We have been asked many times which products are safe to use during pregnancy or if you are trying to get pregnant. This is a very difficult area for us because we are Beauty Therapists and Skin Care Specialists and not medical practitioners. Never the less, we are never happy when we can’t answer our customers questions or concerns so we requested clarification from Dermalogica. They kindly sent us a very detailed email which we have included below.
Please remember that you should always consult fully with your G. P. when trying to become pregnant, or if you are pregnant, and using or changing skin care products.
Pregnancy Advice from the International Dermal Institute
Dermalogica® is a professional skin therapy line that is researched by The International Dermal Institute®. As a post graduate training facility The International Dermal Institute® has extensive resource to clinical and technical data regarding ingredients. Dermalogica® always strives to remain at the forefront of product development and use high quality ingredients that will promote optimum skin health.
Most of the Dermalogica® products are safe to use whilst pregnant. We would recommend that you avoid having professional body treatments that include Dermalogica® Enzymatic Sea Mud Pack and Dermalogica® Energising Oil – Professional Strength. Both of these body products have a detoxifying effect on the body and detoxification is not recommended for pregnant mothers as it can cause dehydration and may increase the toxic load in the mother’s blood, which will also pass through to the baby.
At Dermalogica® we suggest the use of our aromatherapy oils Soothing Additive, Clearing Additive, Revitalising Additive, Stress Relief Professional Strength Oil and the retail Stress Relief Treatment Oil should be avoided during pregnancy as a precautionary measure. Any skin therapist with an advanced knowledge of aromatherapy will be able to advise you more specifically. Further, based on your personal health circumstances your General Practitioner or Obstetrician may advise you to avoid using any essential oil formula and as such one might make the personal decision to not use these products.
Although most Dermalogica® products are safe to use in pregnancy, there are a few containing specific active agents such as salicylic acid, lactic acid and retinol that come into question when the client or user is pregnant.
At present no studies have been carried out on salicylic acid and lactic acid and its effects on pregnant women. Some medical practitioner’s deem salicylic acid safe when used in a cleanser as it is being washed off of the skin. However the use of salicylic acid during pregnancy is only a concern for highly active, leave on treatment products.
For this reason we advise to avoid experiencing treatments using Dermalogica® professional exfoliants; Exfoliant Accelerator 35, Multi Vitamin Power Exfoliant and Skin Exfoliant System. Further we suggest pregnant clients may wish to avoid the use of Clearing Mattifier and Overnight Clearing Gel every day over an extended period as these have a concentration of 2% salicylic acid and are left to penetrate into the skin. However, the treatment of the odd breakout with Concealing Spot Treatment and Special Clearing Booster is fine as it is unlikely to be applied morning and night for an extended period of time. Wash off products such as Clearing Skin Wash or lower concentration toners and moisturisers like Skin Purifying Wipes and Oil Control should not pose great concern and could be incorporated into a routine if an individual was faced with acne during pregnancy.
When considering the use of either salicylic acid or lactic acid we would always recommend one follows the advice given by their midwife or GP.
Vitamin A derivatives have varying strengths and can have an effect on the body when ingested during pregnancy. Due to the fact that there is a high concentration of Retinyl Palmitate within Dermalogica® Multivitamin Power Concentrate and this product is designed to penetrate deeply into the skin, at Dermalogica® we suggest you consult your General Practitioners or Obstetrician as to whether this product is suitable for topical use. At this stage our research indicates that there are no other Dermalogica® products containing Vitamin A derivatives which need to be avoided.
Once again, based on personal health circumstances or advice given by General Practitioners or Obstetrician, one may make the personal decision to avoid topical application of some of these Vitamin A derivatives during pregnancy. The list of Dermalogica® professional and retail products that contain either Retinol or Retinyl Palmitate can be found below:
- Multivitamin Hand and Nail Treatment
- Body Therapy Hydro Pack
- Clean Bar
- Colloidal Masque Base
- Solar Defence Wipes
- Intensive Eye Repair
- Intensive Moisture Masque
- Intensive Moisture Balance
- Overnight Clearing Gel
- Multivitamin Power Concentrate
- Multivitamin Power Exfoliant
- Multivitamin Power Firm
- Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque
- Multivitamin Thermafoliant
- Post Extraction Solution
- Power Rich
- Powerfoliant
- Silk Finish Conditioner
- Skin Hydrating Masque
- Skin Renewal Booster
- Skin Smoothing Cream
- Solar Defence Booster SPF 30
- Treatment Foundation (All Shades)
- Ultra Sensitive Face Block SPF 25
- Waterblock Solar Spray SPF 30
Education Product Information
International Dermal Institute®