Pregnancy-Safe Skincare
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Grass-Fed Tallow Cream — Orange & Bergamot
Regular price $27.00 USDRegular priceUnit price per -
Grass-Fed Tallow Cream — Peaceful Night
Regular price $27.00 USDRegular priceUnit price per -
Grass-Fed Tallow Cream — Lemongrass & Lavender
Regular price $27.00 USDRegular priceUnit price per -
Sleep Plus Collagen Cream
Regular price $32.99 USDRegular priceUnit price per -
Vitamin Glow Serum
Regular price $24.90 USDRegular priceUnit price per -
Peptide Eye Gel-Cream
Regular price $35.99 USDRegular priceUnit price per
Ingredients to avoid during pregnancy
Retinoids (retinol, retinyl palmitate, tretinoin)
Retinoids are the most well-established skincare category to avoid during pregnancy. High-dose oral retinoids (like isotretinoin) are known teratogens — substances that can cause fetal abnormalities — and while topical retinoids are absorbed at much lower levels, most dermatologists and OBGYNs recommend avoiding them throughout pregnancy as a precaution. This includes retinol (over-the-counter), retinyl palmitate (found in many anti-aging moisturizers), adapalene, and prescription tretinoin. If your current skincare routine includes any retinoid, pause it for the duration of pregnancy. The Leaf & Bird catalog contains no retinoids.
High-percentage salicylic acid (>2%)
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid used for exfoliation and acne treatment. Low-concentration topical use (1–2% in a rinse-off product) is generally considered low-risk during pregnancy, but high-percentage formulations — such as chemical peels or concentrated spot treatments — are typically flagged for avoidance due to systemic absorption concerns. High doses of salicylates (aspirin is a salicylate) are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes; while cosmetic-use topical salicylic acid is far below those doses, the conservative approach is to limit use to low percentages and rinse-off formats, or avoid it entirely. We don’t use salicylic acid in any Leaf & Bird formula.
Essential oils in large quantities and certain EOs (basil, rosemary, sage)
Essential oils are potent concentrated botanical extracts, and during pregnancy, certain EOs carry cautions due to their effects on uterine tone or systemic exposure at high doses. Basil, rosemary, sage, thyme, clove, and cinnamon essential oils are most frequently flagged in herbalist and midwifery literature as ones to avoid or use sparingly during pregnancy. This doesn’t mean all essential oils are dangerous — lavender, frankincense, and chamomile are widely considered safe in diluted topical use — but it does mean you should check the INCI of any scented product against a reference list before using during pregnancy. Pregnancy also heightens skin reactivity and scent sensitivity generally; what was tolerable before may cause nausea or irritation during the first trimester.
Our pregnancy-friendly routine
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AM: Gentle cleanse
Start with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser — pregnancy skin often becomes more reactive and dry. Use lukewarm (not hot) water; hot water strips the barrier faster. Pat dry. Your skin’s increased blood flow during pregnancy means even mild cleansers can feel more stimulating than usual. Keep it simple.
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AM Serum: Vitamin Glow Serum
The Vitamin Glow Serum uses 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, a gentler and more stable vitamin C derivative, rather than high-concentration L-ascorbic acid. During pregnancy, skin sensitivity is often elevated and the low-pH environment required for L-AA activation can cause irritation. 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid delivers brightening and antioxidant benefits at a gentler pH. No synthetic fragrance, no parabens, no retinoids. Fully vegan. One to two drops is enough for the full face; apply before your moisturizer while skin is slightly damp.
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AM Eyes: Peptide Eye Gel-Cream
The Peptide Eye Gel-Cream targets under-eye puffiness and the appearance of dark circles with acetyl tetrapeptide-5, a clinically studied peptide — no retinoids, no caffeine in excess, no synthetic fragrance. The under-eye area is particularly reactive during pregnancy (hormonal puffiness is common), and this lightweight gel-cream is specifically designed to be gentle enough for the periorbital area. Apply a small amount with your ring finger, pressing gently rather than dragging.
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AM Moisturize: Grass-Fed Tallow Cream
The simplest and safest moisturizer option in the Leaf & Bird catalog during pregnancy. Grass-fed beef tallow contains no retinoids, no synthetic fragrance, no salicylic acid, no hydroquinone — just tallow and organic essential oils. The fatty acid profile mimics human sebum, which means it absorbs efficiently without sitting on the surface. For a pregnancy-safe scent choice, Lemongrass & Lavender uses lavender essential oil, which is widely considered safe during pregnancy at diluted topical concentrations. Orange & Bergamot is a bright citrus option. Peaceful Night uses a calming blend — check the INCI if you have specific EO sensitivities.
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AM SPF: Mineral SPF (not Leaf & Bird — we don’t sell SPF yet)
Daily sun protection is especially important during pregnancy because hormonal changes increase the risk of melasma (pregnancy mask — dark patches triggered by UV exposure). We don’t sell SPF at Leaf & Bird. Use a mineral SPF (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide base) rather than chemical UV filters like oxybenzone or octinoxate, which are flagged for potential endocrine activity. Look for broad-spectrum SPF 30+ in a mineral formula.
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PM: Gentle cleanse (repeat AM step)
Double-cleansing is generally unnecessary during pregnancy — a single gentle cleanse is enough in the evening unless you’ve been wearing sunscreen or mineral makeup. Avoid foaming cleansers with sulfates or synthetic fragrance. Rinse fully and pat dry.
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PM Moisturize: Sleep Plus Collagen Cream — with caveat
The Sleep Plus Collagen Cream uses plant collagen, lavender oil, and melatonin for overnight skin support. Caveat: the formula contains melatonin. Topical melatonin data in pregnancy is limited — most research on melatonin in pregnancy involves oral supplementation, not topical application, and the systemic absorption from topical use is much lower. The conservative approach is to pause the Sleep Plus Collagen Cream during pregnancy and resume postpartum, or consult your OBGYN before using it. If you prefer to skip it, the tallow cream is a full PM moisturizer on its own.
Trimester-by-trimester skin guidance
First trimester: The hormonal surge of early pregnancy — particularly the dramatic rise in hCG and progesterone — often triggers acne, sensitivity flares, and unexpected reactivity in skin that was previously stable. This is also when nausea and scent sensitivity peak, which means that products you previously tolerated may suddenly cause irritation or nausea. The first-trimester approach is simplification: strip the routine back to the basics — gentle cleanse, a simple moisturizer, mineral SPF — and pause actives until the hormonal picture stabilizes. Avoid any new ingredients or formulations during this window. Your skin is doing something it has never done before.
Second trimester: Hormonal turbulence often settles during the second trimester, and many pregnant people experience the “pregnancy glow” — increased blood flow, more even skin tone, reduced sensitivity compared to the first trimester. This is a good window to build a preventive hydration routine: supporting the skin barrier now pays dividends later. The Vitamin Glow Serum’s gentle vitamin C can be introduced here if you haven’t already. Consistency with SPF is especially important during the second trimester because sun exposure can trigger melasma as estrogen levels continue rising. Hydration — both topical and internal — is your main lever.
Third trimester: The third trimester brings new skin concerns: the belly, hips, and breasts are stretching rapidly, and stretch mark prevention (or reduction) becomes a priority for many people. This is where the tallow cream earns its place — barrier-supporting, sebum-mimicking fat applied consistently to stretching skin keeps the dermis as hydrated and elastic as topicals can. There is no topical ingredient that prevents stretch marks with clinical certainty, but barrier support is the most defensible approach. Skin may also shift toward oilier or drier states as the third trimester progresses — adjust your moisturizer frequency rather than introducing new actives.
Postpartum: The postpartum period is often harder on skin than pregnancy itself. Hormone levels drop rapidly after delivery, and for breastfeeding parents, estrogen remains low for the duration of lactation — leading to a pattern of dry, sensitive, barrier-compromised skin similar to perimenopause. The ancestral recommendation applies here: keep the routine simple. The tallow cream’s short ingredient list is ideal for this stage — no risk of sensitizing a compromised barrier with new actives. Breastfeeding introduces an additional consideration: topicals applied to the chest or hands can transfer to the infant. Check any product you apply to those areas with your pediatrician. For the face, the full Leaf & Bird routine is appropriate to resume postpartum — including the Sleep Plus Collagen Cream once breastfeeding has ended or after consulting your OBGYN.
Medical disclaimer + our honest limits
We want to be straightforward about what we know, what we don’t know, and what this page is and isn’t.
What this page is: A good-faith curation of available information about topical skincare ingredients during pregnancy, organized around the recommendations most commonly given by dermatologists, OBGYNs, and the clean-beauty community. We have selected products from the Leaf & Bird catalog that avoid the categories most frequently flagged for pregnancy caution.
What this page is not: Medical advice. Leaf & Bird is not a healthcare provider. Pregnancy topical safety data is genuinely limited across the board — the cosmetics industry rarely funds pregnancy-specific clinical trials, which means most guidance in this space is precautionary rather than definitive. We formulate to minimize known concerns, but we cannot tell you that any topical product is without risk during your specific pregnancy.
Our recommendation: Bring your full skincare ingredient list to your OBGYN or midwife and ask them to review it. A good OB will have an opinion about specific actives. If you’re uncertain about any ingredient — including anything in the Leaf & Bird catalog — that’s the right person to ask. We’d rather you check than assume.
Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your skincare routine during pregnancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Leaf & Bird PDRN serum during pregnancy?
Are tallow creams safe during pregnancy?
What about while breastfeeding?
What about melatonin in the Sleep Plus Collagen Cream?
Is tallow safe for stretch mark prevention?
Can I use vitamin C during pregnancy?
What changed? I used to tolerate my skincare actives before pregnancy.
About This Collection
Every Leaf & Bird product is formulated with full ingredient transparency — real ingredients, real results, no compromises. Made in the USA without synthetic fragrances, artificial preservatives, or harsh chemicals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our products, shipping, returns, and more.
Every product is formulated with full ingredient transparency. We use clean, natural ingredients — no synthetic fragrances, no artificial preservatives, no harsh chemicals. All products are made in the USA and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Yes! All orders ship free within the United States. Orders are processed within 1-2 business days and typically arrive within 5-7 business days.
We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all products. If you're not completely satisfied, contact our support team and we'll issue a full refund — no questions asked.
Our products are formulated without harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, or artificial preservatives. We recommend a patch test before first use if you have known sensitivities. Our grass-fed tallow products are especially gentle.
For hydration & dry skin: Start with our Tallow Body Care collection. For brightening & anti-aging: Try our Vitamin C or Vitamin Glow serums. For deep pore cleansing: The Dead Sea Mud mask. For overnight repair: Sleep Plus Collagen Cream.
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