Vitamin C serum, pregnancy, and breastfeeding: what you can keep

As soon as the test is positive, the question arises: what should you remove from your bathroom? The lists that circulate are long, contradictory, and often anxiety-inducing.

What to stop

Retinoids, in all their forms: retinol, retinal, retinol esters, and of course prescription retinoids. This is the most consistent recommendation, and it applies during pregnancy as well as while breastfeeding.

Let’s clarify something reassuring right away, because it is rarely said: this recommendation is a regulatory precaution, not the result of a proven risk. Studies conducted on women exposed to topical retinoids in early pregnancy—several hundred monitored cases—have not shown an increase in birth defects, and no cases of retinoid embryopathy were observed. If you continued using your skincare for a few days or weeks before discovering your pregnancy, there is no need to worry. Stop for the future, and that’s it.

We state it ourselves, without hesitation: our CEL™ Retinal Serum is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. It is the only product in our range in this category.

The point is not to stop everything. It is to know what is actually a problem—and what has never been one.

What you can keep

Vitamin C applied to the skin, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide are not subject to any restrictions during pregnancy, and no data suggests any risk.

Warning: an ingredient list is not a product list

These lists categorize ingredients. However, you never apply an ingredient alone. You apply a formula, with its preservatives, fragrance, filters, and solvents.

A substance that raises questions regarding hormones can be found anywhere in that formula. Sometimes it is the star active ingredient itself. Often, it is located elsewhere. A product may feature perfectly "authorized" niacinamide and still deserve a second look. And natural does not mean safe: a so-called "clean" or "natural" formula has not necessarily been tested for safety.

Checking the active ingredient is therefore not enough. It is the entire formula that you need to look at.

That is why we test our finished formulas in their entirety, not the ingredients one by one. Each of our finished formulas is tested and found to be free of estrogenic and androgenic endocrine disruption. Not isolated ingredients: the formula exactly as you apply it to your skin.

Pregnancy is a time full of unknowns. The lists of ingredients to avoid are long, sometimes contradictory, and often anxiety-inducing. And not everything revolves around hormones, far from it. But on this specific point, you are not moving forward blindly. Your skincare product has been tested, not just presented as safe.

The practical question remains: what to keep, what to set aside. During pregnancy, a single criterion is decisive: the presence of a retinoid. Here is the status of each of our products.

This table reflects the composition of our formulas. It does not replace the advice of your midwife, gynecologist, or dermatologist, especially if you are undergoing treatment.

The real issue: the mask of pregnancy

This is the number one skin concern during pregnancy, and it is poorly addressed by lists of prohibited items. Melasma—those darker patches on the forehead, cheekbones, or upper lip—is triggered by hormonal changes, but it is maintained and aggravated by the sun.

In other words, it is not primarily a question of which active ingredient to add, but rather a question of limiting sun exposure.

Vitamin C supports this effort. It acts as an inhibitor of tyrosinase, the enzyme that controls melanin production. Therefore, it is an excellent preventative step.

When to resume what you stopped

This is the question that comes right after. Retinoids should continue to be avoided as long as you are breastfeeding. Once breastfeeding ends, there is nothing to prevent you from reintroducing them—provided you resume gradually, not at your previous pace.

In practical terms: every other evening for two to three weeks, before returning to daily use if tolerance allows. Postpartum skin is often more reactive than one might expect.

A useful benchmark: if the mask of pregnancy is still present, daily sun protection remains a priority over adding a new active ingredient. Dark spots fade all the better when they are not being reactivated.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use a vitamin C serum while pregnant?

Yes. Our Vitamin C Serum-in-Oil is suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

And while breastfeeding?

The same guidelines apply: vitamin C remains usable, retinoids should continue to be avoided.

Can you use retinol or retinal while pregnant?

No. Retinoids—retinol, retinal, retinol esters, and prescription retinoids—should be stopped during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This is the most consistent recommendation, and our CEL™ Retinal Serum is not recommended during these periods. If you used it before discovering your pregnancy, there is no need to worry: studies conducted on women exposed in early pregnancy did not show an increase in birth defects. Stop for the future, and talk to your midwife or doctor about it.

Hyaluronic acid and niacinamide: can you keep them during pregnancy?

Yes. Neither hyaluronic acid nor niacinamide is restricted during pregnancy or breastfeeding. You can find them respectively in our Cellular Hydration Serum and our Regulation Serum, both of which are suitable for these periods.

Which active ingredients should you really stop?

Retinoids are the category that has a consensus. For any medication, including topical treatments, the advice of your doctor or midwife is essential.

Mask of pregnancy: is vitamin C useful?

It is described as an inhibitor of tyrosinase, the enzyme that controls melanin production. However, the most decisive action remains daily sun protection, which prevents dark spots from being reactivated.

Can a cosmetic contain endocrine disruptors, and how can you tell?

European regulations exclude substances identified as such, but the official list is short and the evaluation is based on ingredients taken one by one, not on the assembled formula. That is why we test our finished formulas: Tested and found to be free of estrogenic and androgenic endocrine disruption.

This article is for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, talk to your midwife, gynecologist, or dermatologist about your skincare routine.