Is Retinol Safe During Pregnancy? What the Guidance Says, and Gentle Alternatives
Is retinol safe during pregnancy? Retinoids, including retinol, are widely advised against while pregnant. Here is what the guidance says, the gentle ingredients many people use instead, and why your midwife or doctor has the final word.
8 min read
Retinoids, including retinol, are widely advised against in pregnancy. Here is what the guidance says, and the gentle ingredients many people use instead.
RETINOL AND PREGNANCY: THE GUIDANCE AND THE GENTLE ALTERNATIVES
Why retinol is advised against in pregnancy
The caution around retinol in pregnancy comes from vitamin A. High doses of vitamin A, and some vitamin A-based medicines taken by mouth, are known to carry risks for a developing baby.
Retinol applied to the skin is absorbed at much lower levels. Even so, the general guidance is to pause it during pregnancy, for a few reasons:
+ The benefits of retinol are cosmetic, so there is little reason to accept even a small, uncertain risk.
+ There is limited research on retinoids applied to the skin in pregnancy, because such studies are hard to run.
+ Exposure over many months is harder to measure than a single dose.
+ Gentler cosmetic options exist.
The retinoid family includes retinol, retinal (retinaldehyde) and retinyl esters such as retinyl palmitate, as well as some prescription medicines. Check ingredient lists for these names.
If you use a prescription treatment for your skin, check with your doctor or pharmacist before you continue or add anything new.
In a small 12-week study, bakuchiol and retinol showed similar improvements in the look of wrinkles and pigmentation, and the retinol group reported more scaling and stinging.
Bakuchiol: a plant-based alternative
Bakuchiol is a plant extract taken from the seeds of the babchi plant (Psoralea corylifolia). It is not a retinoid, but it is often described as a retinol alternative because of how it is used in skincare.
What the research shows:
+ A 12-week study published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2019 compared 0.5% bakuchiol cream, used twice a day, with 0.5% retinol cream, used once a day, in 44 adults. Both groups showed similar improvements in the look of wrinkles and pigmentation. The retinol group reported more scaling and stinging.
+ It was a small study, and it did not include pregnant women. Research on bakuchiol in pregnancy is limited, so please check it with your midwife, doctor or pharmacist.
How people use bakuchiol:
+ Usually in a serum or cream, morning and evening, after cleansing and before moisturiser.
+ It layers well with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and peptides.
+ Give any new product a few weeks of steady use before judging how your skin looks and feels.
Pausing retinol in pregnancy does not mean pausing your routine. Gentle ingredients such as bakuchiol, peptides, niacinamide and vitamin C keep it going.
Peptides: gentle support for firmer-looking skin
Peptides are short chains of amino acids. In skincare they are used to help skin look smoother and firmer, and they are generally well tolerated.
Common cosmetic peptides include:
+ Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (often sold as Matrixyl).
+ Copper tripeptide-1 (copper peptides).
+ Acetyl hexapeptide-8 (often sold as Argireline).
Many serums combine several peptides.
How to use them:
+ Morning and evening, after cleansing.
+ Press into slightly damp skin.
+ They sit comfortably alongside niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C.
As with any product in pregnancy, show the ingredient list to your midwife or pharmacist.
Other gentle ingredients to know
Alongside bakuchiol and peptides, a few other cosmetic ingredients are commonly part of routines during pregnancy. Check each one with your midwife, doctor or pharmacist.
Azelaic acid (cosmetic strength)
+ Often suggested by dermatologists for blemish-prone and pigmentation-prone skin in pregnancy.
+ Helps skin look smoother and more even.
+ Start with two or three evenings a week.
Low-strength lactic or glycolic acid
+ Gentle exfoliation that smooths the skin's surface and helps it look brighter.
+ Once or twice a week is plenty.
Niacinamide
+ Helps even the look of skin tone and supports the skin barrier.
+ One of the most widely tolerated ingredients.
+ Can be used morning and evening.
Vitamin C
+ An antioxidant that helps skin look brighter.
+ Use in the morning, under sunscreen.
Together, these cover many of the reasons people reach for retinol: smoother-looking texture, a brighter and more even look, and comfortable, supported skin.
A simple routine while you pause retinol
Morning
1 - A gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
2 - Vitamin C serum on dry skin.
3 - Peptide or niacinamide serum.
4 - Moisturiser.
5 - Broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher. A mineral formula is a popular choice in pregnancy.
Evening
1 - Cleanse, and double cleanse if you wore sunscreen or make-up.
2 - Hyaluronic acid serum on damp skin.
3 - Bakuchiol serum or cream.
4 - Peptide serum, or azelaic acid on two or three evenings a week if your skin is blemish-prone or pigmentation-prone.
5 - A richer moisturiser, with a plant oil such as rosehip or jojoba on top if your skin feels dry.
Keep it simple. Pregnancy is a good time for a routine you can keep up, rather than for trying many new products at once. Show your routine to your midwife or pharmacist if you are unsure about any product.
When can I use retinol again after pregnancy?
This is a question for your doctor, midwife or pharmacist, because the answer depends on you.
Breastfeeding
Research on retinol and breastfeeding is limited, and many sources advise continuing to pause retinoids while breastfeeding. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what they recommend for you.
If and when you restart
Once your doctor agrees, many people find it helps to:
+ Start with a low strength, even if you used a stronger one before.
+ Use it once or twice a week at first, and build up slowly.
+ Apply moisturiser before and after it if your skin is sensitive.
+ Wear sunscreen every day.
Many new parents keep the simpler routine they used in pregnancy for a while longer. Bakuchiol, peptides, vitamin C and niacinamide remain good options whenever you want a gentle routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Retinoids, including retinol, are widely advised against during pregnancy, and many sources also advise pausing them while breastfeeding. Retinol applied to the skin is absorbed at low levels, but high doses of vitamin A are linked to harm in pregnancy, so the guidance is to be cautious. Talk it through with your midwife or doctor, and ask them about any product you are unsure of.
Many people turn to bakuchiol, a plant extract that is not a retinoid. In a 12-week study published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2019, 0.5% bakuchiol and 0.5% retinol showed similar improvements in the look of wrinkles and pigmentation, with less irritation reported for bakuchiol. The study did not include pregnant women, so check with your midwife, doctor or pharmacist first. Peptides and niacinamide are other gentle options.
Research on retinol and breastfeeding is limited, and many sources advise continuing to pause retinoids until you have finished breastfeeding. Ask your doctor or pharmacist what they recommend. In the meantime, bakuchiol, peptides and niacinamide are gentle options to discuss with them.
One small, 12-week study found similar improvements in the look of wrinkles and pigmentation with 0.5% bakuchiol used twice a day and 0.5% retinol used once a day, and fewer reports of scaling and stinging with bakuchiol. It is one study of 44 people, so it is encouraging rather than final. Results vary from person to person.
It varies from person to person. The study mentioned above measured changes at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Give any new product several weeks of steady use before judging it, and use it alongside daily sunscreen.
Ask your doctor, midwife or pharmacist, as it depends on you and on whether you are breastfeeding. When you do restart, begin with a low strength once or twice a week, build up slowly, and wear sunscreen every day.
A gentle routine while you pause retinol
Pausing retinol during pregnancy is a common precaution, not a setback. Gentle ingredients such as bakuchiol, peptides, niacinamide and vitamin C, with daily sunscreen, can keep your skin feeling cared for in the meantime.
Read this alongside our pregnancy skincare ingredient guide, our peptides guide, and our retinol guide for later on.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Please talk to your midwife, doctor or pharmacist about any product you use in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and see a dermatologist about any skin concern that is persistent or worrying you.
