1. Find time for exercise

Regular exercise while pregnant is great for relieving stress and carving out some dedicated time for yourself. While it’s best to avoid anything too strenuous, gentle activities such as walking or swimming are perfect for boosting your circulation. In addition to strengthening your muscles, exercise increases your lungs’ vital capacity — two things which are essential for the health of you and your baby. Before undertaking any exercise, always make sure to consult with your doctor first.

We recommend walking or swimming for around 30 minutes a day, which is just enough to get your blood pumping and your body releasing endorphins. Remember to wear comfortable shoes if walking or, if you prefer a dip in the pool, avoid swimming on your front as this will arch your back. Try swimming on your side or doing backstroke instead.

2. Avoid stretch marks with an anti-stretch mark cream

Pregnancy pushes your body to its limits, but especially your skin. That’s why stretch marks often go hand in hand with pregnancy, as your body expands to accommodate a beautiful new life. While you can’t prevent stretch marks from forming, regularly soothing and nourishing your bump with a pregnancy cream is the best way to help reduce their appearance.

Clarins Body Partner Stretch Mark Expert (formerly Clarins Stretch Mark Minimiser) contains a PhytoStretch Complex of Centella Asiatica to promote collagen production and improve skin elasticity and Organic Green Banana extract to firm the skin. The lightweight, fast-absorbing cream is also infused with Licorice extract, which expertly limits the production of inflammation molecules to visibly reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Next, firm up with Clarins Tonic Treatment Oil: a secondary product for stretch marks formulated with 100% pure plant extracts. Hazelnut Oil locks in moisture to leave skin satiny-smooth, while Rosemary, Geranium, and Mint extracts help to tone, nourish, and improve the skin’s elasticity. The result? A beautiful blend of natural agents inside one aromatic and revitalising body oil. Combine a few drops into your New Body Partner Stretch Expert to boost results.

Finally, indulge tired legs with Clarins Energising Emulsion. This lightweight lotion — with Camomile, Basil, Sage, and Cypress — tones and revitalises weary legs and helps maintain the skin’s ideal moisture balance for soft, supple skin. With a refreshing fragrance, this powerful emulsion is the perfect cream for pregnant women who’ve been on their feet all day.

3. Get plenty of rest

Growing a baby takes a lot of physical strength, so it’s essential to get plenty of rest throughout your pregnancy. We recommend settling down for between eight and nine hours per night to keep you healthy and ready to take on your day.

As you reach your final trimester, taking regular rest breaks throughout the day will help ensure you and your baby stay relaxed. Stealing five to 10 minutes each morning to mindfully sit and apply your Clarins Body Partner stretch mark cream is a great routine to get into, as it offers a daily dose of relaxation and calmness.

4. Adopt good eating habits

The secret to eating well during these nine months is maintaining a balanced diet. At Clarins, we recommend eating twice as well, not twice as much. This means enjoying lots of fresh, healthy, and varied food, avoiding too much salt and spice, and consuming a balanced amount of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Make sure you’re aware of which foods you should avoid while pregnant, and always eat three meals a day and drink plenty of water.

5. Nourish your complexion

When you feel radiant and beautiful, you glow from the inside out. Having a positive, loving outlook on life has enormous benefits for both yourself and your baby, so make sure you find time to pamper yourself regularly. In fact, pregnancy is the perfect time to create a nourishing and effective skincare routine to take you into parenthood. Nourish your complexion with the UK's number one serum*. Two power-packed serums in one, Double Serum is the ideal pregnancy lotion to boost your skin's natural radiance. Expertly blending 21 powerful plant extracts — including Turmeric, Avocado, and Beautyberry — Double Serum leaves skin firmer, with pores and fine lines visibly reduced. Partner with a replenishing moisturiser for nourished, radiant skin throughout your pregnancy journey.

6. Finishing touches

Pregnancy often gives you a gorgeous glow, meaning most women enjoy wearing little to no makeup during these nine months. However, if you’re looking for a few choice products to complement your complexion, Clarins has a range of luxurious makeup that’ll work subtle magic on your face. In addition to complementing and boosting your natural skin tone, a Clarins foundation protects against pollution, dehydration, and free radicals to leave you with an even, glowing complexion. Alternatively, add a pop of colour with a luxuriously creamy lipstick for a glamorous mum-to-be look. You really do deserve the best, so upgrade your makeup bag with some luxurious makeup treats for expectant mothers and look as beautiful on the outside as you feel on the inside.

A beautiful pregnancy with Clarins

At Clarins, we want to help you look and feel amazing during your pregnancy. We also want to support you in understanding the incredible changes that are taking place within you and how best to look after yourself and your baby.

If you want more helpful advice on how to achieve a happy, glowing pregnancy, read our pregnancy guide. And if you’re looking for tips on how to maintain a radiant complexion post-birth, check out our skincare guide for new mothers.

*Source: The NPD Group. Prestige Anti-ageing serum unit sales January - December 2019