Is pregnancy glow just a myth? Why women can look better when expecting and skincare that can help if you’re not so lucky – expert advice

Some women really do “glow” in pregnancy. Amid the heartburn, the swollen ankles and the inability to tie their own shoelaces, some women can experience the best skin of their life. Others? Well, not so much.

“The change in hormones can make your skin produce more sebum,” says Katie Matten, head of education at luxury skincare company Rationale, referring to increased oestrogen and progesterone production, which can help skin look more radiant and shiny.

Pregnant women also have increased blood volume, which can make their complexion rosier and more flushed, and can also increase the turnover of skin cells, sloughing away older cells faster and leaving new and plumper ones. Even their hair can become thicker, thanks to changes in the hair-shedding cycle.

But for others, the increased hormones can make their skin go “haywire”, Matten says, especially if they don’t have a good skincare regime that includes gentle cleansing and exfoliation. Some women’s skin can become more sensitive, while others will experience new skin concerns such as acne and melasma (hormonal-driven hyperpigmentation is sometimes called the “mask of pregnancy”).

This was the case for Emma Lewisham, a New Zealander with her own natural skincare range who is passionate about products that are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

“Our skin goes through lots of changes during both pregnancy and post-partum thanks to all the wonderful new hormones we produce. Some of the most common skin concerns include changes in oil production, hormonal breakouts, hyperpigmentation and inflammatory conditions like perioral dermatitis,” she says.