Becoming a mother comes with the shift of becoming a protector. It’s another life to take care of and nurture. It’s just as important to nurture your baby in utero as it is when they’re crawling, walking, and growing. It comes as a surprise to many pregnant women who weren’t advised during maternity. When our Head of Customer Experience and Chief Brand Officer said their doctors didn’t advise them to avoid any beauty products when they were pregnant, we were SHOCKED!  Keep in mind they were pregnant before the “birth” of Aisling Organics. No doubt they were given a general list of things to avoid, but none of them contained beauty products. Has makeup and skincare routines been overlooked by healthcare providers? It’s up to YOU to look out for and avoid these chemicals if you’re expecting:  1. Retinoids  Retinoids are prescription acne and anti-aging medications. They will be listed on ingredient labels as retinoic acid, retinyl palmitate, retinaldehyde, adapalene, tretinoin, tazarotene, and isotretinoin. Retinoids have been proven to have an increased risk of birth defects for developing babies. Doctors advise their patients to stop using Retinoids if they are pregnant.  2. Phthalates Phthalates are chemicals used to increase the strength and effectiveness of other chemicals in a formula, such as perfume or nail polish. You should avoid ingredients such as BzBP, DBP, DEP, DMP, or diethyl, dibutyl, or benzylbutyl phthalates. Phthalates have been linked to high blood pressure to ADHD to diabetes, which are all things that can affect your baby. You should look for skincare or cosmetic products that are labeled phthalate-free. 3. Formaldehyde Formaldehyde is known as a preservative in the cosmetic world that many mainstream brands use. Ever wonder how your conventional mascara stays on so well throughout the day? It can be listed on ingredient labels as quaternium-15, dimethyl-dimethyl (DMDM), hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bromopol).  4. Dihydroxyacetone This is a chemical found in self-tanners and liquid bronzers. It can also be labeled on an ingredient list as DHA. DHA is a chemical that reacts with the dead layer of skin on your body, adding a bronzed color to give you a sun-kissed effect. This chemical is absorbed into the body could be unhealthy for both you and your baby. Bottom line: Skip the spray tan while your bun is in the oven. 5. Fragrance  We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, fragrance has 1,000’s of unknown chemicals in it to make it smell the way it does. Short-term, it can cause irritation and redness on the applied area. We HIGHLY recommend using products that are fragrance-free, or naturally scented like our Eco-Luxe Foundation.  6. Chemical Sunscreens  Experts are concerned that when chemical sunscreen is absorbed through the skin, it can lead to skin irritation and hormonal disruption. Watch our for chemicals like Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, oxtinoxate, menthyl anthranilate and oxtocrylene. This is something that you do not want to be absorbed into your bloodstream because if used for a long period of time can be detected in the bloodstream and in breast milk.   No need to worry, just stay educated! We’re here to help you with that. Meanwhile, you can rest assured knowing there are healthy, non-toxic alternatives that are perfectly safe for mommy & baby: INGREDIENTS AND PRODUCTS THAT ARE BABY-SAFE  Foundation: Eco-Luxe Foundation Mascara: Length + Curl Mascara  Lipstick: Liquid Lipstick  Blush: Cheek Tint  Sunscreen: Coola Sunscreen  Nail Polish: Kure Bazaar  Acne Spot Treatment: Tea Tree Oil Face Toner: Witch Hazel  Moisturizer: Aloe Vera from the plant  Exfoliate: Sugar and Honey When you’re pregnant, your skin can change drastically. Whether its dullness, dryness, or oiliness, you’ll need to be ready for a shift in your cosmetic routine. Aisling Organics is 100% FREE of parabens, sulfates, fragrance, phalates, DHA, and carcinogens. SO, it’s perfectly safe to use when you’re expecting! Sources  https://www.mnn.com/family/babies-pregnancy/blogs/10-skin-care-ingredients-avoid-during-pregnancy