Face Masks During Pregnancy
As a pregnant woman, you need to consider multiple factors before putting on a face mask.
After all, readymade face packs contain synthetic ingredients that can possibly harm your developing baby. But you cannot eliminate using them entirely as your skin needs extra care as the pregnancy progresses.
So, how should you go about it? We suggest wearing a mask made at home using natural ingredients. And if you are clueless about DIY skincare products, this guide enlists several easy recipes.
Using homemade face masks during pregnancy will help you beat the blues and get glowing skin, so do continue reading to know more!
Benefits Of Using Face Masks During Pregnancy
DIY masks are budget-friendly and easy to make, but that’s not all; here are some of the other major benefits:
1. Helps With Chloasma
Chloasma, [1] also known as the “mask of pregnancy,” is a pigmentary skin disorder in which discolored or hyperpigmented patches appear on the skin. This can really lower the morale of even healthy pregnant women and should be taken care of. And using a homemade face mask can reduce the appearance of chloasma while keeping the skin healthy.
2. Clears Oil And Acne From The Skin
During pregnancy, sebaceous glands are hyperactive, and as a result, skin becomes acne-prone. The estrogen and progesterone levels are also high, which means increased skin problems.
Therefore, exfoliating walnut or citrus-rich hydrating masks can keep the oil under control and acne at bay.
3. Infection Control
Skin pores typically enlarge during pregnancy, increasing the chances of bacterial and fungal infections on the face. But pregnant women who wear masks at least once a week stay safe from such problems.
4. Natural ingredients
Another interesting fact about using DIY masks is you can make them using only natural ingredients. They are free of synthetic fillers, additives, and preservatives that could hinder fetal development.
Furthermore, you get to modify the mask according to your personal choice. So, whether you want to add some extra cream or tweak the lemon juice concentration, you’re the boss!
5. A Healthy Way To Relax And Rejuvenate
Putting on a face pack with refreshing cucumber slices on your eyes is one of the best ways to unwind and relax. Being pregnant can take a toll on your mental health, but with healthy coping mechanisms such as skincare, you can beat the anxiety. And with a DIY mask, you won’t have to worry about its composition and chemical contents.
6. Quick And Cost-Effective
Lastly, making your own face mask won’t break your wallet. Most of our recipes need only two to three ingredients that are easily found in households. So, your skin care product will be ready within minutes with negligible costs.
DIY Face Masks For Pregnant Women
1. Banana And Almond Face Mask
To start off our list, we have a face mask that is made using easily available ingredients and can fit every budget. It is rich in vitamin C and B12 that boost collagen production and improve skin elasticity.
Ingredients List:
- One banana
- Three drops of almond oil
Preparation Method:
Begin by chopping the banana [2] and mashing it in a bowl until it forms a uniform paste. Add the almond oil [3] to it and mix well until both the components homogenize. Using it is also simple; just put it on your face, keep it for ten to fifteen minutes, and then rinse with water.
2. Lemon And Potato Pulp Face Mask
If you want to get rid of stretch marks and lighten your skin complexion, consider using our next recipe. It is simple yet effective and rich in starch and vitamin C [4].
Ingredients List:
- Half cup of potato juice
- Half teaspoon of lemon juice
Preparation Method:
Squeeze out half a cup of potato juice, and mix it well with half a teaspoon of lemon juice. Moreover, you can keep the potato pulp in the mask if you wish to, but it’s not necessary. Apply it on your face for a radiant glow or on the areas that have stretch marks, let it stay for fifteen minutes, and wash with running water.
3. Honey And Milk Face Mask
Milk and honey [5], when mixed together, create a potent formula for healthy skin. They are excellent moisturizers and fit the bill for pregnant women with dry skin. Additionally, this mask is an effective cleanser and purifier, so be sure to use it once a week for clear skin.
Ingredients List:
- One teaspoon of honey
- One teaspoon of milk
Preparation Method:
To prepare this mask, simply mix the two components in a small bowl and apply them to your face. It has slow-acting components, so keep it on for at least thirty minutes for optimum results. Note that it will feel sticky on the skin; therefore, rinse it off using lukewarm water.
4. Yogurt And Oats Face Mask
Pregnancy is a joyous time, but it also brings skin issues like dark spots and blemishes. That’s when yogurt and oatmeal [6] face masks with deep cleansing properties come in handy. They efficiently remove dead skin and impurities from the skin, keeping the pimples and acne away.
Ingredients List:
- One tablespoon of oatmeal
- One tablespoon of yogurt
- Two to three drops of honey
Preparation Method:
Scoop one tablespoon of oatmeal and yogurt in a bowl and whisk together, adding a few drops of warm honey. Mix well until all the components blend together to form a thick and creamy consistency, and your pack will be ready.
5. Cucumber And Tomato Face Mask
Our next mask specializes in enhancing the skin tone and fighting the signs of pregnancy stress on the face. So, feeling anxious about being a mother? Then put on a cucumber [7] and tomato mask to calm down your nerves.
Ingredients List:
- One cup tomato extract and juice
- Half cup of cucumber juice
Preparation Method:
Combine both the juices with some tomato pulp and mix well. You can also add some lemon juice to increase the vitamin C content of the face pack. Apply the face mask and leave it on for fifteen minutes to rejuvenate your skin.
6. Turmeric And Gram Flour Face Mask
Turmeric has been used for skin care and medicinal purposes for centuries because of its antioxidant and healing properties. It’s natural to have dull skin during pregnancy, so a potent brightening and toning face pack will be beneficial for you.
Ingredients List:
- Two tablespoons of gram flour
- A pinch of turmeric
- One to two teaspoons of rose water
Preparation Method:
Take two spoonfuls of gram flour in a bowl and add a dash of turmeric to it. Now, add some rose water to coalesce both the ingredients together, forming a paste-like consistency. It will be thick to apply on the skin and may start shedding after a while, so don’t move around much after putting it on your face.
7. Walnut And Milk Cream Face Mask
Moving ahead, we have yet another homemade face mask to remove dead skin cells and reduce stress signs on the face. Pregnant women find their skin drier than others, so milk cream [8], being a natural moisturizer, can hydrate the skin.
Ingredients List:
- Five walnuts
- One tablespoon of milk cream
Preparation Method:
First off, you’ll have to soak five walnuts in water for an hour or more to make them soft and easily soluble. Once that is done, grind the slices, add some milk cream, and mix both ingredients. While applying, massage it well for five minutes so that the walnut exfoliates the skin. Keep the face pack on for another ten minutes and wash your face.
8. Sandalwood And Orange Peel Face Mask
The penultimate DIY face mask on our list is made using the exotic fragrant ingredient sandalwood. Though many pregnant women cannot bear strong smells, faint ones can help them let go of the daily tension and unwind peacefully.
Ingredients List:
- Two tablespoons of orange peel powder
- One teaspoon of sandalwood powder
- Two to three teaspoons of rose water
Preparation Method:
Put all the dry ingredients into a bowl and whisk them by adding rose water to make a smooth paste. Massage it on your face and relax for half an hour or even longer periods for the best results.
9. Strawberry And Milk Face Mask
Before calling the curtains for the day, we have one last face pack recipe worth trying during pregnancy. The combination of milk and strawberries [9] helps in skin regeneration, thanks to its high vitamin C and folic acid content.
Ingredients List:
- Two tablespoons of milk
- Three to four strawberries
Preparation Method:
Crush the strawberries, make a paste of them, and then add two tablespoons of milk. If you want a better texture, consider adding some fresh cream to the mixture. Your mask is now ready and can be applied for ten minutes for smoother and healthier skin.
Final Words
If you are pregnant and stressing over your skin, do give our recipes a shot. They are simple, cost-effective, and will be prepared in minutes. What’s more, you can customize them according to your needs without any hassle.
That’s all we had to offer on the matter, so we’ll wrap up for the day. Until next time!
References
[1] – https://www.osmosis.org/answers/chloasma
[2] – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27041291/
[3] – https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/almond-oil-for-face