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Learning that you’re expecting might prompt a stock-up of baby carriers, nonalcoholic wine, and buttery-soft leggings, but the best retinol alternatives during pregnancy should also be top of mind, as the all-star ingredient—beloved for its ability to speed up skin cell turnover and spur collagen production—tends to be off-limits.
Vogue’s Favorite Retinol Alternatives
- Best Overall: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced, $185
- Best for Hyperpigmentation: African Botanics Niacinamide Plumping Booster, $100
- Best for Acne: Kinship Self Smooth 10% Glycolic Serum, $19
- Best for Wrinkles: SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum, $295
- Best for Daytime: Alastin Ultra Light Moisturizer, $88
- Best for Evening: Furtuna Skin Nightly Renewal Cream, $285
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Doctor Rogers Night Repair Treatment, $98
This is largely due to an abundance of caution, as it’s ethically unsound to test ingredients, retinol included, in pregnant people. As a result, “there are very few studies evaluating the safety of active ingredients in skin-care products during pregnancy,” says Heather Rogers, MD, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon in Seattle. “This lack of research makes it difficult for physicians to say with certainty that a specific ingredient is completely safe to use throughout pregnancy.” Without retinol, though, I found it especially difficult to manage my two primary skin concerns—adult acne and the onset of wrinkles—when pregnant at 33. That left me searching for alternatives that actually worked.
However, the dermatologists we spoke with consider certain actives far safer and less risky than retinol, among them vitamin C and bakuchiol (a plant-derived compound that works similarly to retinol). With that, consider switching to these best retinol alternatives during pregnancy; they’re good enough that you may just give them a permanent spot on your shelf.
In This Article
- Why can’t you use retinol during pregnancy?
- What are the best retinol alternatives?
- How soon should you stop using retinol once you find out you’re pregnant?
- When should you incorporate retinol again postpartum?
- How often can you use retinol alternatives during pregnancy?
- Are retinol alternatives safe to use with other active ingredients?
- Meet the experts
Best Overall: SkinCeuticals A.G.E. Interrupter Advanced
- Why We Love It: With my neuromodulator (read: Botox) appointments on hold during my pregnancy, my frown lines on my forehead returned full force. I used this moisturizer instead, which targets the process of glycation (through which sugars in the skin bind to collagen and elastin fibers, effectively destroying them in the process). In offsetting glycation, it preserves collagen to firm skin and keep it plump. It also contains nearly 5% flavonoids—rich in antioxidants—as well as hepes, an agent that activates an enzyme in skin to promote cell turnover.
- Key Ingredients: Proxylane, flavonoids, hepes, niacinamide
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
Best for Hyperpigmentation: African Botanics Niacinamide Plumping Booster
- Why We Love It: The beauty of this serum is in the niacinamide, which “can do a lot for our skin, even during pregnancy,” says Rogers. “It helps with redness, inflammation, brown spots, and pore size with excellent tolerability.” That makes this formula especially helpful for those with pregnancy acne and hyperpigmentation; research even shows that niacinamide may benefit those with melasma, a form of discoloration so common while expecting that it’s often called the “mask of pregnancy.” Plus, Rogers notes, it contains other powerful actives like glycerin (which hydrates) and vitamin C (which brightens).
- Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, vitamin C, glycerin
- Size: 0.5 oz.
Best for Acne: Kinship Self Smooth 10% Glycolic Serum
- Why We Love It: Safe and effective options to address pregnancy acne—the spate of breakouts that can arise due to fluctuating hormones—can be scarce, since acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and retinoids are off-limits. This is an exception; in exfoliating skin, it can both clear pores and help fade post-acne dark spots. “Glycolic acid is a well-tolerated exfoliating ingredient to keep skin smooth and bright,” says Rogers, who appreciates that this particular formulation is lightweight but won’t strip skin of essential moisture.
- Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, strawberry, oat extract
- Size: 2.2 fl. oz.
Best for Wrinkles: SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum
- Why We Love It: Retinol may be off-limits during pregnancy, but growth factors are not—which is why I slotted this in as my standard serum while pregnant with my daughter. Growth factors and peptides in one chamber effectively help skin cells function properly to encourage collagen and elastin production, while the second chamber houses a blend of peptides, green microalgae, and botanical extracts meant to support these processes. They work in tandem to deliver firmer skin and stave off wrinkles. A single pump dispenses just enough of both to deliver results.
- Key Ingredients: Growth factors, peptides, marine extract
- Size: 1 oz.
Best for Daytime: Alastin Ultra Light Moisturizer
- Why We Love It: My naturally oily skin did not take well to pregnancy—my so-called “pregnancy glow” involved acne along my chin and jawline—so I reached for this incredibly lightweight moisturizer for daytime wear. It soothed the redness of my bumps without feeling cloying, and I appreciated that the brand’s proprietary TriHex technology (powered by peptides) was hard at work supporting new collagen and elastin production as I wore it.
- Key Ingredients: Ceramides, peptides, squalane, green tea extract
- Size: 2.0 fl. oz.
Best for Evening: Furtuna Skin Nightly Renewal Cream
- Why We Love It: Designed to renew skin overnight, this velvety cream pairs bakuchiol with a blend of deeply nourishing ingredients, among them ceramides and antioxidant-rich botanicals. What sets it apart is the brand’s Triple Enzyme Technology, a complex of microalgae-derived enzymes that work overnight to smooth, moisturize, and brighten skin come morning.
- Key Ingredients: Bakuchiol, ceramides, purslane extract
- Size: 50 ml.
Best for Sensitive Skin: Doctor Rogers Night Repair Treatment
- Why We Love It: Part of Dr. Rogers’s hypoallergenic skin-care line, this Night Repair Treatment is infused with bakuchiol, glycolic acid, and a very low percentage of salicylic acid—less than 0.5%—which makes it safe to use during pregnancy, says Rogers. The cushiony serum buffers these ingredients, which work in tandem to smooth skin and even tone with a comforting combination of squalane and shea butter.
- Key Ingredients: Bakuchiol, squalane, glycolic acid, shea butter
- Size: 1.0 oz.
Best Fragrance-Free: Indie Lee Retinol Alternative Cream
- Why We Love It: Rogers points to Indie Lee’s Retinol Alternative Cream as one that’s both hydrating and well tolerated by most skin types; it contains rambutan, a plant-based ingredient that seems to mimic the effects of retinoids, as well as squalane, hyaluronic acid, and jojoba seed oil to thoroughly nourish skin. Better yet, it’s free of both synthetic fragrances as well as essential oils, making it a worthwhile option for those sensitive to scents.
- Key Ingredients: Rambutan, paracress extract, squalane
- Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
Why can’t you use retinol during pregnancy?
Retinoids, when taken orally (as with Accutane), have been found to cause birth defects in recent studies, according to Dr. Melanie Palm, a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego. As a result, “physicians prefer to err on the side of caution and eliminate the use of retinoids altogether, including topicals, from your skin-care routine while pregnant or nursing,” she says, noting that they join other skin-care ingredients to skip during pregnancy, such as hydroquinone and benzoyl peroxide.
What are the best retinol alternatives?
The best retinol alternatives include both botanical compounds as well as recognizable active ingredients, including:
- Bakuchiol: Derived from the Psoralea corylifolia plant, this “yields similar, albeit less powerful results to retinol in that it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” says Palm. Studies show that it’s a much gentler option and less likely to irritate skin, making it a good choice for those with sensitive skin in addition to people who are pregnant.
- Glycolic Acid: This exfoliating acid is both pregnancy-safe and “can provide similar exfoliating benefits to retinol, especially for those with acne-prone skin,” Palm explains. Rogers notes that it’s a versatile ingredient, as it “can remove dead skin cells, stimulate cell turnover, improve brown spots, and increase hyaluronic acid levels in the skin,” she says.
- Vitamin C: The topical form of vitamin C is considered safe during pregnancy, as even “the oral vitamin C is recommended during this time,” says Rogers. (The oral form is generally more potent than topical.) It’s a powerful and proven antioxidant that can “even skin tone, protect the skin from free radicals, and is a required cofactor for collagen production,” she adds.
- Niacinamide: Also known as vitamin B3, this do-it-all ingredient “helps even skin tone, reduces redness and irritation, and improves skin barrier function,” says Rogers.
How soon should you stop using retinol once you find out you’re pregnant?
As soon as you learn you’re pregnant, all retinoids should be suspended, including prescribed medications like tazarotene and tretinoin, says Rogers. The same goes for over-the-counter derivatives like retinol or retinaldehyde, which is often shortened to “retinal.” Again, “although these topical medications have not been shown to cause birth defects, high-dose oral vitamin A in the form of isotretinoin (Accutane) has,” she says.
When should you incorporate retinol again postpartum?
While everyone’s risk tolerance may differ, it’s typically safe to use retinol immediately after giving birth—and even when nursing. “After reviewing the available data, I felt comfortable restarting over-the-counter vitamin-A creams after delivery while I was still breastfeeding,” says Rogers. “I used them sparingly since my skin remained more sensitive and prone to irritation.” Of course, if you prefer not to, you can wait until after your baby has weaned.
How often can you use retinol alternatives during pregnancy?
It depends on your skin. “Frequency of use comes down to how well your skin tolerates these active ingredients,” says Palm. “If you’ve never used bakuchiol or glycolic acid before, I recommend slowly incorporating these ingredients into your routine two to three times a week to minimize redness, dryness, and irritation.” If you know you have sensitivities, consider patch testing a new ingredient first before slathering it all over.
Are retinol alternatives safe to use with other active ingredients?
According to Palm, “Because of its exfoliating properties, I would avoid using bakuchiol with AHAs (like glycolic or lactic acid) so as to not compromise the skin barrier.” As mentioned above, it’s important to patch test in advance to determine whether you’re allergic to bakuchiol.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Heather Rogers, is a board-certified dermatologic surgeon in Seattle and founder of Doctor Rogers skin-care line.
- Dr. Melanie Palm, is a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego.