While the holidays are a joyous time of year, it can also be super stressful. Combining holiday anxiety and harsh winter weather can leave an expecting Mama's skin feeling especially dull and dry. For pregnant women who are already dealing with sensitive skin changes, a cold winter can just add to the frustration of maintaining that beautiful pregnancy glow. And worst of all, dry skin can even lead to stretch marks during pregnancy!

Here are some pregnancy skincare tips for expecting Mamas to concur winter skin blues.

 

Lather your pregnancy bod with a gentle, moisturizing body wash.  Throw away discount soap bars, which often can suck the moisture from your skin. A sulfate-free body wash safe for pregnancy like Luxe-Mama uses nourishing coconut oil and aloe vera flower extract to calm and condition sensitive, dry skin. Make sure to keep showers to a minimum, use lukewarm -- not hot -- water, and always follow up with lotion.

Show your skin some lovin' with daily application of thick, vitamin-rich lotions. Whenever the cold weather gets my skin feeling tight and ashy, a dollop of creamy lotion always does the trick. Tummy Butter for stretch marks removal cream is especially nourishing because it features cocoa butter infused with vitamin-rich oils that contain vitamins A and E. For BEST results, apply this Belly Butter after showering while skin is still slightly damp. As the skin dries, it will help skin lock in moisture and nutrients.

Paws off -- don't scratch your itchy, dry skin! Cold weather can lead to a case of the itchies. Not only is it embarrassing and uncomfortable, but constantly scratching skin can lead to pregnancy stretch marks. To relieve itching, I like to use an over-the-counter topical ointment like Benadryl gel, followed by Belly Butter to help keep dry skin at bay.

Exfoliate your way to glowing pregnancy skin. Regular exfoliation is great to help reveal and maintain that coveted pregnancy glow. But during the winter, it is downright ESSENTIAL. Just a short rubdown can make you feel like a new woman! To slough away dead winter skin, try our sugar stretch mark scrub for pregnancy. Each seasonal scrub (right now we have a reinvigorating peppermint scent!) is packed with vitamin-rich oils to give your dry skin the lovin' it craves.

Never ever, ever leave your face unmoisturized. Even when I'm running late and the sky is falling, there is one thing I am never too busy to do: moisturize! 

When choosing an anti-wrinkle cream and serums, remember to be careful with retinoids.  This blog from Paula's Choice mentioned, "While being powerhouses for erasing fine lines and wrinkles, some studies have shown that high doses of retinoids during pregnancy could be harmful to the fetus. It's best to stay away from prescribed retinoids like Differin, Renova, Retin-A, tretinoin, and Tazorac."

 

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.  One of the simplest things you can do to cure dry skin is drink water...and plenty of it. According to the Institute of Medicine, pregnant women should drink 2.3 liters (about 10 cups) of fluids daily. Make sure you are hydrating yourself from the inside out by always having a water bottle around.

How many pregnant Mamas out there are experiencing dry winter skin? What pregnancy skincare remedies have helped you? Tell Us!