Pregnancy skin care « Back to Group Discussions

[lizzie28]

What do you love for face and body?  I bought some Burt's Bees body lotion.  A friend recommended just using olive or coconut oil and said it worked really well for her.  I'm not sure what to use as a facial moisturizer.

[heyitskalista]

I use coconut oil for my body!  I love it!  And it smells so good too!

I use honey, baking soda and apple cider vinegar to wash my face...it leaves it so soft and smooth, I don't really need to moiturize!
 

[lizzie28]

I'm going to try the coconut oil for sure.  I love the smell of coconuts!  The face wash looks interesting too.

[SaraWu]

That sounds like my "no shampoo" routine, minus the honey. I do ~1 tbsp b. soda dissolved in warm water and massage it into my scalp, rinse well, then ~2 tbsp vinegar in a cup of warm water and run that through my hair. It's a much nicer and longer lasting clean than shampoo/conditioner and WAYYYYY cheaper! What's your facial care method/recipe with honey, b. soda, and vinegar?

[Millie Ivy]

ditto that, I have used honey, bs, and vinegar separately for skin stuff but not together.  Recipe?
 

[flatlander]

Sometimes I use a tiny bit of olive oil on my face when my skin feels really dry. 

SaraWu - I tried the baking soda/vinegar for my hair before. I ended up stopping because I was getting baking soda build up in my hair. I'm sure I was using less than 1T per wash, and I did try to rinse as well as possible. Any thoughts on why that might've happened?

[jess_paez]

coconut oil, all over-face and body.

[SaraWu]

Originally Posted by flatlander 

Sometimes I use a tiny bit of olive oil on my face when my skin feels really dry. 

SaraWu - I tried the baking soda/vinegar for my hair before. I ended up stopping because I was getting baking soda build up in my hair. I'm sure I was using less than 1T per wash, and I did try to rinse as well as possible. Any thoughts on why that might've happened?

Not sure.  The way I do mine: dissolve 1T of baking soda in a cup of really warm shower-water, and dump that in small amounts over my head while scrubbing with fingers, then rinse well.  I get a really squeaky clean feeling as I'm rinsing.  

When I feel extra dry, I use jojoba oil. I learned from a massage therapist friend that it's chemically the closest in structure to our natural skin sebum (not sure of the spelling of that!).

[cieloazul]

To build on this thread, is anyone else dealing with breakouts? What would you suggest?

Also, I feel like belly butter time is quickly approaching. Does anyone have a homemade formula they like?

TIA

[lulubikes]

I have been using lotion bars that I made at home for several years. I can't speak to how it is on the belly. I haven't felt the need to use it yet. But it is great everywhere else! You just soften the lotion bar up in your hands and then apply to your skin where ever you want it to go. I use it on my face with no problems.

Here's my recipe, sorry the amounts are sort of odd - these are all weights

0.6 oz Apricot Oil

0.5 oz Olive oil (I infused it with Calendula flowers)

0.8 oz Mango butter

0.8 oz Cocoa butter

1.0 oz Bees wax

Few drops Vitamin E oil

Melt in a container - I usually use a container that is in a water bath on the stove.

When melted pour in molds. I've used muffin tins (large and small) as well as chocolate molds, soap molds and ice molds. Both flexible and hard plastic and metal. It really doesn't make a difference. Think about the shape and how it feels in your hands, and don't make it too thick. I shoot for 1/2 - 1 inch.

Put in freezer to solidify. They will shrink so when solid you should just be able to pop out of mold.

You can mix and match the solid oils with other solid oils and liquid oils with other liquid oils. But then you might need to fuss around with the amounts since different oils have different melting points. I found I liked these ratios, the bar wasn't too soft or too hard. You can also add essential oils for scent, but I'm not into that.

I made this particular recipe so that it was nut free as I was making it with a friend who is allergic to all tree nuts. You'd be amazed how many of the butters out there are from nuts! I purchased most of my supplies from MountainRoseHerbs.com. Love them! It does add up. I found that I purchased way too much. I can't remember how much the above recipe makes. I think about 3-5 muffin tin sized disks that are about 1/2 inch thick. These last me a really long time, but I only apply lotion when I feel dry. I don't do it daily or anything.

On a side note, I am skeptical that anything will be able to prevent stretch marks. It seems like some people get them and some don't regardless of what they do. Anyone have opinions on that? I'm curious. I do think lotion can help make you feel less itchy as your skin stretches though...

[lulubikes]

You know I have tons of ingredients left over from the last time I made lotion bars... I wish there was a way to get it out to all of you easily... hmmm... I'm open to thoughts if people are interested.

[segolilymama]

I am allergic to pretty much everything on the planet. So my new routine is pure coconut oil, and nothing else (face, body). It really is like a miracle!
 

[cieloazul]

Lulubikes, that lotion bar sounds yummy!

Sego, coconut oil *is* a miracle! I've used it on my face a couple of times since these breakouts started but maybe I'll put some in the bathroom so I actually remember it daily. TMI, I seem to be prone to yeast infections during pregnancy (yay!) and A couple months ago I tried coconut oil as a yoni balm for the first time...ahhh-mazing.

[segolilymama]

Coconut oil is just my favorite for everything, makes a great sexual lube, too! (now is THAT TMI lol?)

[cieloazul]

Lol, segolillymama. Thte thought had occurred to me. Glad to know it's an evidence-based practice :P

[phatchristy]

I use unrefined coconut oil here.  Naturally antibacterial, antifungal....definitely a reason why it would help the skin as well!

[tropicana74]

Originally Posted by phatchristy 

I use unrefined coconut oil here.  Naturally antibacterial, antifungal....definitely a reason why it would help the skin as well!

and has a natural SPF 4 to boot! 

Nature's little miracle oil!

[phatchristy]

Originally Posted by tropicana74 

and has a natural SPF 4 to boot! 

Nature's little miracle oil!

Cool, I did not know that!  I love that it smells so great!