Get ready, mamas-to-be, because we’re about to spill the beans on pregnancy-safe Korean beauty tips that will leave your skin beaming like never before! We’ve enlisted the expertise of the fabulous Alicia Yoon, a celebrity esthetician, Harvard Business School grad, and the brains behind Peach & Lily. Alicia knows about the struggles of finding skincare that works wonders while being gentle on sensitive skin. That’s what inspired her to create Peach & Lily back in 2012, on a mission to make innovative, effective, and gentle K-beauty accessible to all.
She’s got the inside scoop on achieving that coveted Pregnancy Glass Skin Routine that fits into your busy mama life. So, sit back, relax that baby bump, and get ready for some skincare magic that’s as practical as it is fabulous!
Alicia Yoon is a celebrity esthetician, Harvard Business School graduate, and the founder/CEO of Peach & Lily. Having experienced severe eczema throughout her life, Alicia struggled to find effective skincare that delivered meaningful results and was gentle enough for her sensitive skin. Alicia launched Peach & Lily in 2012 to make innovative, effective, and gentle K-beauty-inspired skincare accessible to all.
What’s the best Glass Skin routine for pregnancy?
As a long-time esthetician and the founder of Peach & Lily, where we pioneered the Glass Skin movement (now garnering over a billion hashtag views on social media!), I receive a lot of skincare questions. Glass Skin is all about achieving your healthiest skin – so healthy, it’s luminous, smooth, and clear, like glass.
When it comes to pregnancy skincare, though, I always take a moment to answer because there’s the ideal routine, and then there’s what’s realistic. I’m currently expecting our second child in 4 weeks (!!). Between all the third-trimester fatigue, chasing after our toddler, and running a business, there are plenty of days where a full-blown at-sink routine is just not happening. Yet, I know that given all the hormonal changes and external and internal skin stressors, our skin needs a bit more TLC during this time.
After (almost) two pretty exhausting pregnancies (yes, I am amazed by growing a human being
and all the wondrous things my body can do, and absolutely love motherhood, but also I’m
constantly huffing and puffing and dealing with heartburn and leg cramps), here’s the Practical
Pregnancy Glass Skin Routine edit!
Steps to Glass Skin
First things first. Safety. These are all products I’ve cleared with my doctor. The ingredients are clean and all considered safe to be used during pregnancy. However, each person might have specific, nuanced needs, so I always recommend sending full ingredient lists to your doctor to triple-check. Second, efficacy. We’re busy growing babies – we don’t have time for products that feel good but don’t work. These products all include clinically proven amounts of active ingredients to do the heavy lifting for our skin. With that said, let’s dive in:
- Cleansing: Excess sebum, makeup, SPF, dirt, and impurities – can pile up and cause a domino effect of other issues, especially while the skin is already going through a lot of changes. The Peach & Lily Ginger Melt Oil Cleanser takes 30 seconds to dissolve everything you want off your skin. It rinses off completely without any residue or greasiness, and the skin is left sparkly clear and hydrated. This is the one cleanser you can lean on throughout pregnancy.
- Treat – but in one step: When our skin faces stressors and hormonal changes, it can flare up, get inflamed, have a more challenging time fighting off signs of damage, and get dehydrated. The iconic Glass Skin Refining Serum is a universal serum that hydrates, calms, brightens, and firms. It’s important to know about what’s not in this formula –nothing irritating, no known allergens, and no fragrance.
- Moisturize – Our skin can more easily experience trans-epidermal water loss when it’s going through challenging times – and pregnancy is indeed demanding. Locking in all the hydration and good stuff is great, but opt for a moisturizer perfect for the weather and your skin type. This oil-free Glass Skin Water Gel Moisturizer is like the perfect summer linen for oilier skin and hot, humid weather. For dryer skin and cold, dry weather, the Peptide Pro Firming Moisturizer is like that cozy, breathable cashmere (with firming benefits!).
- SPF – Pregnancy can make us prone to hyperpigmentation and melasma, so we want to be extra careful about protecting against the sun. Look for a great physical/mineral SPF, and be sure to reapply. Unfortunately, no sun filter technology lasts more than 2-3 hours. I also know SPF isn’t perfect. So, I find shade when I’m at the beach or sitting outdoors at a restaurant, I have a collection of cute, wearable hats I love wearing, and I bring super light layers that are breezy and cool to throw on (bonus points if it’s UPF clothing) if excessive rays are beating down.
That’s it! Four steps in the morning. Three steps in the evening. And this routine won’t just give you basic skin goals. You’ll see that hydrated Glass Skin because of all the ingredients you’re getting in just those four steps.
Now for those who are struggling with a few other common issues (me!), here are some add on’s you can lean into:
Breakouts: Hormonal changes can mean breakouts. The Peach Slices Acne Spot Dots are drug-free, medical-grade hydrocolloid (quality matters!) and work super quickly. I pop these on before going to bed to flatten my blemishes overnight. So easy.
Hyperpigmentation: I started noticing a lot of little dark spots scattering over my cheekbones towards the end of my first trimester in my first pregnancy. The Tranpsaren-C Pro Spot Treatment reversed that quickly for me. A 20% stabilized, vitamin-C derivative that doesn’t sting on skin this was my BFF through my first pregnancy. This time, I started using this once a day as soon as I got pregnant, and it’s kept my dark spots at bay.
Belly care: I have dry, eczema-prone skin, so my belly stretching means lots of itchiness and extra dryness. Even if you don’t have dry skin, our bellies are stretching rapidly, and keeping them well moisturized feels and looks great. The Hatch Mama Belly Oil has been a great option because it sinks in quickly, so I can use it AM or PM without getting my clothes messy, while the beautifully hydrating oils have kept my belly smooth sailing.
And for those days when everything goes out the window and the most skincare effort that you’re going to put in happens in the car or on the couch, the Lazy Day All-in-one Moisture Pads have been my holy grail. Hydration, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in an easy pre-soaked (biodegradable) swipe-and-go situation. Sidenote: I also had brought my entire full-blown skincare routine to the hospital for my delivery (first-timer!) and that skincare bag remained untouched, but the Lazy Day Pads got full use. And then lived on in my nursing cart for most of my fourth trimester as an essential.
Alicia Yoon is a celebrity esthetician, Harvard Business School graduate, and the founder/CEO of Peach & Lily. Having experienced severe eczema throughout her life, Alicia struggled to find effective skincare that delivered meaningful results and was gentle enough for her sensitive skin. Alicia launched Peach & Lily in 2012 with the goal of making innovative, effective, and gentle K-beauty inspired skincare accessible to all
