by Liz W

Flickr.com user davhor

With all the gossip in Hollywood, nothing stirs up so much media hype as secret baby bumps. How these A-listers stay looking so amazing during those 9 months is probably in part due to a little airbrushing, but also using the right skin care during pregnancy.

The most recent celebrity pregnancy rumor is that of the hilarious couple Isla Fisher and  Sacha Baron Cohen, more commonly known as Ali G. The 34-year-old actress has an increasingly more suspicious and round belly that she has been camouflaging with loose clothes. But unless this is a publicity stunt from the comedic duo, she can’t deny for much longer that her 2 ½ year old is soon going to be a big sister.

Celebrity moms face the same challenges as regular ones, and even with the cameras pointing in their direction constantly, they still have to alter their beauty routine and stay away from potentially harmful ingredients in their skin care.

Many anti-aging products have some pretty strong doses of chemicals that might work wonders for your skin, but could possibly cause harm during pregnancy.  The most common of these potential baby hazards include Retinoids and Hydroxy acids.

Retinoids are a family of ingredients that are used in anti-aging and acne products for their ability to speed cell turn over. This forces newer, younger skin to the surface, causing a more youthful, dewy complexion. Chemically, Retinoids are just forms of vitamin A that, at certain doses, can be very powerful. High amounts of vitamin A can cause birth defects, and since everything that goes on the skin gets absorbed into the blood stream, doctors advise pregnant women to avoid creams and serums containing these.

Hydroxy acids, the most common being salicylic, are used for their exfoliating and acne-treating properties. They penetrate deep inside the pores and clean out excess oil and dead skin cells that can clog pores and cause acne, blackheads and dull-looking skin. Most doctors advise against taking salicylic acid orally, but allow it to be applied in low doses topically. This changes, however when the percentage of the acid is really high, like what a chemical peel may contain. Once the higher levels of the acid enter the bloodstream, it is relatively equivalent to taking salicylic acid orally and should therefore be avoided by those who are pregnant.

Overall, if you want to look as fantastic as those A-list mommy’s-to-be, try a line of skin care that is considered a bit safer for use during those nine months, such as products made by Belli.