One of the questions I get asked about a lot is finding anti-aging products that are also safe for pregnancy and nursing. There are quite a few skincare ingredients (including the anti-aging powerhouse, retinoids) that should be avoided when pregnant. But then what do you replace them with? Is it possible to still fight the signs of aging while you’re expecting?
The good news is that there are a lot of pregnancy safe products you can use! Today I’m sharing pregnancy safe eye creams that have anti-aging active ingredients, but let me know which product category you want me to tackle next. The best news is that these products are available at Sephora! So, it’s easy to snag a new eye cream when you’re buying the latest viral lip stain that is yes, also pregnancy safe (Rosewood is my favorite, but I also love Baby Pink and Soft Nude). While you’re shopping, make sure you’ve signed up for the Sephora Beauty Insider Program so you can rack up the points and use them for perks like deluxe samples. I also love that Sephora has delivery options such as same day delivery, and buy online, pick up in store!
Today I’m sharing my top 3 picks for an anti-aging pregnancy safe eye cream, but I also have a list of more options at the bottom of the post!
Pregnancy Safe Anti-Aging Ingredients
When you’re pregnant, you need to concentrate on pregnancy friendly active ingredients such as Vitamin C, Niacinamide and Peptides. They all have anti-aging benefits that are gentle enough for all skin types but can show some real results! All of these ingredients are ones that I try to include in my skincare routine even when not pregnant/nursing, they’re just too good to pass up!
- Vitamin C: There are many forms found in skincare products, and while 10-20 years ago there was good reason to be picky about the form and formulation of the product due to stability issues, formulations now are much more stable! The forms do have different levels of efficacy and absorption, but all help with overall consistency in skin tone, increased collagen production and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Niacinamide: A derivative of Vitamin B3, there are a lot of different variations on Niacinamide and Nicotinic Acid! In the past, these ingredients have caused irritation and flushing, but as products have become more advanced those concerns are largely gone. Niacinamide can decrease sebum production, helping reduce oily skin and helping to reduce pore size. There’s also an improvement in skin barrier lipids (healthy skin barrier = more resilient and glowier skin), improvement in skin tone variation, and increased collagen production. There are also documented anti-inflammatory properties.
- Peptides: peptides are strings of amino acids, which may vary anywhere from 2–20+ amino acids together in a specific sequence. Each sequence can do pretty specific things, and they don’t need to be at a high concentration to perform those functions. Peptides are gentle on skin and are able to support a lot of different cell functions.
Farmacy Wake Up Honey Eye Cream
Of the options I’m featuring here, this is the one I like the best in the morning for use under makeup! It sinks in quickly and does a good job of hydrating and plumping up my skin. The formulation features both Vitamin C and Peptides.
Shani Darden Skin Care Intensive Eye Renewal Cream
This cream from Shani Darden is also very hydrating like the Farmacy, but I think slightly lighter-weight. It also does a great job under makeup because it leaves a nice, smooth surface for makeup application. This formula has Niacinamide, Peptides and Vitamin C.
Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Bright-Eye Gel Cream
This one includes all 3 of my target active ingredients, Niacinamide, Vitamin C, Peptides. It’s also a little peach in color, helping with a bit of color correction for dark under-eye circles, and I think it has a bit of luminosity. This is a little less hydrating than the other 2 options, but still great for makeup prep!
Pregnancy Safe Eye Creams from Sephora
• Biossance Squalane + 5% Niacinamide Brightening Eye Serum: Niacinamide, Vitamin C, Peptides
• Clinique All About Eyes™ Eye Cream: Vitamin C
• Dieux Auracle Peptide & Antioxidant Eye Gel: Peptides
• Farmacy Wake Up Honey Eye Cream: Vitamin C, Peptides
• Fresh Black Tea Anti-Aging Eye Cream: Vitamin C
• ILIA Bright Start Retinol Alternative Brightening Eye Cream: Peptides
• Kiehl’s Multi-Corrective Anti-Aging Eye Cream: Peptides
• Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum: Vitamin C, Peptides
• Murad Targeted Eye Depuffer: Vitamin C
• Paula’s Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Eye Cream: Vitamin C, Peptides
• Peace Out 6% Vitamin C Brightening Eye Treatment Glow Stick: Vitamin C
• Peter Thomas Roth Peptide Skinjection Fill + Fix Under Eye Cream: Peptides
• Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Eye Cream: Peptides
• Summer Fridays Light Aura Vitamin C + Peptide Eye Cream: Vitamin C, Peptides
• The INKEY List Caffeine De-puffing + Dark Circle Eye Cream: Peptides
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Sponsored Post: This post is a collaboration with Sephora, but all product choices and opinions are my own.
I’m a doctor, a mommy and a bit of a beauty addict. If you let me, I can take 2 hours to get ready in the morning. Really. I'm on a quest for faster beauty that works!
