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The Best Clean Makeup for Your Pregnancy Routine
The Best Clean Makeup for Your Pregnancy Routine

The Best Clean Makeup for Your Pregnancy Routine

These are the pregnancy-friendly makeup picks Babylist users recommend.

author-Briana Engelbrecht
By Briana Engelbrecht
Fact Checked by Shannon Vestal Robson
Updated On
Updated On
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In This Article

Ingredients to Look Out for in Your Makeup Bag
Clean Makeup Expecting Parents Love
Ilia
Saie
Merit Beauty
Haus Labs
Tower 28
Kosas
Crunchi 
How to Read Makeup Ingredient Lists

Some parents start to think a bit more about what they put on their skin after they get pregnant. In a recent poll of Babylist users, many people said they made some changes to their beauty routine during their pregnancy. Is it totally necessary? To find out, I talked to Dr. Mamina Turegano, a triple board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist, about makeup ingredients during pregnancy, and she told me that while you don’t need to toss your entire makeup bag, there are a few ingredients worth avoiding (or at least limiting) during pregnancy. 

Below, we’re rounding up clean beauty brands that parents mentioned the most in our poll, along with what to look for when reading ingredient labels.

Ingredients to Look Out for in Your Makeup Bag

The parents who told us they changed their beauty routines said they did so to avoid specific ingredients that experts recommend skipping during pregnancy. If you see one of these in any of your products, healthcare providers suggest pausing the use of those that are either linked to safety concerns or likely to irritate skin, which can be more sensitive by the shifting hormones of pregnancy. (We also have a clean skincare guide to help you figure out what to replace things with.)

Here are the primary ingredients to look for when scanning your makeup labels:

Retinoids and Retinol. Commonly found in anti-aging primers and "skin-improving" foundations, these vitamin A-based ingredients are a concern during pregnancy. Dr. Turegano notes that the risk from topical makeup is low, but the potential for developmental issues—like fetal retinoid syndrome—means doctors almost always take a "zero risk" approach and advise patients to avoid them entirely.

Salicylic Acid (BHA). This is a frequent addition to acne-fighting foundations and mattifying primers. According to Dr. Turegano, using a small amount (2% or less) in a targeted area is generally low risk, but notes that it’s wise to avoid high-concentration formulas or chemical peels while expecting.

Parabens and Phthalates. Parabens keep your makeup shelf-stable, while phthalates help fragrances last longer. While Dr. Turegano explains that the evidence on how these affect human pregnancy is mixed, many people choose to reduce their exposure to these potential hormone-disruptors as a precaution.

Fragrance and Essential Oils. Pregnancy can make you more reactive to scents, leading to skin irritation, headaches, or nausea. Dr. Turegano says you might avoid fragrance as an "optional risk reduction" rather than a strict medical requirement. However, it's recommended to avoid certain essential oils—like clary sage, rosemary, and peppermint—as they may theoretically impact blood pressure or contractions.

Clean Makeup Expecting Parents Love

Ilia, Kosas and Haus Labs were the top-mentioned brands among parents who didn’t want to give up their makeup routine during pregnancy. Face makeup—think concealer, foundation, blush and bronzer—was actually the top makeup product swapped out. 

“[I] switched my foundation for a skin tint that had safer ingredients,” one Babylist parent shared. A few people talked about how they wanted to steer clear of potentially harmful ingredients like phthalates.

If you're thinking about switching to an alternative brand for any part of your makeup routine, here are Babylist parents’ go-to picks.

Ilia

Ilia was the most-mentioned brand parents told us they loved during pregnancy, thanks to the brand’s skincare-powered formulas designed to work with your skin (not cover it up). The textures are easy, the finishes are effortless and everything feels thoughtful—like makeup that holds up even on low-effort days.

Saie

Saie is a go-to for Babylist parents who want to know exactly what they’re putting on their skin. Their ingredient lists are easy to find and easy to understand, with clear explanations for what each ingredient does and why it’s included. The makeup itself is lightweight, buildable and forgiving, which makes it especially appealing if you don’t usually wear much makeup but still want a little glow (or a confidence boost). Speaking from my own experience, the products feel low-maintenance and easy to use.

Merit Beauty

Merit Beauty is all about pared-back makeup that still looks polished. Their foundation formulas are buildable and easy to figure out, with a solid shade range designed to work across many skin tones. And their line of blushes, eyeshadow and lip products follow suit. If you’re looking for a clean beauty brand that’ll help you feel put together without spending much time or mental energy figuring it out, it’s worth giving Merit a try.

Haus Labs

Haus Labs, Lady Gaga’s beauty brand, appeared frequently in our poll results. Parents who chose to swap to cleaner beauty products often called out the brand’s foundation as an option they felt comfortable using during pregnancy.  

Tower 28

Tower 28 was another clean beauty brand parents mentioned in our poll; they're known for keeping formulas intentionally simple and easy to understand. The brand focuses on makeup that feels comfortable on skin and is designed for everyday wear, not just special occasions.

Kosas

Kosas is a clean makeup brand that blends cosmetics with skincare-inspired ingredients, with an emphasis on lightweight textures and natural-looking finishes. One Babylist parent shared that they swapped their loose powder for Kosas loose powder because it uses mica instead of talc (which most providers advise avoiding during pregnancy).

Crunchi 

Crunchi is a smaller brand that still earned a loyal following among Babylist parents who were looking to swap parts of their makeup routine during pregnancy. The lineup covers everyday essentials—foundation, concealer, mascara and lip color—with formulas designed to feel gentle and wearable throughout the day.

How to Read Makeup Ingredient Lists

We get it—reading a makeup label can feel like trying to decode a science textbook. Between the long chemical names and the fine print, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. And Dr. Turegano wants to assure parents they don’t need to become mini scientists when choosing makeup during pregnancy. “Focus on avoiding the true no-gos—retinoids and hydroquinone. Keep actives simple, and when it comes to exfoliation, skip high-strength glycolic acid (10%+) and salicylic acid over 2%.”

But a little label literacy goes a long way, especially when you’re trying to avoid certain ingredients during pregnancy.

EWG’s Skin Deep Database was one parent’s top recommendation for determining how “clean” their products were. It’s an app that lets you search thousands of products by name and see how they score on a scale from 1 (low concern) to 10 (high concern). One parent shared in the poll, “Once I found out I was pregnant, I switched my mascara to Too Faced Better Than Sex.”

A few also mentioned Think Dirty, a similar app that lets you scan a barcode and get a breakdown of ingredients (plus how risky or safe they are considered). One parent shared they used it to find eyeshadow options that were specifically talc-free. 

👉 Just remember: not every “bad” ingredient is automatically harmful in tiny amounts, and not every “clean” product is perfectly safe. When in doubt, ask your healthcare provider. And for Dr. Turegano’s parting though: “Calm, consistent routines matter more than chasing ‘perfect’ labels.”

Expert Sources

Babylist uses high-quality subject matter experts to provide accurate and reliable information to our users. Sources for this story include:

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