Pregnancy grooming to stop looking like an old fat whale?

[TheGrumpySquirrel]

Need a moan/advice! Yes I'm very happy and grateful to be carrying a healthy baby - I'd love to be able to feel a bit better about the way I look for the remaining 4 months ... anyone else in the same boat & want to share tips?

Skin: thankfully spot free but looking old.
I cannot get Botox until after the birth (obviously) and missed my appointment in December so 11s frown line is well and truly back - work around = get even fatter, drink more water, some kind of cream?? Acids are out too apparently. Crows feet and dark circles are my other issues.

Teeth need whitening again (coffee addict) but cannot use the trays/bleach till afterwards - any natural solutions?

Hair - booking a trim and potentially a colour (apparently this is ok) as I'm sick of plucking out greys (will I regret it, should I just embrace the grey now?). Natural hair is chocolate brown colour, which is what it mostly is now, with some strands of grey underneath/ the sides. And no I don't want highlights. Hair is mid length and want to grow it further to distract from the extra weight on my face.

Nails: normally get powder gel but giving my nails a break at the moment and they are very weak and short. Still need to look groomed and neat for work. Light coloured shellac as temp solution...

Diet - have got addicted to carbs /sugar since first trimester, which isn't helping and worried I will give myself GD. I've already put on more weight than the recommendations for this stage of pregnancy. Really want to eat healthier but struggling with the motivation to get started! Obviously not restricting calories just more vegetables and less sugar/white carbs... tips to get over the initial withdrawal??

Exercise - Had to stop yoga as bump is too much in the way - what are alternatives, shall I just do lots of walking?? Can't run as didn't run pre pregnancy. Weights? Bum is looking very saggy! Really not keen on pregnancy yoga - need actual exercise, I miss it so much for mental health as well as physical..

Body - the Cellulite is unreal. Had a bit before but the rapid weight gain has turned my lower body into an actual orange. Is there anything I can do about this??

I'm not even pregnant at the moment and I have loads of those issues 😂

But for exercise- swimming?

Hmm yes swimming is an option although I hate the chemicals and the faff.

Seriously - Botox and teeth whitening make so much difference!

Still trying to decide about hair colour - I cba with trying to manage fading

Why are acids out? I’m in first trimester and still using glycolic toner every other evening. I think I may have heard something about salicylic acid maybe being an issue, but really I don’t see how it would get through the skin (that’s kind of the point of skin!)

Right, not pregnant at the moment but these are my tips from last time. Hair colour: it’s personal preference but I personally think it’s fine after the first trimester. I go to Aveda where the hair dye is a bit kinder than most. Exercise: are you in a big city? Lots of places do special prenatal classes. If not, then maybe consider paying for Frame’s online Mumhood prenatal programme - it’s safe all the way through pregnancy and will keep your legs and arms toned. I went to their Bumps prenatal classes and then did the online post partum recovery classes. There’s no reason why you can’t keep your arms and legs toned and there are even some abs exercises you can do throughout. And yes to walking. Get a fitbit or equivalent and try to get 10,000 steps a day.
Weight gain: it happens I’m afraid. I put on nearly 4 stone, despite all the exercise But it does all go too! My son is 15 months now and it’s absolutely all gone - most of it by 9 months.

@peonylover22 yes in a big city - will have to look up some classes. I've got a Fitbit and easily hit 10k steps but feel like I need a bit more than just walking. It's hard seeing the weight pile on weekly! I've got some home weights so might do some lunges to try to combat the saggy bum. Hopefully at least some of the weight can go on as muscle ? Clutching at straws

@CaptainWentworth I looked up the ordinary retinoids and retin-A etc and apparently not advisable due to the vitamin A which can get into your bloodstream as it's so concentrated? I guess they are probably just arse covering

@TheGrumpySquirrel retinoids is slightly different as they do actually cause birth defects - which is why you can’t use Roaccutane if there is any chance you could become pregnant. AHAs and BHAs are completely different chemicals though and (IMHO) ok, from what I’ve read.

I found this a useful article on pregnancy skincare

www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/skincare-advice/womens-skincare/skincare-during-pregnancy.html

Sorry, thread jumping. Any advice on sunscreen? I usually use neutrogena clear face under my make up but my skin has become sensitised to it since being pregnant. I need something non greasy to wear every day. Any suggestions?

@CaptainWentworth oh I see. What would you recommend in that case?

Thanks @peonylover22

Ooh yes @peonylover22, that’s really helpful- thanks!

@TheGrumpySquirrel as far as I understand it, glycolic acid is good for anti aging, and salicylic and lactic acid are considered to be better for blemishes, although I usually use glycolic and have found that helps keep my skin clear as well as preventing any dry or flaky patches. You might find it makes you feel/ look ‘brighter’, and I believe it’s supposed to help against wrinkles too.

I’ve used and liked Nip and Fab glycolic pads (the 5% ‘extra strength’ ones) which are often on offer in Boots, and also Pixi Glow Tonic (my current product). I use every second night after cleansing, leave on bare skin for a bit while I brush my teeth, and then serum/ moisturiser.

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant is another option if you want more of a weekly treatment- it’s a lactic acid mask. I got it off the back of a recommendation in a Lisa Eldridge skin care video ages ago.

Try something with charcoal in it for your teeth- the results aren't as dramatic as having them done properly however it's entirely natural and neutralises some of the yellow tones so worth having a go.

With regards to exercise, I turned into a complete swimaholic during my pregnancies despite never being that into it before! Made me feel really fresh and energised so I can't reccomend enough. If you're not a fan of the chemicals, do a quick google search to see if there's a salt/freshwater pool in your local area

Posted too soon- look into body brushing for cellulite. I bought a natural body brush from boots and used it religiously on my thighs for about a month and the results are insane. It also helps your lymphatic system so helps to flush out toxins from your body which helps with feeling energised and looking a bit more 'glowy'

Well I managed yoga today and feel a lot better for it. I also bought a body brush as the cellulite is probably the number 1 thing getting me down (you can see it through my yoga clothes!).
Have also decided to try and at least minimise its progress by drinking lots more water, cutting out my coke habit and replacing white carbs with veg. Also I hear sugar is v bad for wrinkles.

I've decided I'm going to wait with changing my hair as I'd rather use henna and you need your hair not to have any colour in it, so want it to grow more first, but I might get a trim again in a couple of months.

Also bought a massive bottle of bio oil.

Looked at home teeth whitening kits but a) they advise not to use in pregnancy and b) the reviews say they only do max 2 shades whiter / don't work at all vs dentist trays, so will need to just wait for this one.