You Call This Glow?by Kimmama | More from this Blogger 13 Nov 2009 10:11 PM My skin was really nice while I was pregnant... but not until I was well into my second trimester. I remember looking at my newly broken out complexion and wondering to myself, "where in the world is this glow all those women raved about?" I was looking in the mirror and I didn't see it. I faked it with makeup and bronzer and no one knew the difference. When I finally got into my second trimester, when estrogen levels normally increase, I got some relief. The surge of first trimester hormones are to blame, increasing oil production and causing a not-so-pleasant bumpy reaction. Pregnancy acne is not limited to our faces either, it can attack our bodies, too. Some women are unaffected, but many of us end up reliving our teenage years each morning while we put on our face. Then there are those horribly painful zits that always happen to grow right beneath a bra strap, causing discomfort all day every time we shift. Before you slather on the zit cream, check the ingredients and check with your doctor. Everything you put on your skin is absorbed and gets into your system. Some acne medications are linked to birth defects. Even salicylic acid, for example, is not recommended during pregnancy. As an alternative, use gentle cleansers and natural facial masks to clean and balance your skin. I found success with a few inexpensive products. For a cleanser I used Oil of Olay Deep Cleansing Face Wash with Witch Hazel. I also really liked Freeman's Facial Clay Mask with Avocado and Oatmeal. I followed up with my favorite moisturizer, Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (definitely worth the splurge.) Once you reach the second and third trimester and experience that pregnancy glow, enjoy it. Once that baby makes her grand entrance into the world, the hormonal crash after birth will do some serious damage to your complexion. The upside is you will no longer be pregnant and you'll be able to use your favorite medications to treat it. Learn more about Kimmama  Kim is a freelance writer and stay at home mom to her 8-month-old son, Micah. She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 2006. Relevantpregnancy tags User Comments EvaRose (260) 16 Nov 2009 07:25 AMIts worth it once in a while to get to the day spa for a day of pampering as well! Discuss this article
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