Looking & Feeling Tips to look great during pregnancy|Health

  Looking & Feeling Tips to look great during pregnancy|Health

Emotional upheaval and changing body shape can be tough to work around when it comes to looking good when you are having a baby, but the increased hormone levels, and blood flow in your body works wonders for the skin and hair. Here’s how you can work it.

Be beautiful at every stage
Pregnancy can be the most beautiful phase of your life; you just have to take a little extra care. The way pregnancy changes your appearance can be both wonderful and scary.

First Trimester

• The first trimester is often the most difficult for women when your body is getting ready for the coming changes. Skin tends to get more sensitive. So change your skin care regime and shift to gentle moisturisers, and soap-free cleansers.
• Look for fragrance-free products and avoid whitening, anti-ageing, or anti-acne creams as the chemical compositions may react on your skin due to heightened levels of hormones.
• Treat yourself to a soothing facial and pedicure. Ask your therapist to use unscented creams. Simple cold cream is one of the best options as they are harmless and gentle on the skin. Avoid harsh face scrubs.
• This is the time when skin gets very dry, especially on your body. Shift to heavy-duty hand and body lotion. You may need to increase the number of times you moisturise your skin.

Second Trimester

• By the time you enter the second trimester, your body gets attuned to the changes, and the hormone levels get adjusted. Your skin gets a rosy glow, and for most the skin clears up.
• Since the bump starts to show, your skin around the stomach gets stretched. Avoid getting stretchmarks by using creams or oils rich in vitamin E. It helps in keeping the skin's texture firm.
• One of the best sources of vitamin E is almond oil. Gently massage in a little oil every time you get an urge to scratch your skin.
• Get a help at home to regularly massage your legs as well with the same oil to deal with swollen limbs and varicose veins.

Fight skin worries

During pregnancy your skin is the first to take the brunt of the changes in your body. Some of the common problems include very dry, itchy skin, melasma, acne, stretch marks. Do not despair; these can be treated during and after pregnancy to leave you with a flawless complexion.

• Dry flaky skin: If your skin feels very dry and taut rough to touch especially around your stomach, hands and legs, just double your dose of moisturizer. Generally this condition vanishes after your delivery. Almond oil- or cocoa butter-based creams tend to work wonders in soothing the skin during this period. Apply twice a day at least after bath on a slightly damp skin.
• Melasma: Also known as "pregnancy mask", this is basically brown pigmentation around the eyes, on the cheeks and sometimes above the lip. The hormonal changes combined with exposure to the sun can cause this complexion problem. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Look for sunscreens with titanium, zinc or Parsol 1789. In most cases melasma vanishes naturally post delivery. However if yours refuses to go away, then you can treat it post pregnancy with AHA- and retinoid-based creams.
• Acne: Onset of pimples during pregnancy is a tricky business as you cannot treat an outbreak with regular medicines. You need to be very cautious when fighting this problem. Antibiotics containing tetracycline and Accutane are a strict no-no. You can opt for a topical cream or pill with low dose of antibiotic erythromycin. However avoid using acne creams with beta-hydroxy that acts like aspirin which can cause excessive bleeding in pregnant women. To treat acne you must consult both your dermatologist and your obstetrician.
• Stretch Marks: It is the biggest issue with all pregnant women. This happens due to loss off elasticity as upper and lower layers of skin start to stretch. They generally appear as red marks, which slowly fade to form white strip like marks across your stomach. With timely treatment you can lighten the marks. You can start with an emollient with vitamin E oil. Laser also works but it is best to wait until after your pregnancy to try the treatment.

Work your glow with makeup

Show your happiness at being a mom to the world by looking good. Make most of your natural radiance. Agreed you may feel exhausted and not at your best, but a little effort always helps.

• Since your complexion is clear (unless you develop melasma) you don't need foundation. Just dust a little translucent powder to set the base for makeup. Use a pink or peach creamy lipstick, a bit of kajal, and mascara. You are set to face the world.
• Avoid fashion colours during these months, what with the mood swings you may feel more depressed than happy at looking trendy. Also don't try colours with pearly texture as most have mica.
• Mineral makeup powders are a good choice during pregnancy - they are gentle on the skin, and don't cause allergies.
• In case you need to hide the pigmentation, use a concealer under a light foundation. Balance any pigmentation by dusting a little bronzer on your cheeks.
• Enhance your enjoyment of the new status with a spritz of light, fresh scent like lavender or something citrus. Avoid going for very heavy florals or orientals as they tend to overpower your senses.