The Pregnant Beauty Philosopher

Just in case you missed it, last week I sneakily announced that I was pregnant. So this week I am devoting an entire post to it. I thought that in the coming weeks I would share snippets from a journal I have started keeping, from the moment my little digital pregnancy test told me in no uncertain words that I was ‘pregnant 1-2 weeks’. I have been lucky – no morning sickness at all aside from a few weeks of absolutely no appetite near the beginning, no crazy mood swings (my husband may argue this point), no sudden onset of acne or annoying skin issues, no balloon-like weight gain and very minimal, pleasant symptoms overall. My most pressing symptoms at the start were a funny tight feeling in my lower abdomen, sore breasts and an odd disdain for apples and fresh greens. Now, at 17 weeks (four months!) my the most obvious sign I am pregnant is extreme fatigue and the subtle beginnings of an egg shape where my belly and waist used to be. Oh, and as of today, an unexpected desire to approach anyone on the street pushing an attractive pram and ask them where they bought it.

One interesting ‘symptom’ – for beauty fanatics at least – is my skin and scalp. I have long been an oily sensitive type, which over the last year or so has evolved to more oily dehydrated. Yet among the multitude of subtle and not so subtle transformations taking place within my body is drier skin. My skin will never flake and by ‘dry’ I probably mean ‘combination’ but I am definitely drier in The Beauty Philosopher scale of oil to dryness. I do not have to wash my hair every day any more and my face, while still a little oily, does not need mopping part way through the day. My epidermis is in love with anything soothing and hydrating and happily laps up lovely rich creams and lotions. This, combined with my sudden affinity for simpler products, means a few new products have snuck into my routine, namely, MooGoo Skin Milk Udder Cream, which smells comfortingly of milk and powder and is a truly lovely basic moisturiser for dehydrated yet still slightly oily faces; Dr. Haushka Rejuvenating Mask, which is wonderful for confused, tired skin or even just as an overnight pick-me-up; Isomers Copper P Concentrate, which is a very soothing and hydrating light serum; and the uplifting Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil – well you know how much I love body oils and this one is designed specifically for preventing and healing stretch marks.

I would love to know what other mamas and mamas-to-be used when they were pregnant though. How did your skin or your attitude to your skin change? What did you fall in love with?

PS I have always loved this picture of the radiant Grace Kelly with baby and now I have an excuse to use it! Image via A Cup of Jo.