"I’m gonna let you in on a little secret of mine: I never shop for my soon-to-be-mom friends from their baby registries. I know, I know, its a bit of a faux pas, but I’m a beauty editor at heart — I feel I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t give my girls the irreplaceable gift of self-care, especially before the baby arrives, while they can still enjoy it. Besides, most of my friends love to receive a little something for them as they navigate nine months of baby-related nesting, preparation, and exhaustion. Yours will too, I promise!
My favorite beauty gifts to give to my pregnant friends are all non-toxic, light on fragrance, and address the age-old complaints all pregnant women have in common: lack of sleep, swelling, sore muscles, and acne. With everything from a bath soak that curbs nausea to non-toxic nail polish, these are the beauty products I gift to my pregnant friends. And why yes, I’m happily accepting shower invites!
A baby bump is a beautiful thing, but also an itchy, dry thing that drinks moisturizer like nobody’s business. A belly oil is a good way to soothe and nourish your skin while it moves and stretches. This Pipette Oil is only $20 and is totally clean. It’s lightweight, hypoallergenic, and made with winter cherry extract, calendula, and sugarcane-derived squalane. Did I mention it ships in one day via Amazon Prime?
Pregnancy may be wonderful, but hormones aren’t. Mine caused acne flare-ups and constant dry skin that didn’t go away until months after I gave birth. I love all Bathing Culture’s simple, non-toxic products like this Neroli & Rose because they’re natural (and sustainably packed) but actually work. I used this mist when I needed to relax after a long day or my skin needed some love. I got so used to the calming scent, I packed it in my hospital bag!
Non-toxic nail polish like this Ella+Mila shade of pink is a great beauty gift for that pregnant friend of yours who you’ve never seen without a manicure. It’s free from formaldehyde, toluene, diButyl phthalate (DBP), formaldehyde resin, and camphor, and is vegan and animal cruelty-free.
Any mom-to-be can take this nail polish into a salon or give themselves a fresh coat at home. It may seem frivolous, but when you don’t feel like yourself (I certainly didn’t at 40 weeks), little things like nail polish can make a big difference.
All I can say is buy these immediately. In fact, get two bags — one for your pregnant friend and one for yourself. They have magnesium, a morning sickness remedy known to supports energy levels, healthy sleep, and give you relief from aches and pains. Plus, it moisturizes and nourishes your skin and is safe for baby. Add these to a warm bath and thank me later.
What more can you ask for than a foot and leg lotion that brings down swelling and invigorates tired limbs with peppermint? The smell of this lovely lotion won’t bother your sensitive nose, is great for sensitive skin, and will keep your skin soft and hydrated. The best part? It’s under $10!
Remember that hormonal acne I mentioned above? Your pregnant friend can’t fight it off with typical over the counter and prescription acne meds because they aren’t usually suggested for pregnant and breastfeeding women. This Acne Spot Treatment is different because it uses natural ingredients like colloidal sulfur, tea tree oil, and chamomile to reduce redness, clear blemishes, and prevent future breakouts.
According to Honest, this magical balm keeps you moisturized from head to toe (think: lips, cuticles, hair, elbows — you name it) for a full eight hours. It has natural ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil, and its compact packaging looks luxe in your purse or makeup bag. I love it because it’ll soothe dry postpartum lips but you’ll still be able to smother your baby in kisses. A win-win.
Day or night, pregnant women and new moms need all the shut-eye they can get. An eye mask works wonders when you need uninterrupted rest — and why not have it be silk? Slip makes their masks with the highest grade long-fiber mulberry silk and non-toxic dyes. It works great in the hospital too! Sleep, mama, sleep.