Best Pregnancy Safe Facial Exfoliators

Are you looking for the best pregnancy safe facial exfoliators that you can use throughout your pregnancy and whilst nursing?

Then let us help with our best exfoliator for pregnancy guide!

Skincare is crucial during pregnancy due to all the hormonal changes during these 40 weeks. As part of your skincare you’ll want to use a pregnancy safe exfoliator to remove dead skin and impurities on your face, belly, hips, and other body parts.

Exfoliation is a regular part of skin care because it helps open your pores, removes blackheads, removes dead skin cells, and leaves you with a healthier complexion. However, conventional scrubs often include chemicals and ingredients that may pose a problem.

Plus, your skin may be more sensitive during pregnancy. Switching to scrubs that rely on natural ingredients is a great idea to reduce irritation and reactions. If you aren’t sure what brands work best for your skin during pregnancy, we put together a list of the best exfoliators during pregnancy.

And if you love this guide on the best exfoliators during pregnancy, then make sure to also check out our guides on the best face washes for pregnancy, best body washes for pregnancy, and best shampoo for pregnancy. Or even these best pregnancy safe toners.

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List of 11 Best Pregnancy Safe Facial Exfoliators

Best Exfoliators for Pregnancy

1. Innerneed Super Soft Silicone Face Cleanser Brush

All you need to exfoliate your skin is a simple silicone face brush, a long-lasting exfoliating tool. These silicone cleanser brushes are made of food-grade silicone that is easy to rinse clean; it won’t retain any residues that you won’t want to spread on your body. Food-grade silicone also dries quickly and won’t deform easily.

This natural silicone is soft enough for sensitive skin; it’s ideal for all skin types. It helps to open your pores and gently remove impurities. It also promotes facial blood circulation that will soften your face overall.

One of the things we like about the Innerneed Cleanser Brush is that it has a finger handle to prevent it from slipping out of your hand as you use it. So all you need to do is grab your face wash and use this brush to exfoliate your skin.

Best of all, these come in a pack of four for an incredibly low price – perfect for everyone.

What We Like:

• Budget-Friendly
• Easy to Clean
• Great for All Skin Types
• Improves Blood Circulation
• Removes Dead Skin

What We Don’t Like:

• Need Soap or Exfoliating Cream Still
• May Be Too Small for Your Fingers

2. Olay Regenerist Facial Cleansing Brush

Here is another exfoliating brush you can use instead of getting a scrub. The Olay Regenerist Cleansing Brush is an inexpensive option that works great and comes with two brush heads.

This brush runs on AA batteries, so you never have to worry about recharging it. The downside is that the options are limited since it only has two speeds – high and low. The low speed is best for gentle exfoliation, and the high speed is ideal for deep cleansing.

You’ll love this dermatologist-designed brush; it takes your facial cleanser to the next level without breaking the bank. The brush is excellent for getting off hard-to-remove makeup, yet gentle enough that you can use it more than once a week.

What We Like:

• Battery Powered
• Budget-Friendly
• It comes with 2 Brushes
• Dermatologist Designed

What We Don’t Like:

•  Only Two Speeds

3. Cetaphil Exfoliating Face Wash

Most people have heard of Cetaphil, a well-known skin care product brand. Their exfoliating face wash is ideal for sensitive and oily skin because it uses micro-fine granules to remove dull and dead skin and blackheads.

Cetaphil uses vitamins and skin conditioners in their ingredients that keep your skin soft rather than irritated and dry. It’s mild and gentle enough to use on your skin every day, even if you have dry skin. This face wash is a three-in-one scrub that cleanses, nourishes, and soothes your sensitive skin.

Perhaps best of all, Cetaphil is a doctor-recommended affordable product. So you won’t have to pay too much to have an effect that millions of people say works excellent.

What We Like:

• Great for Sensitive Skin
• It comes in a 2 Pack
• Good for Oily Skin
• Mild & Gentle

What We Don’t Like:

• Some Say It Has a Chemical Scent.

4. Palmer’s Coconut Oil Sugar Facial Scrub Exfoliator

Palmer’s makes excellent products like belly butter, but their Coconut Oil Sugar Facial Scrub is like homemade sugar scrub but better than you can make at home. It’s a balanced, effective exfoliator that uses coconut sugar to buff your skin gently.

Moms remark that this exfoliator leaves your skin feeling radiant and glowy after use, reducing blackheads and discoloration on your face. Palmer’s added chamomile to help calm any redness and inflammation while promoting a dewy complexion.

Something else we appreciate about this product is that they use sustainably produced ingredients, like shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil. They make sure it comes from fair labor enterprises, and they also keep their ingredients clean. No parabens, phthalates, gluten, artificial dyes, or mineral oil make their way into their products. It is a non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and dermatologist-tested product – you can’t beat that!

What We Like:

• Non-Comedogenic
• Hypoallergenic
• Sustainably Sourced Ingredients
• No Harmful Chemicals

What We Don’t Like:

• Not Ideal for Those with Sensitive Skin

5. Era Organics Microdermabrasion Facial Scrub & Face Exfoliator

Era Organics relies on Manuka honey, one of the best types of honey for your health, in this natural face scrub. Their Manuka honey comes from New Zealand, and it’s known worldwide as a fantastic ingredient to improve your overall skin health.

It’s fantastic what Manuka honey can do for your skin! This ingredient moisturizes your skin while boosting collagen production and reducing inflammation and redness. In addition, the scrub includes walnut shell power, a natural exfoliant that is great for the environment and your skin.

This facial scrub is excellent for dull, dry, and sensitive skin. It will remove blackheads, minimize pores, exfoliate dead skin cells, and moisturize your skin. You also can leave it on your skin as a facial mask to help balance your skin tone and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

Era Organics also used canola oil because it contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids. However, that means this is best for those with normal to dry skin rather than those with oily skin. Also, since it is free of parabens and alcohol, those with sensitive skin shouldn’t have problems with this product.

What We Like:

• Uses Manuka Honey
• Natural Ingredients
• Good for Sensitive Skin
• Moisturizing & Reduces Inflammation

What We Don’t Like:

• Not Good for Oily Skin

6. St Ives Blackhead Clearing Face Scrub

If you have blackhead problems during pregnancy, you must try the St. Ives Blackhead Face Scrub. This one includes green tea and 1% salicylic acid, which is enough to reduce the redness and inflammation you may experience from acne. At the same time, it kicks those pesky blackheads to the curb.

St. Ives stands out because it’s an oil-free formula that uses micro particles from walnut shells along with apricot fruit extract to exfoliate your skin.

This face scrub is tough on acne and dead skin, but it’s gentle enough to use three to four times per week. Then, your face will thank you after all that attention to its well-being.

What We Like:

• 1% Salicylic Acid
• Reduces Redness & Inflammation
• Removes Blackheads
• Oil-Free Formula
• Gentle

What We Don’t Like:

• May Have a Drying Effect

7. DRMTLGY Microdermabrasion Facial Scrub & Face Exfoliator

We know salicylic acid is only safe in small concentrations, but you can also use glycolic acid in low concentrations when applied topically. For example, DRMTLGY uses low amounts of glycolic acid to moisturize your skin while erasing acid scars and removing blackheads.

Another reason to pick a product with glycolic acid is that it is derived from natural ingredients like sugar cane. In addition, DRMTLGY selected other natural components like tiny pumice granules, green tea, apple, and lemon extracts to renew your overall complexion.

Slowly, radiant pregnancy skin, here you come!

We also like that this microdermabrasion facial scrub is mild enough that you can use it up to three times per week. In addition, it’s free of parabens and other harsh chemicals.

What We Like:

• Glycolic Acid
• Natural Ingredients
• Three Times Per Week
• No Harsh Chemicals

What We Don’t Like:

• Pricey

8. ACURE Incredibly Clear Charcoal Lemonade Facial Scrub

If you want a natural facial scrub, consider grabbing the Acure Incredibly Clear Scrub. They have a variety of scents to pick from, and all of them are great for acne-prone skin and dry skin that needs plenty of hydration.

All of their scrubs are vegan and free of harmful ingredients like parabens, mineral oil, formaldehyde, and petrolatum. It’s safe and gentle enough for you to use it up three times per week.

Acure Incredibly Clear is a brightening scrub that helps fade hyperpigmentation, such as acne scars and melasma. This formula leaves your complexion radiant and glowing, improving your skin tone and creating a smooth surface. Two ingredients, French green clay, and sea kelp help detoxify your skin and improve your overall appearance.

What We Like:

• Good for Sensitive Skin
• Various Scents
• Vegan
• Free of Harmful Ingredients

What We Don’t Like:

• Weird Smell

9. Belli Skincare Fresh Start Pre-Treatment Scrub

Many mothers are familiar with Belli Skincare because their product lines include various pregnancy-safe items that we love. Their Fresh Scrub is an excellent option, especially for breastfeeding mothers, because it’s entirely non-toxic and safe.

Belli Skincare ensures that there are no harmful ingredients used in its products. This scrub is free from parabens, phthalates, gluten, and artificial fragrances. That should give you peace of mind as you use this on your body.

Something mothers love is how stimulating this exfoliator feels. It contains green tea, ginseng, and peppermint, and after you apply it with a circular motion, it leaves your skin feeling tingly and fresh. In addition, you can say goodbye to the excess oil, dead skin, and impurities; this is gentle enough to use up to three times per week!

What We Like:

• Non-Toxic
• No Harmful Ingredients
• Leaves Your Skin Fresh
• Removes Excess Oil & Dead Skin

What We Don’t Like:

• Expensive

10. Burt’s Bees Pore Refining Cleansing Scrub

Another well-known brand is Burt’s Bees, and their Cleansing Scrub is 99% natural and clinically tested. This scrub is a moisturizer because it contains glycerin, shea butter, and coconut oil.

Burt’s Bees also included jojoba beads, a biodegradable plant wax similar to sebum and non-irritating, even for sensitive skin. These little beads add a gentle texture that helps enhance exfoliation with natural acids.

The formula contains fruit extracts and salicylic acid created from willow bark that will help clear up acne breakouts. In addition, it’s dermatologist-tested, so you can feel confident using this product on your body while pregnant.

What We Like:

• 99% Natural
• Clinically Tested
• Moisturizing
• Gentle
• Dermatologist Tested 

What We Don’t Like:

• May Not Be Ideal for Sensitive Skin

11. Simple Kind to Skin Smoothing Facial Scrub

If you have combination skin, you may hesitate to purchase any face scrub. Sometimes, they may lead to mattifying your complexion or provide too much moisturization for your already oily face.

Simple Kind to Skin is a gentle exfoliator that works excellent for those with combo skin. It won’t aggravate the oil production in your T-zone, but at the same time, it provides you with all the hydration you need in your cheeks. In addition, it increases moisture levels by up to 90% while opening up the pores in your skin to remove makeup and impurities.

Another nice feature is adding vitamin C and B3 to their ingredient list. If you have sensitive skin, these components will help promote overall healing and reduce irritation.

What We Like:

• Moisturizing
• Great for Combo Skin
• Added Vitamin C
• Good for Sensitive Skin

What We Don’t Like:

• Small Tube Size

How to Pick a Pregnancy Safe Facial Exfoliator

You’ll find many different exfoliators on the market, but you may be wondering how you can pick the best one for pregnancy. Here are some suggestions to consider!

Know What Exfoliants to Avoid

Retinol

Many people realize that you should avoid retinoids during pregnancy. These vitamin A derivatives pose a risk to your baby, potentially increasing the risk of congenital disabilities.

Salicylic Acid

It’s also best to avoid products that contain high concentrations of salicylic acid. Stick to a 2% concentration or less, especially after the first trimester.

Avoid Harmful Ingredients

Make sure you check the ingredients before using the exfoliator. Make sure it does not contain parabens and phthalates because they are known endocrine disruptors that bother your hormones.

You’ll also want to avoid formaldehyde-releasing chemicals because they’re carcinogenic. That’s the last thing you want to put on your body!

Your Skin Type

Make sure you consider your skin type as well because not exfoliators are ideal for all skin types. If you have oily skin, the last thing you want is more moisture and oil added; you need to dry up your skin a bit. On the other hand, if you have dry skin, you need moisture!

FAQs about Exfoliating During Pregnancy

Final Thoughts on Best Exfoliator During Pregnancy

Using an exfoliator for pregnancy helps keep your skin healthy by removing dead skin cells and impurities. You may notice a significant reduction in acne after using a new and safe exfoliator!

We hope this guide has been helpful in helping you decide on the best pregnancy safe exfoliator for you!

And if you love this guide on the best exfoliator while pregnant, make sure to check out these guides on the best body lotion for pregnancy, best eye cream for pregnancy, best pregnancy safe face masks, and best collagen supplements for pregnancy to support healthy skin and bones.