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Did you know the damaging UV sun rays could accelerate the process of ageing and also cause dark spots, even more during pregnancy?
Not only that, but too much of the sun can also increase the risk of dehydration, especially whilst experiencing pregnancy symptoms such as vomiting and nausea, and also lead to a folic acid deficiency that could have negative effects during pregnancy.
What to do to help you ask? Well, the best alternative to the increased sun exposure and tanning beds is a self-tanner. To help pick the right one during your trimester days, we’ve listed below the best self-tanners that are free from harmful ingredients and will also keep your skin glowing and bronzed – without damaging the skin.
However, it is a good practice to consult your obstetrician before you use either of these products.
Pregnancy-safe Self Tanner - Your Go-to List!
Listed below are the best pregnancy-safe self-tanner products to choose from:
1) Beauty by Earth - Pregnancy-safe Self Tanner
This pregnancy-safe self-tanner is a good option if a natural glow is your preference. It not only has a pregnancy-safe DHA, but is also water-based and is made with the other great choice of ingredients like aloe vera, organic shea butter, and other kinds of oil extracts. Beauty by Earth is a certified cruelty-free brand, has a suntan vegan lotion formula, is rated high by the Environmental Working Group, and prevents you from looking way too “orange”. It prevents dark spots, streaks, blotches, or any signs of early ageing and sunburn.
Owing to its all-natural and effective self, it is a great choice for all – women, men, and teens, can be applied every 4-7 days to help maintain the glow, to get the full effect, you’d need to wait for about six hours before you decide to apply another application.
Although it is designed best for pale skin, it could be a possibility that it might look way too much on fair skin, especially if the deep tan isn’t something you’re looking for. Having said that, it’s best that it fades, that too in just a few days- especially if showered frequently. You also fade pretty fast from the hands and the face if they are wet or you have a regular skincare routine.
Pro tip – Let it completely dry (like 20-30 minutes) before you go to bed or put your clothes on to avoid a streaky application. Also, note to apply the tanner gradually to avoid turning orange or developing a fake tan look. Wash your hands immediately after you apply the tanner to avoid staining the palm. In addition, the product also makes an application glove that can be purchased with the self-tanner, this prevents staining your hands.
Pros:
- Rated high by the EWG or the Environmental Work Group
- Is vegan, that is made from a cruelty-free formula
- Includes loads of healthy ingredients for the skin
- Has a bronze look instead of orange
- Easily built on any skin tone
- Can be used by all, women, men, and teens
- Is fast to dry
- If the right precautions are taken, there will be no streaks
- It’s easy to wash off in a couple of days
Cons:
- Since the lotion is white, it can get hard to see how thick the application is
- Isn’t as long-lasting as the other self-tanners
- It contains potential irritants/allergens and has ingredients that are linked with potential organ toxicities
- Has DHA
2) Botanic Tree Self Tanner - The Best Hydrating Pregnancy-safe Self Tanner
This pregnancy-safe self-tanner is made using all organic ingredients, is completely plant-based, and leaves behind a glowing healthy skin that is safe to spend hours in the sun. It contains DHA that is derived from sugar cane, aloe vera leaf juice, organic oils, shea butter, etc, not only that; but the formula is also sulphate-, cruelty-, and paraben-free.
Botanic tree tanner is non-greasy which means it won’t feel sticky, is also not heavy on the skin, and dries quickly – so wear the clothes you wish after applying the tanning lotion, care-free.
However, on the flip side, the consistency of this lotion is rather thick, which means, it takes some time to rub into the skin, is applied without streaks, and has a possibility of causing an orange color if applied too much. You would also want to use a mitt or latex gloves as it could get a little hard to wash off and turn your palms orange.
To highlight here, the formulation leaves the skin quite hydrated and rejuvenated with its addition of a bronze glow. Apply once a day until you reach the desired level of darkness and then every 4 to 5 days for tan maintenance.
Pros:
- The tanner is completely plant-based
- It is 100% organic
- Includes oil from 10 fruits
- Leaves the skin rejuvenated and well-nourished
- Is easy to build on the color with time
- Does not dry quickly
- Doesn’t streak
- Will not stain clothes, bedding, or towels
- Has a pleasant scent
Cons:
- It is a thick lotion that would take some time to rub into the skin
- Could stain the palm easily
- Has DHA
- Also contains rosemary which is a controversial element during pregnancy, recommend consulting a doctor before applying
3) St. Tropez Pregnancy-safe Self-tan Express - Best Bronzing Mousse
The St. Tropez pregnancy-safe Self-Tan Express Bronzing Mousse comes with DHA from natural ingredients and is the best and most liked amongst pregnant and otherwise – all thanks to its even coverage and the ability to reach the desired skin tone.
All you need to do is simply apply an even layer of this tanner using a mitt and the color will be easy to tell as it absorbs into the skin quickly and easily. The foam though has a greenish-brown color which is completely normal and does not affect the final result.
On the downside, despite the tanner absorbing quicker, it still remains a little sticky until washed. For a deep end, you’d need to sit for about 1-3 hours depending on how deep you’d want the tan to be before it’s washed off. The tone continues to develop even about 8 hours after application and if you wish, you can repeat the process, depending on how dark you’d want the shade to be. Reapply every 3-4 days and the final tone will not be orange but a bronzed glow, without any streak.
Make sure to also moisturize better after exfoliating as there have been users who mention splotchy patterns as it fades. The tanner comes with a pleasant scent, is absolutely safe for both; you and the baby contain natural driven DHA and is 100% vegan.
Pros:
- Comes with a naturally-sourced DHA
- Is 100% vegan
- Works best on any skin tone type
- The depth of color is easy to adjust
- Leave no streak behind
- Is bronzed-glow and not orange
- The foam is quick to absorb into the skin
- Is best for all-over coverage
- Can be used on the face and has good results
Cons:
- It is a little sticky until washed off
- For those with sensitive skin, it can be irritant and/or cause an allergic reaction because of the color additives, fragrance, and other ingredients
- Contains DHA
- Contains ingredients that are linked to potential organ toxicities
- Contains salicylates that are controversial for pregnant people
Pregnancy-safe Self Tanner: How are the Pregnancy Safe Tanner’s Selected!
Listed below are the parameters on which the pregnancy-safe self-tanners are selected as above:
1. Its Toxicity
The primary concern when choosing the best self-tanner for those pregnant is the list of ingredients. Most cosmetic companies use a few potentially dangerous ingredients in their products.
Since human studies are limited, it is a little hard to determine how safe/dangerous every ingredient is. Most scientific research comes from animal studies and case studies that are exposed to certain kinds of chemicals. Based on the evaluation and the available research, the self-tanners are determined to be pregnancy-safe.
2. Application
Self-tanners are usually designed to be rubbed into the skin or even sprayed on. In most incidents, pregnant women must look for a self-tanner that is applied by rubbing and are not healthy to breathe in.
3. Breathability and Coverage
When showcasing your pregnancy glow, you’ll try and avoid the self-tanners that would leave the skin uneven or streaky. The picks are also considered to keep the products breathable after application – you wouldn’t want to leave a sticky, thick, and oily residue left on the skin.
4. Odor
We also considered the smell of the product, as even though the self-tanner has a pleasant smell, it could get overwhelming to a pregnant woman. It’s best to apply outdoors to reduce the sensitivity or in a well-ventilated area.
5. The Duration of the Tan
Wanting an all-over tan could be a hassle with your lotion, especially as you’d need to apply the suntan evenly for best results. Therefore, the durability of the tan was also taken into consideration, and if there were any special instructions to look into.
To Conclude:
With most brands, you’d want to avoid water for a few hours after the application, especially if these are water-based. Some might also recommend exfoliating to lengthen the durability of the tan. We’d suggest applying less in folded and loose areas of the skin, such as the elbows and knees.
We hope the blog above has helped you know what brand would work best for you, especially during pregnancy – maintaining the glow and also keeping it all pregnancy-safe.
Here’s to a pregnancy-safe happy tan! 🙂
