As I’m writing this, I’m weeks away from giving birth
to my third child. Pregnancy certainly hasn’t been all
sunshine and roses, but it’s helped me look on the
bright side in a lot of cases. All-day dry heaving instead
of just “morning” sickness? Research shows that it’s
very normal. My belly stretching to uncomfortable,
swallowed-a-basketball proportions? The baby, despite
my initial fears, is now officially big enough to make it
safely in the outside world.
So I love that I can surround myself with even more
positive vibes as we put the finishing touches on this,
the Good Issue.
It’s all too easy to give in to the negative these days.
But I’ve been more committed to seeking out the posi-
tive. Part of that starts with practicing more kindness...to
myself. For me, that means maintaining rituals, whether
it’s listening to spa music, having downtime with my
family, or weekend masking.
I always say that people typically view skin care in
one of two ways: as a chore or as restorative self-care.
And I fall squarely into the second camp. I was a bit
nervous about how I’d want to adjust my beauty routine
during pregnancy, but it’s been relatively easy.
1) On pause: retinol, most acids, chemical sun-
screens, microneedling, lasers, and other tech, like
microcurrent. 2) On play: hyaluronic acid for hydration,
vitamin C for brightening, mineral sunscreens, and
clean ingredient lists. Fortunately, lots of brands, like
Caudalie, Chantecaille, Tracie Martyn, Kora Organics,
Drunk Elephant, EltaMD, and Tatcha, offer some great
options that’ll work in a clean-beauty routine.
I also swapped acetone for natural polish remover
from Karma Organic Spa. A reader recently asked me
whether it’s safe to get gel manicures while pregnant.
Frankly, my answer applies to a lot of other categories
too: There’s not a whole lot of testing done on pregnant
women, so you’d be hard-pressed to find a solid expert
who can give you a definitive answer, which is why you’ll
often see the phrase “You may want to avoid.”
It all boils down to risk and personal preference.
For instance, I’ve had friends tell me they’ve had a
doctor-approved glass of wine late in their pregnancies.
I, for one, would love (love!) a glass of Pinot Noir but can
totally wait a while longer.
For now, I’ll patiently look forward to the day in the
not-so-distant future when I can get my pregnancy
melasma lasered off or relax—on my back—with a glass
of wine, in a hot tub, while eating sushi or a big wedge
of Brie. But for now, truly, honestly, it’s all good.
for good measure
10 ALLURE APRIL 2020
LETTER
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ILY LIPSON
