symptoms associated with acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. While it doesn't exactly work like retinol to clear up acne breakouts (azelaic acid reduces inflammation to improve breakouts, whereas retinol increases cell turnover), she adds that it is a safe and commonly used skincare ingredient during pregnancy and breastfeeding. "More non-prescription formulations are available today that incorporate this great ingredient to improve texture and tone when addressing acne and hyperpigmentation," she says.
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Hyaluronic Acid
While you might not think of hyaluronic acid in the same vein as retinol, Garshick says that the humectant helps to plump and moisturize the skin, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles that can form during pregnancy. The more hydrated the skin, the less noticeable wrinkles and fine lines are. "Plus, since hyaluronic acid is gentle on the skin, you can use it up to twice daily, morning and night," she says. "For some people, using hyaluronic acid may provide an immediate benefit while also [providing] long-term results."
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Peptides
These super-popular small-chain amino acids are another suitable retinol swap. "Peptides are essential to support collagen and elastin production, both of which are vital for the skin's structure," Hartman says. "So, using products with peptides during pregnancy and breastfeeding can help support the skin's structure, resulting in plumper, firmer skin." They also boost elasticity. He recommends incorporating a serum with several different types of peptides into your routine, such as the Deinde Skin-Strengthening Serum. "It uses a combination of biomimetic tripeptides that signal the skin's natural collagen production and Naringenin, a biobased polyphenol that reduces inflammaging and helps smooth skin's appearance while giving it plumpness."
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Lactic Acid
Lactic acid, another AHA, is typically used to improve the look of discoloration and hyperpigmentation, like retinol. Using lactic acid during pregnancy and while breastfeeding instead of retinol can also aid the skin's natural exfoliation process to enhance its tone, texture, and general appearance. Garshick adds that lactic acid is particularly beneficial for those with sensitive skin and can help improve hyperpigmentation or discoloration caused by pregnancy.
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Niacinamide
If retinol is a staple in your skincare routine to ward off lines and wrinkles, try replacing it with niacinamide, a specific type of vitamin B3. Niacinamide, found in everything from cleansers and serums to moisturizers, helps even out the skin's tone while improving its texture and refining the pores, two common benefits of retinol. "While niacinamide can effectively smooth the skin, it does take longer to see results with regular use compared to those achieved by retinol," Hartman adds. "However, with consistent use, even pregnant patients see improvement in their skin." Another reason to integrate niacinamide into your pregnancy-safe skincare routine is that it controls sebum production, which is why Garshick likes it for pregnant women with oily skin.
