Shea Butter, Marula Oil, and More Pregnancy Skincare Must-Haves

Stretch marks aren't the only skincare concerns when it comes to pregnancy. As our founder Susan Yara discovered, dry skin and hyper-pigmentation are also common issues when you've got a bun in the oven.

Hormones are to blame for acne and melasma (or hyper-pigmentation) around the forehead, cheeks, and mouth during pregnancy, according to Parents. And because what you put in and on your body also affects your baby, there are many hormone-disrupting ingredients that should be avoided, like retinols, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and more, says Vogue.

That's why using non-toxic products and avoiding invasive and cosmetic treatments is the best move when it comes to caring for your skin during pregnancy, and Susan shared some of her preggo-friendly beauty faves in a recent episode of The Cut. (Side note: have you met her baby Ash yet?)

Just like when you're not pregnant, exfoliating is key to ensuring your beauty products are fully absorbed into the skin. OY-L's Body Scrub ($30) contains pink Himalayan salt, avocado and jojoba oil, vitamin E, and magnesium, which all help nourish, strengthen, and exfoliate the skin.

When it comes to moisturizing, non-toxic brand Beautycounter's Enrich Body Butter ($39) is ideal for hydrating and fighting stretch marks thanks to shea butter. Extracted from seeds inside the fruit of the shea tree, this natural ingredient is packed with vitamins A, E, and F, helps stimulate collage production, and is also an anti-inflammatory.

Yet another skin-strengthening must-have is marula oil, like African Botanics' Stretchmark Botanical Body Oil ($105). It contains oils like rosehip, neroli, and jojoba (among other active ingredients) to help regenerate the skin and when paired with a good moisturizer, this product can be even more effective in treating stretch marks.

Want more? Watch the full episode below to see all of Susan's favorite pregnancy beauty products, then keep scrolling to shop the products.