Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
When suitability is not established, we leave it out. Two routines, no guesswork.
Pregnancy changes your skin — dryness, sensitivity and pigmentation (melasma) are all common, and the usual brightening actives are suddenly off the table. When we cannot establish that an ingredient is suitable in pregnancy, we do not present it as safe — we flag it and leave the decision to you and your midwife or GP.
The routines below are built from ESK products whose formulas rest on barrier and hydration ingredients: a gentle non-foaming cleanser, hyaluronic acid, ceramides and niacinamide, and a mineral SPF. Pregnancy melasma responds best to diligent sun protection, because the pigmentation actives are the ones on the flagged list below.
Breastfeeding keeps the same core routine: vitamin A products stay excluded unless your GP or practitioner advises you personally, and everything flagged below stays flagged until you have asked.
During pregnancy
£217.00 RRP
£195.30
Barrier, hydration and mineral SPF only. Nothing on the flagged list below.
- 1
Calming Cleanse£35.00£31.50150mlA non-foaming cleanser at pH 4.5–5 built on gentle, barrier-preserving cleansing — the everyday wash for skin that pregnancy often makes more sensitive.
- 2
Hydraboost HA Serum£63.00£56.7050mlHyaluronic acid and panthenol — water-binding hydration that pregnancy routines commonly centre on when actives are off the table; as with every product here, confirm with your midwife or GP.
- 3
Repair +£69.00£62.1050mlCeramides, niacinamide (5%), panthenol and hyaluronic acid (1.1%) — barrier support and moisture for the dryness and sensitivity pregnancy commonly brings.
- 4
Zinc Shade£50.00£45.0050mlA zinc-based mineral SPF15 (rated SPF 23) — daily sun protection, the single most useful step against pregnancy pigmentation.
You save £21.70 with ReGen's 10% discount · free UK delivery over £60
While breastfeeding
£217.00 RRP
£195.30
The same core routine. Vitamin A products remain excluded unless your GP or practitioner advises you personally.
- 1Calming Cleanse£35.00£31.50150ml
A non-foaming cleanser at pH 4.5–5 built on gentle, barrier-preserving cleansing — the everyday wash for skin that pregnancy often makes more sensitive.
- 2Hydraboost HA Serum£63.00£56.7050ml
Hyaluronic acid and panthenol — water-binding hydration that pregnancy routines commonly centre on when actives are off the table; as with every product here, confirm with your midwife or GP.
- 3Repair +£69.00£62.1050ml
Ceramides, niacinamide (5%), panthenol and hyaluronic acid (1.1%) — barrier support and moisture for the dryness and sensitivity pregnancy commonly brings.
- 4Zinc Shade£50.00£45.0050ml
A zinc-based mineral SPF15 (rated SPF 23) — daily sun protection, the single most useful step against pregnancy pigmentation.
You save £21.70 with ReGen's 10% discount · free UK delivery over £60
Morning protocol
- 1
Calming Cleanse — Cleanse with the non-foaming cream wash that preserves pH and hydration.
- 2
Hydraboost HA Serum — Apply the hyaluronic acid serum while skin is slightly damp.
- 3
Repair + — Moisturise with the ceramide-rich barrier cream.
- 4
Zinc Shade — Finish with the mineral SPF — the main defence against pregnancy melasma.
Evening protocol
- 1
Calming Cleanse — Cleanse the day away.
- 2
Hydraboost HA Serum — Reapply the hydration serum.
- 3
Repair + — Seal with Repair +.
Excluded & flagged products
- —
Ultimate A Contains retinal — excluded.
- —
Ultimate A+ Contains retinal — excluded.
- —
Ultimate A Gold Contains retinal — excluded.
- —
Enlighten Gold Contains retinal — excluded.
- —
Ageless Microneedle patches contain retinal — excluded.
- —
Smooth Serum Leave-on hydroxy acids — suitability in pregnancy is not established. Ask your midwife or GP before use.
- —
Hydroxy Cleanser Contains AHAs and salicylic acid in a wash-off formula — suitability in pregnancy is not established. Ask before use, or choose Calming Cleanser.
- —
B Calm Contains 2% salicylic acid — suitability in pregnancy is not established. Ask before use.
- —
Gentle Glow PHA Serum Contains PHAs — suitability in pregnancy is not established. Ask before use.
- —
Enlighten Contains 4nB — suitability in pregnancy is not established. Ask before use.
- —
C Forte High-strength vitamin C — we cannot establish its suitability for your pregnancy. Ask your midwife or GP rather than assuming it is safe.
- —
C Serum Lite High-strength vitamin C — we cannot establish its suitability for your pregnancy. Ask your midwife or GP rather than assuming it is safe.
How often to use
- ·All four steps daily, morning and evening as set out above.
- ·Reapply SPF as directed on the pack when exposed for long periods — it is your main melasma defence.
Precautions
- ·This guide is general skincare information, not medical advice — always check with your midwife, GP or pharmacist before changing products in pregnancy.
- ·Excluded during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless your clinician advises you personally: all retinoid products — Ultimate A, Ultimate A+, Ultimate A Gold, Enlighten Gold and the Ageless patches (retinal).
- ·Suitability not established by ESK — ask your midwife or GP before use rather than assuming they are safe: Smooth Serum and Hydroxy Cleanser (hydroxy acids), B Calm (2% salicylic acid), Gentle Glow (PHAs), Enlighten (4nB), and the high-strength vitamin C serums C Forte and C Serum Lite.
- ·Pregnancy melasma that bothers you is worth a consultation — we can plan what is and is not appropriate for you.
General skincare guidance built from the official ESK product information — not medical advice. If you are being treated in clinic, follow the aftercare your practitioner gave you rather than changing your routine, and book a consultation before combining this guide with clinical treatment.