[ann]Left to Right: TULA Cleanser | Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum | Drunk Elephant Glycolic Night Serum | Drunk Elephant C-Tango Eye Cream | Drunk Elephant JuJu Bar | Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel | Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream | Outfit Details: Tee | Shorts[/ann]

Skincare is always something I have been so passionate about because I feel like it’s the base for everything!  We spend so much money on makeup products, but honestly no matter how great a makeup product is, it won’t look good unless your skin looks good underneath.  And you don’t get a new set of skin!  Acne was something I luckily said goodbye to after a round of Accutane about 3 years ago, but unfortunately it has come back during pregnancy.  And I forgot how frustrating it can be to combat!  So, today I wanted to share my current pregnancy skincare routine that I’ve seen the best results with over the last four months.

With pregnancy, finding clean products that don’t have heavy chemicals was a must for me.  I eliminated some of the stronger acid and retinol products I had be using pre-pregnancy and switched to skincare lines that were clean and free of parabens, formaldehydes, and other yucky chemicals I don’t want being transferred to my growing baby.  Drunk Elephant and TULA are two of my absolute favorite clean skincare brands and what I have pretty much been using exclusively.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, but rather just sharing what I have found to be effective for my skin during this time.  I have gotten approval on each of these products from my personal doctor, but make sure to check with your’s before using a product if you are pregnant!

Step 1: Cleanse

The first step of my current skincare routine, both morning and night, is cleansing!  I’ve tried tons of different cleansing options, but I constantly go back to the TULA Purifying Face Cleanser.  Personally, I am not a fan of makeup wipes or removers, so whatever cleanser I use has to be strong enough to remove all of my face and eye makeup.  At the same time, I have pretty sensitive skin and because of the pregnancy, I don’t want any chemicals that are too strong.  The TULA cleanser is the perfect balance and my skin LOVES it!  You can head to TULA’s website and enter code DARYLANN for 20% your order and free shipping!

In the mornings about twice a week I switch it up and use the Drunk Elephant JuJu Bar to wash my face with.  Having fairly dry skin, I tend to get lots of flakiness small pieces of skin that need to be exfoliated off.  This bar is pretty grainy and rough to help get rid of all of that and leave my skin silky and smooth.  It also gets rid of all the dead skin cells on the surface so that my serums I apply after can actually sink in and work more effectively.  If you have tried exfoliators before, I would highly recommend this bar!  But if you are new to exfoliating or have very sensitive or thinner skin, I would try something more gentle.

Step 2: Serum

This has been the step I’ve had to adjust the most since being pregnant.  Serums are typically the most penetrating products and do the most work.  That being said, they are the things I checked with my doctor about first.  I got the “all clear” on both of the Drunk Elephant serums that I use and love them both.  Because of their effectiveness, they also tend to be the more expensive skincare items, no matter what line you choose.

In the morning, after cleansing I apply one pump of the Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum to my fingers and then on my face.  It is a super potent Vitamin C serum that helps combat things like uneven skin tone and texture, firmness and elasticity, as well as brightens!  Lately, Vitamin C has been a huge thing in skincare for it’s combativeness to pollutants and the benefits I listed above.

At nighttime, I use the Drunk Elephant T.L.C Framboos Glycolic Night Serum.  This serums delivers a super light chemical exfoliation that brightens uneven texture, helps minimize pore size, and combats fine lines and wrinkles.  This is one of my top three favorite skincare products of my whole routine!!  I feel it also does the best job of clearing my acne during pregnancy, since I have to stay away from what I would typically use (I.e. products with salicylic acids, benzoyl peroxides, and retinols).

Step 3: Moisturize & Protect

Moisturizers and hydrators (different things!) are a huge step in my skincare routine whether I am pregnant or not because of how dry my skin is naturally.  Because of this, I use a hydrator and a moisturizer both morning and night.  My skin can easily handle the extra moisture without being greasy, but if you’re more on the oily side, I would recommend using the hydrator only in the morning and the moisturizer at night (or both at night)!

The Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum is a hydrator, which means that it actually penetrates into the skin and hydrates at a cellular level rather than just moisturizing the surface of your skin.  Think of it like a glass of water for your skin!  This is a lightweight gel formula that leaves no residue, and would be the perfect thing for daytime if you are more oily.

Because of my dryness, I layer the Protini Polypeptide Cream on top of this, which is their moisturizer.  It is not greasy in the slightest!  I love that this has proteins in it because it really does help with the elasticity and texture of your skin.  For some reason, I also feel that it’s super “healing” for blemishes and other issues I may have going on.  I randomly used it on a rash I had on my stomach the other day and I woke up to it wayyy less red and almost gone.

Lastly, is one of the most important steps of the whole routine!  Sun protection!  Many of you already know that I am super prone to  melasma (or skin darkening/discoloration), and it is also a side effect of pregnancy.  Because of that, I have been way more strict with my sunscreen every day.  On top of my moisturizer, I apply this EltaMD clear sunscreen.  It is non-greasy and dries completely clear.  I wear it under my makeup daily and never notice it at all.  And just a little heads up, my dermatologist says there is one thing to look for in a sunscreen: that it contains zinc oxide.  Many sold at Sephora or other store do not, but this one does!

Hope that was helpful!  If you have any questions, please feel free to leave me a comment below and I’d love to help!

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