Best Face Forward: Safe Beauty Products for Pregnancy and Nursing

Hair Remover/Depilatories

Good news! When used according to the instructions on the package, hair removes and depilatories (such as Nair or Neet) are safe for women to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding—a relief to many women, since shaving during pregnancy can be especially difficult.

Bug Spray

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid or severely limit exposure to products that contain DEET (Diethyltoluamide). As with anything that is applied to the skin, especially in large doses, DEET can be absorbed through your skin and enter the bloodstream. There is not enough research showing DEET's effects on human pregnancies, but DEET has been shown to cause problems for some animals.

A good alternative to DEET is citronella oil, which is thought to have natural ability to repel insects. There is not enough research on its use in pregnancy, so to be safe and apply it to your clothes. This should help keep the bugs away.

Body Products with Soy

Products containing soy are generally safe to use, but "Soy can make the 'mask of pregnancy' (dark splotches on facial skin) worse, as can oil of bergamot, which is in many organic products," says Dr. Baumann.

Hydrocortisone and Benadryl Cream

These creams used for rashes or itching are safe for use in pregnancy and breastfeeding.