Best Pregnancy-Safe Retinol Alternatives
Pregnancy-safe anti-aging actives. Here are the 5 best retinol alternatives.
Our #1 pick
EQQUALBERRY
Bakuchiol Plumping Serum (0.5%)
Plant-based retinol alternative
Check price on Amazon →Heads up: this post has affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you buy something, at no extra cost to you. We only link to stuff we'd actually tell a friend about. Prices shown are approximate and change often; check the retailer for current pricing.
Quick answer: pregnancy-safe retinol alternatives
- Best overall: EQQUALBERRY Bakuchiol Plumping Serum (0.5%)
- Lowest price tier: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% (Under $25)
- Splurge: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic (Under $250)
Pregnancy + breastfeeding: all retinoids off. Bakuchiol mimics retinol's effects through a different mechanism. Azelaic acid provides acne + pigment support. Together, this stack replaces what tretinoin + retinol would normally do.
| # | Product | Price tier | Why it made the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EQQUALBERRYBakuchiol Plumping Serum (0.5%) | Under $25 | Plant-based retinol alternative |
| 2 | NaturiumAzelaic Topical 10% | Under $25 | Pregnancy-safe acne + pigment treatment |
| 3 | SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic | Under $250 | Pregnancy-safe vitamin C |
| 4 | The OrdinaryNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% | Under $25 | Universally pregnancy-safe |
| 5 | NaturiumMulti-Peptide Moisturizer | Under $25 | Peptide moisturizer for anti-aging support |
Our top 5 picks
SkinCeuticals
PremiumC E Ferulic
Pregnancy-safe vitamin C
More on pregnancy-safe retinol alternatives
Frequently asked
Is hydroquinone safe in pregnancy? +
No, avoid hydroquinone during pregnancy. Azelaic acid is the safe pigment alternative.
What is the best pregnancy-safe retinol alternatives? +
Our top pick for pregnancy-safe retinol alternatives is EQQUALBERRY Bakuchiol Plumping Serum (0.5%). Plant-based retinol alternative. The runner-up is Naturium Azelaic Topical 10%.
How much should I spend on pregnancy-safe retinol alternatives? +
The 5 picks here run from the Under $25 tier (The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%) up to the Under $250 tier (SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic). The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the lowest-cost way in, and SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is the splurge.
Premium Beauty
More Premium Beauty picks
If money isn't the object, these are our Premium Beauty favorites site-wide.
CurrentBody
Under $500Skin LED Light Therapy Mask Series 2
236 LEDs. Red 633nm + NIR 830nm. Flexible fit.
Buy on Amazon →Dr. Dennis Gross
Under $500DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro
Rigid shell. 100 red + 62 blue LEDs. Sephora's bestseller.
Buy on Amazon →Omnilux
Under $500Men LED Face Mask
Omnilux's in-stock flexible LED face mask (the Contour Face is out of stock on Amazon).
Buy on Amazon →Therabody
Under $500TheraFace PRO
Microcurrent, red light and percussive therapy in one handheld. Replaces three single-purpose gadgets.
Buy on Amazon →Therabody
Under $500TheraFace PRO
Red light + microcurrent + percussive + cleansing. Sci-fi gadget.
Buy on Amazon →Augustinus Bader
Under $500The Cream
TFC8 tech. The one celebrities keep talking about.
Buy on Amazon →