Skin Care for Pregnant in the Philippines: Best Pregnancy-Safe Facial Toners for Your Routine

Congratulations! You're pregnant. Before you overhaul your whole skincare regimen, ask yourself these questions first. How many products do you already have, and what steps are essential to you? If you're skipping the facial toner, you may want to reconsider. There are lots of safe options when it comes to skin care for pregnant women in the Philippines including these must-have toners.

There are people who deem toners as unnecessary, but if you are prone to acne and have oily skin, these can be a godsend. You may benefit from this product because a toner can help unclog pores. It's an essential addition to your pregnancy skin care routine.

But before we delve into the benefits of a toner, what is it exactly?

Can toner be included in skin care for pregnant women in the Philippines?

Toner is often an overlooked step in skincare routines. By using the correct toner, you can detoxify the pores of impurities while filling them with moisture and nutrients to plump and refine your skin. This will refresh the skin and make you look fresh and dewy. Toners can also double as refreshing face mists that hydrate your skin. Since toners open up your pores, it is crucial to pick a toner that is non-toxic so that it is pregnancy-safe and won’t harm your baby.

It can be hard to replace your favorite skincare products, whether it is your cleanser, moisturizer, or toner. But you will need a good pregnancy skin care routine in order to protect your skin and your unborn child.

This is especially important for women who get acne during pregnancy. Even if you haven’t experienced acne for years, an increase in oil secretion during pregnancy can lead to breakouts.

Pregnancy acne can come up during the first and second trimesters. However during your third trimester, there is a dramatic increase in hormones called androgens. This is because androgens are released in order to get the cervix ready for labor which is why there is a spike when you are near full term.

Androgens prompt the glands in your skin to grow and produce more sebum, which is an oily, waxy substance. This oil can clog pores and cause bacteria to grow and lead to inflammation and breakouts.

When this happens, you can try dabbing on baking soda solutions or diluted apple cider vinegar in order to treat sore or inflamed outbreaks. Make sure to use clean cotton wool to apply your homemade toner.

Skin Care for Pregnant Philippines: Best Toners to Choose From

Now that we know how to choose the best pregnancy-safe skin toner, here are our recommendations that you can add to your pregnancy skin care routine:

Neutrogena Alcohol Free Toner

Best Oil-free and Alcohol-free Toner

Popular brand Neutrogena has a candidate for a pregnancy-safe facial toner. As you can tell by its name, it's alcohol-free so you can be sure that this won't dry your skin. It's also easy to use. Just moisten a cotton ball with the toner and apply in gentle upward strokes.

Features we love

• Features
  • non-comedogenic
  • hypoallergenic
  • quick-absorbing
  • oil-free and alcohol-free
• Benefits
  • refreshes the skin without stripping its natural moisturizers
  • removes impurities
  • reconditions the skin

Thayers Witch Hazel Toner

Best Hydrating Toner

Thayers has a cult following. This brand has been around since 1847. Yes, it's been here for more than 170 years so it has been tried and tested for generations.

The good thing about this toner is that it uses witch hazel, which is known to reduce inflammation. The witch hazel from Thayers is also grown on the brand's organic farm so you can be assured of its quality. This is a must-have addition to your pregnancy skin care routine.

Features we love

• features
  • a PH-balanced gentle toner
  • free from alcohol, phthalate, paraben, and gluten
  • dermatologist-tested, cruelty-free, and vegan
  • choose from the following variants: original, rosewater, lemon
• benefits
  • provides 8-hour hydration
  • maintains the skin's moisture barrier
  • gentle and non-drying

Human Nature Balancing Face Toner

Best Budget-Friendly Toner

The most affordable product on this list, Human Nature's Balancing Face Toner is perfect for those who like their skincare products natural and reasonably priced. Its key ingredient is elemi, which is known for balancing sebum. Try this if you want something that works and won't break the bank.

Features we love

• Features
  • recommended for oily and combination skin
  • uses natural ingredients
  • doesn't sting or strip dry thanks to its gentle formulation
• Benefits
  • contains sugar beet and elemi
  • elemi balances sebum, cuts down bacteria, and reduces redness

Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar Solution

Best Fragrance-Free Toner

This is formulated with a pH level of 4.6, which means it's perfectly balanced and won't dry your skin. Bioderma's toner is also free from parabens and fragrance so it won't be a problem if you are sensitive to smells at this stage of your pregnancy.

Features we love

• Features
  • pH-balanced so it won't cause irritation
  • non-rinse cleanser
  • free from alcohol, parabens, and fragrance
• Benefits
  • removes dirt and makeip
  • calms, soothes and strengthens the skin
  • won't irritate the skin

Herbivore Botanicals Jasmine Green Tea Balancing Toner

Best Toner for Oily and Blemish-Prone Skin

This one from Herbivore Botanicals is pricier than the other toners on this list but there are beauty mavens who swear by its soothing scent and its ability to minimize pores.

Features we love

• Features
  • jasmine water facial toner infused with green tea, willow bark, and witch hazel
  • for concerns such as pores, acne, and blemishes
• Benefits
  • balances combination and oily complexions

AVENE Gentle Toning Lotion

Best Toner For Dry and Sensitive Skin

Avene is a well-loved brand by those who have sensitive skin. Its toning lotion is formulated to minimize the risk of allergic reactions and it free from soap, parabens, soy, wheat, and mineral oil. Its key ingredients include natural silicates that give a protective film on the skin and Avene thermal spring water to soothe the skin.

Features we love

• Features
  • bi-phase toner that softens and protect the skin from external aggressors
  • has natural silicates and Avene thermal water
• Benefits
  • soothes and protects the skin
  • pH-balanced and will not over-dry skin
  • remove makeup and dirt while soothing dry skin

Price Comparison Table

To help you buy the best skin care for pregnant in the Philippines, consult this chart that compares their prices of the pregnancy-safe toners so that you will find the one that offers the best value for your money.

Note: Each item and price is up to date as of August 14, 2023 however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.

What should you look for in a toner?

Since you have a bun in the oven, you'll also have to be extra careful in choosing not just toners but all the products that you'll use. But don't worry. Even if you're expecting, you can still find skincare essentials. There are now more awesome skincare products for pregnant women in the Philippines.

It's best to err on the side of caution when you have a baby in your womb. That said, these are some of the products you should avoid according to Healthline:

• retinoids - The use of high doses of retinoid have been linked to birth defects
• high-dose salicylic acid - This is often found in peels and oral medications should be avoided
• hydroquinone - The body absorbs a significant amount of hydroquinone so it's advised to limit this
• phthalates - Pregnant or not, this is something we should all avoid because it's an endocrine disruptor
• formaldehyde - This is carcinogenic and may also increase the risk of miscarriage

Aside from ensuring that the ingredients above are nowhere to be found in your toner, look into these attributes also.

• Benefits - How does it help your skin? Is it necessary to keep this step in your routine? This will also help you gauge if it's worth spending on.
• Price - Speaking of spending, how much are you willing to shell out for a toner? Like most beauty products, the price range for this item differs. You can find some for as low as a few hundred pesos, but it can also go up to thousands depending on the brand.

As always, before using any product, it would be best to consult your doctor to make sure it's safe for you and your baby.