The Best Korean Skin Care Products to Make Your Pregnancy Glow!

When you first got pregnant, you might have pictured yourself sporting an adorable bump, dewy skin and shiny, thicker hair. But reality isn’t always so glowing!

Expecting mothers can find themselves facing a slew of skin concerns from stretch marks, pigmentation, oily skin to dry patches. Plus, while every pregnancy is different, experts can agree that there are quite a few ingredients all pregnant women should avoid, such as retinol, parabens and hydroquinone, making it sometimes tricky to find the right skin care routine!

Related article: Your Guide to Pregnancy-Safe Korean Skin Care

Luckily, Korean skin care is known for their gentle formulations, and we have rounded up some of the best treat-yo-self products that are perfect for those nine months and beyond:

1. Dry skin disaster?

There are plenty of gentle moisturisers out there that are perfect for expecting mamas who are experiencing dry skin. Our top pick would be the COSRX Balancium Comfort Ceramide Cream, which is formulated with ceramide NP to help retain moisture and strengthen skin barrier, and centella asiatica extract to keep even acne-prone skin clear and calm.

The Olivarrier Fluid Oil is another product you can add to your skin care routine to help boost hydration. This face oil uses olive squalane, an oil similar to the face's natural sebum, and is suitable for all skin types, even babes with oily skin!

2. Hyperpigmentation? Fret not!

While pregnant, women are often prone to melasma, which can cause darker splotches on the face. To fight this, there are actually quite a few "proven via studies"-safe ingredients, and they include one of our favourites, vitamin C! A powerful vitamin C serum you can try is the By Wishtrend Pure Vitamin C21.5 Advanced Serum. If your skin is more on the sensitive side, another pregnancy safe option is the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum. Both these serums contain different concentrations of Vitamin C, but are both great for brightening skin and combating dry patches.

Other than Vitamin C, alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) is another safe ingredient to use during pregnancy! AHA truly does it all: It fights acne, reduces the appearance of fine lines, large pores, acne scars, while also preventing or fighting those pesky dark spots that flare up during pregnancy. Find this superstar ingredient in our best-selling COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid!

3. Say goodbye to redness!

If your skin feels more sensitive than usual, the Sioris A Calming Day Ampoule is a great product to help with any face or body redness you may experience. This ampoule is formulated with only the best and freshest ingredients, including Omija fruit extract, known for its skin soothing, protecting, anti-stress, and powerful anti-ageing benefits, soothing calendula and centella asiatica!

Another great calming ampoule you can check out is the Dr. Ceuracle’s Royal Vita Propolis 33 Ampoule, which is formulated with antioxidant-rich propolis extract, royal jelly extract and vitamin tree to not only soothe inflamed skin, but also nourish and brighten any dullness.

Related article: Ingredients 101: Propolis, Acne-Prone Skin's New BFF!

4. Banish breakouts

Exfoliation is a key step for clearer and breakout-free skin. But finding the perfect exfoliator can be tricky, as most of them can be a little too harsh for the skin. Luckily, we've got the Klairs Youthful Glow Sugar Mask, a gentle yet powerful triple threat that can be used as a face scrub, nourishing mask and cleansing balm.

5. Even & protect skin

For babes who put on makeup during the day, we have the ultimate duo for you: The Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Re-Cover and Heimish Artless Glow Base! The Re-Cover cream works to heal redness and inflamed skin, while using a colour-correcting capsule to match and even out your skin’s tone. The Artless Glow Base is a makeup primer to add another layer of protection, hydration, and brightness for your skin. Each product can still work well on its own, but together, they make the ultimate combo to protect your skin!

As you can probably tell by now, pregnancy doesn’t mean missing out on amazing skin! There are plenty of products out there that are still completely OK and safe to use. If you are ever unsure of anything, just double check with your dermatologist or OB!