Pregnancy does not require an overly long “forbidden” list, but a few ingredient categories deserve extra caution. First, retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) such as tretinoin, adapalene, and tazarotene—often used for acne and anti-aging—are commonly avoided unless explicitly directed by your clinician. Second, high-strength salicylic acid and aggressive chemical peels: limited, low-strength use may be considered conservative by some clinicians, but frequent, high-percentage, large-area application is usually discouraged. Third, hydroquinone (a skin-lightening agent) is often avoided because its systemic absorption can be relatively higher compared with many other topicals. Fourth, some chemical UV filters and heavily fragranced products raise discussion points around systemic absorption and irritation; many people default to mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide/titanium dioxide) as a conservative option. Also be mindful of products that commonly trigger dermatitis (strong fragrances, complex essential oil blends). A safe baseline routine is gentle cleanser + barrier-supporting moisturizer (ceramides/glycerin) + mineral sunscreen. For acne/pigmentation, clinicians frequently favor azelaic acid and niacinamide when tolerated.