pregnancy

Coming to y’all with a little beauty roundup today! I’ve shared these items over on my instagram a bunch, especially in stories, but wanted to take a minute and chat about them over here on the blog. I’ve been ripping and roaring through beauty products during my pregnancy- the piles in our bathroom are out of control- and these are some of the ones I keep steady in the rotation.

When I got pregnant, I immediately started stressing about stretch marks. My hips and booty are covered in faded ones (I used to yo-yo thirty pounds or so in college, and it was tough on my body) and I knew my skin was predisposed to them. So from early on, I’ve been obsessive about lubricating my skin for the inevitable stretch. I tried a bunch of different lotions and belly balms, cocoa butter, shea butter, coconut oil, bio-oil, and this belly oil from Hatch was a serious winner.

It hydrates incredibly but absorbs fast, so I didn’t leave greasy spots on my clothes (that was the issue with bio-oil, which I’ve always loved and used to fade my old stretch marks). It’s made with sweet almond and jojoba oils, packed with calendula and other botanicals. I enjoyed the pretty, as well as functional bottle, and it’s generously sized to last an entire pregnancy- I’ve used it twice a day since about ten weeks and am just now 2/3s way through. And most importantly- it works. I’ve made it to 35 weeks and nearly triple my previous waist measurement without any new stretch marks so far. I’m probably jinxing myself by saying that, but this stuff is really impressive.

Every natural deodorant someone has raved about, I’ve tried. And every single one broke me out in itchy, painful, hives (I’m pretty sure it’s the baking soda that does it to me). But this Kopari coconut oil deodorant changes that game for me. It’s gentle and moisturizing, prettily scented but not cloying l, and does a great job of keeping my hormonal stinkiness at bay, even in the crazy melting heat we’ve been having.

Speaking of that heat- it’s been tag teaming with hormones to make my skin crazytown. It’s been oily with dry peely patches, and generally troublesome. I’ve been using this Son and Park beauty water as a second toner after P50, and I really like the soothing hydration and light feeling. When I really love most is for an afternoon refresh though- a few swipes with a cotton pad gets rid of the greasies and the grime.

I’ve been a longtime facial oil fan, and this deeply clarifying face oil from Uma Oils is my holy grail. Clove, tea tree, juniper, lavender, clary sage and geranium oils, among others, employ the wisdom of Ayurvedic principles to balance congested skin. It’s amazing. It soothes and heals, combats blemishes and moisturizes. I’ve seen a serious difference in my skin since I added this to my regimen- breakouts are rare, and tiny (just a clogged pore or two) rather than disastrous to my complexion.

I keep a few sleeping masks on my nightstand, and have been using this Sound Sleep Cocoon from Dermalogica lots lately. Not only does it seal in my nighttime routine and pamper my skin overnight, it feels super soothing. And since I’ve been wrestling with pregnancy insomnia, the French lavender, patchouli and sandalwood oils that help bring on restful sleep are especially welcome.

And of course, you don’t need to be pregnant to use and enjoy the benefits of these products… they’ve just been working exceptionally well for me during this time!

Xoxo Ravayna