Safe health and beauty

[Lorna1234]

Hi. My first post on Mumsnet! Does anyone know of any safe health and beauty brands that can be used when pregnant? I'm guessing the more natural, the better. But I understand peppermint and rosemary is a no no....Anyone got any tips. REN seems to look ok but I just used an Elemis lime and ginger scrub that says do not use when pregnant! If anyone swears by anything I'd love to hear it! Thanks so much.

I'll bump for you but I'm totally the wrong person to ask as I still dye my hair and paint my nails

Ditto to the above! I just try to avoid anything with lots of active ingredients I don't really need, whether that's the chemicals in depilatory products (though apparently they're fine!) or the essential oils in a Liz Earle Hip & Thigh gel I have.

Painting nails is a no-no? I've got so much to learn!

Painting your nails is fine! Just do it in a well ventilated room and don't use remover too often,

Generally if you've used it before you knew you were pregnant and you've not had a reaction to it I wouldn't worry too much.
As products aren't tested on pregnant woman lots won't recommend using it.
The scrub you used was prob not recommend if it has essential oils in as some such as Jasmin help contractions so you don't want to use it until the end of pregnancy. In regards to the scrub as ginger can be an irritant.

I personally like Lush for their products or if you are really concerened about chemicals look at the basic ranges as they tend not to add unnesscary chemicals ie fragrances etc - Though avoid the Simple range of products as they are not very natural and I know lots of people who have had reactions.

Boots do a range called 'Naked' which is quite free of nasties, and quite inexpensive - good for shampoo/conditioner/body moisturiser. Weleda is very good - I like the citrus deo.

Origins products are excellent, and low on chemicals - I love the facial scrubs and the white tea moisturiser with spf 25.

L'Occitane do a Mother and Baby balm, last ages and has about 2 things in the ingredients list! My DDs like to rub it into the bump - very sweet.

There is a new brand of nail polish called Butter which is good, if you feel the need!

Make up is trickier. Burts Bees do lovely lip balms / glosses.

My downfall this summer has been sun cream, not only hard to find chemical free, but so expensive, that if you are fair skinned like me, it's quite prohibitive. Do say if you've managed to find a reasonably priced mineral sunscreen!

I think it's just a personal choice to be a bit less 'chemical' in pregnancy - for me just because I've had to take quite a lot of meds to get me through hyperemisis!

HTH

Weleda, Dr Hauschka, Green People, Lavera... there are loads

Try www.thecosmeticsdatabase.co.uk

Sometimes I wonder whether it's a little over the top (why would I worry about mutation in non-mamalian cells?) but it is interesting to see how 'safe' they deem things to be.

hth

OMG whats wrong with mint? I've been drinking mint tea daily instead of my coffee as it really helps with my sickness.
seems like everything is bad for you!

Do be aware that plenty of natural products have active ingredients! And they're all technically chemicals btw.

I know you shouldn't go crazy drinking peppermint tea when pregnant, especially in early pregnancy. Peppermint is quite a potent smooth muscle relaxer, which is why it's even available on prescription for IBS and can be used for period cramps. But an excess (and you'd have to be drinking a ridiculous amount of tea to get there!) could potentially be harmful in pregnancy as the uterus is a smooth muscle. It's more likely to be an issue because it can trigger or worsen heartburn by relaxing the muscles that keep the acid down.

A basic aromatherapy book should tell you which essential oils should be avoided in pregnancy.

ive been getting my hubby to rub peppermint cooling leg gel into my swollen legs - is this bad? - ive never read anything about pepermint but i read about rosemary and then discovered its included in 'bio oil' which they recomend for pregnancy so are these just old wives tales??