The Edit
A Beginner's Guide to Introducing Actives During Pregnancy
New to skincare actives during pregnancy? Learn which ingredients to consider, which to avoid, and how to introduce new products into your routine.
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Avoiding Retinoids During Pregnancy: What You Need to Know
Can you use retinol or retinoids during pregnancy? Learn why they're widely avoided and which alternatives to consider.
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Postpartum Hyperpigmentation: Causes and Care Options
Dark spots lingering after pregnancy? Learn what causes postpartum hyperpigmentation, how it differs from melasma, and what can help fade discoloration.
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What Causes Acne During Pregnancy?
Breaking out during pregnancy? Learn how hormonal changes affect your skin, when pregnancy acne starts, and what you can do to manage it.
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Meet Crystal Osejo: The Founder Behind Hizo Skincare
Meet Crystal Osejo, founder of Hizo. Discover how her pregnancy skincare journey inspired a new approach to skincare for pregnancy and postpartum.
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Azelaic Acid: The Pregnancy Skincare Favorite
Discover why azelaic acid is a pregnancy skincare favorite, with dermatologist-backed benefits for hormonal acne, melasma, redness, and dark spots.
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The Fourth Trimester: What I Didn't Expect About Postpartum
Crystal shares 5 things she didn't expect about the fourth trimester, from breastfeeding and C-section recovery to body image, work, and marriage.
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14 Best Pregnancy & Postpartum Brands and Resources
Discover 14 pregnancy and postpartum brands and resources we love, from maternity fashion and nursing essentials to skincare, baby products, and wellness.
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Maternal Skincare vs. Clean Beauty: What’s the Difference?
Once I got pregnant, I realized there were certain skincare ingredients I could no longer use. I figured the easiest solution would be to head to Sephora and swap out my skincare routine for products that were safe for pregnancy. Instead, I was directed to the "clean beauty" section. The salesperson explained that these brands were "clean," so they would be a great option. At the time, I felt relieved. I assumed that "clean" meant pregnancy-safe. But when I got home, I started reading ingredient lists and researching what was actually considered safe during pregnancy. The deeper I looked, the more surprised I became. I learned something that completely changed the way I thought about skincare: Clean doesn't mean pregnancy-friendly. In fact, some products marketed as "clean" still contain ingredients that many healthcare providers recommend avoiding during pregnancy. Did you know retinol can be considered a clean beauty ingredient? Retinol is one of the most well-known skincare ingredients for improving wrinkles and acne, and many clean beauty brands include it in their formulations. Yet it's also one of the ingredients that pregnant women are commonly advised to avoid. That's when I realized the issue wasn't with clean beauty itself. The issue was that the word "clean" had become a shortcut, one that many of us naturally assume includes pregnancy safety. It doesn't. As I spoke with more moms, I realized I wasn't alone. So many of us were standing in store aisles, reading ingredient lists, and searching the internet trying to answer the same question: "Is this actually safe to use during pregnancy?" No one should have to become an ingredient expert just to buy a moisturizer. That experience is what led me to start Hizo. From day one, our mission wasn't simply to create another clean skincare brand. We set out to create skincare thoughtfully formulated with pregnancy in mind, prioritizing carefully selected ingredients without compromising on performance or luxury. At Hizo, every formula begins with one simple question: Would I feel confident recommending this to an expecting mother? Because mothers deserve more than marketing buzzwords. They deserve transparency, science backed formulations, and the confidence to care for their skin without second guessing every ingredient. Clean is a great place to start. But for us, it was never the finish line. Read How We Formulate for Pregnancy Safety. ~Crystal Osejo Founder
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