Your IVF-Safe Skincare Blueprint: What to Keep, Ditch, and Switch

By Hilary Metcalfe

It hit me one evening as I lay in bed, fingers half‑asleep, staring at my meticulously curated skincare shelf: how many of those bottles had I picked with me in mind, the version of me before fertility meds, before hormone injections, before every doctor’s appointment? When I embarked on IVF, every decision felt amplified. What could affect my body, my hormones, my chance of success, including what I slathered on my skin?

When you’re trying everything to protect your fertility, the little things matter more than ever. That face serum you always used without thinking? Suddenly, you wonder: Could this be interfering with my hormones? That lush-smelling moisturiser? Is that fragrance synthetic?

Skincare became one of many things I re-evaluated, not out of fear, but out of a deep desire to support my body and our journey to parenthood in every possible way. After all, IVF is a full-body and financially heavy commitment. And for me, it became a full-shelf overhaul too.

What I discovered changed more than just my skin. It changed the way I see self-care, safety, and what we’re not told about the products we put on our skin, especially during one of the most hormonally sensitive periods and meaningful moments of our lives.

This is what I wish I’d known when I started.

Why IVF changes the skin - and why skincare really matters

When you begin IVF, your body is already under stress, whether from hormone stimulation, injections, or the emotional toll. Skin is not exempt:

• Hormonal surges (especially estrogens, progesterone, LH/FSH) can make skin more reactive, increase pigmentation risk, or disrupt sebum balance.
  

• Some studies suggest that intensive use of personal care products might correlate with disturbances in oocyte maturation in IVF/ICSI cycles. PMC

• Some cosmetic ingredients are flagged as endocrine disruptors (parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances) or carry uncertain safety profiles in pregnancy/fertility. genesisfertility.com+2Each & Every Company+2

• The literature on safety of skincare in conception/IVF is sparse, so many dermatologists, OBs, and fertility-care advocates err on the side of caution. Healthline+2SKINICIAN+2

In short: your skin barrier matters more than ever. You want hydration, resilience, minimal irritation, and minimal unknown exposure.

What to avoid (or dramatically reduce) when TTC and during IVF

From research, fertility‑friendly skincare guides, and my own trial and error, here are ingredients I decided to ditch (or use only under supervision):

As I reworked my routine, I found it more sustainable to begin with what I could keep (gentle cleanser, barrier support, hydration) and gradually add safe actives.

Why The SABI became my go-to (and how I layered it safely)

I didn’t just switch my skincare during IVF.  I started building my own.

At the same time that I was navigating the emotional and physical demands of fertility treatment, the ultrasounds, the hormone crashes, the injections and waiting games — I was also deep in research. I started looking into the link between everyday products and hormone health. I read the studies, interrogated the labels, spoke to dermatologists, OB-GYNs, and integrative anf functional medicine doctors.

And what I found was alarming: So many “clean” products still included ingredients linked to endocrine disruption,  things that mimic oestrogen, interfere with testosterone, or aren’t tested for use during hormone-sensitive phases like IVF or pregnancy.

So I co‑founded The SABI.
Because if I couldn’t find a skincare brand I could trust during IVF, I’d build one from the ground up, for every woman going through fertility treatment, postpartum recovery, cycle irregularities, or perimenopause.

Together with an incredible team of dermatologists, naturopaths, OB‑GYNs, and chemists, we created formulas designed for real hormonal sensitivity. Products that are:

• 99.7% natural origin with a high percentage of certified organic ingredients
  

• Free from hormone-disrupting ingredients like parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, PEGs, and silicones
  

• Clinically reviewed for barrier support and hormonal integrity
  

• Designed to help your body deal with the stress (internally and externally) of IVF and hormonal fluctuations with adaptogens.
  

• And built around rituals that nourish, not overwhelm
  

When you’re in the midst of IVF, your body is already doing so much. Your skincare should support you,  not stress your system further. That’s why our Active Nutrient Serum, Prebiotic Face & Body Cream, and Reviving Face Mist are designed to be both calming and functional. Gentle enough to use while your hormones are shifting. Powerful enough to give you real results.

Swaps I made (and a few I almost tried)

Here is a peek into the “before vs. after” swaps I made,  some were small, some felt radical.Some changes were small, others felt radical — but every one of them supported my skin and my fertility journey.

What the science says (and doesn’t yet say)

I often found myself chasing citations, which turned out to be both enlightening and frustrating. Here are some noteworthy findings:

• Safety of skincare in pregnancy / conception: A 2011 review (“Safety of skin care products during pregnancy”) notes that retinoids remain controversial, hydroquinone is absorbed significantly, and that apart from those, many topical agents are unlikely to present major risk given low absorption. PMC

• Parabens / phthalates and fertility: Some observational and mechanistic literature implicates parabens and phthalates in endocrine disruption, potentially interfering with hormone function and ovarian reserve. genesisfertility.com+1

• Personal care product exposure & IVF outcomes: A 2024 study (Guo et al.) suggests that higher use of personal care products is negatively associated with oocyte maturation in IVF/ICSI cycles. PMC

• Guidelines for safe actives: Many fertility-friendly skincare guides (e.g. SKNtosKN, YourFertilityCoach) recommend avoiding retinoids, high-dose BHAs, hydroquinone, and suggest safer alternatives like azelaic acid, niacinamide, vitamin C, mineral sunscreens. renude.co+3SKN TO SKN+3Laura Your Fertility Coach+3

However: there is no “definitive trial” showing that using a brand like SABI boosts IVF success. The evidence base is nascent. But when risks are uncertain, many clinicians advise minimizing unknown exposures.

Tips I wish I'd known earlier

1. Patch test everything: your skin can become hyper-reactive on hormone drugs!
   

2. Introduce changes one product at a time: don’t overhaul your entire shelf in a day.
   

3. Track “skin reactions vs IVF timeline”:  I kept a mini log (product, reaction, day) so I could backtrack if something flared.
   

4. Communicate with your fertility team: tell them you’re switching skincare; some may have cautions or brand-specific insights.
   

5. Prioritize barrier health over aggressive treatments: the stronger your skin barrier, the better it can guard you against irritants. Think, prebiotics and soothing botanicals like calendula and aloe.
   

6. Rotate actives sparingly: I aim never to run more than one potent active (like acid or peptidic booster) on any given night and even do 2-week rotations to keep actives working best for you.
   

7. Don’t ignore sun protection: hormonal cycles make pigmentation and melasma risk higher. Use safe a hormone-safe (no synthetics, mineral based) SPF daily.
   

8. Stay hydrated and nourish from within: good sleep, balanced diet, and internal wellness also reflect topically.
   

Skin care as a support in your fertility journey

When I began IVF, I thought the most important decisions would be which clinic, which protocol, or how to manage stress. I didn’t expect my cupboard of cleansers, serums, and oils to feel so consequential.

Yet as months passed, I saw that every small swap, replacing a retinol with a gentler alternative, selecting plant-based non‑disruptive formulations, or trusting a brand like SABI to vet for hormonal safety, gave me a sense of control in a time of uncertainty.

If you’re on the IVF journey too, I hope my roadmap offers both practical swaps and reminders: your skin isn’t just a set of cells,  it’s part of your whole-body ecosystem. Treat it kindly. Be curious. Ask questions. And above all, don’t feel guilty about simplifying (or removing) ingredients. 

References

1. Bozzo P, Chua‑Gocheco A, Einarson A. Safety of skin care products during pregnancy. Can Fam Physician. 2011;57(6):665–7. (PMC) PMC
   
   

2. Guo QC, et al. Associations of personal care products use with oocyte maturation in IVF/ICSI treatments. 2024. PMC
   
   

3. “Beauty Products and Skincare Ingredients to Avoid While Pregnant or Trying.” Women’s Care. Women's Care
   
   

4. “What Skincare Should You Be Using During IVF Treatment?” SKNtosKN blog. SKN TO SKN
   
   

5. “Skincare Products to Ditch If You’re Pregnant or Trying.” YourFertilityCoach. Laura Your Fertility Coach
   
   

6. SABI Skincare — brand website and philosophy. SABI+1
   
   

7. “Life stage: Skincare during IVF treatment.” Renude blog. renude.co
   
   

8. Additional fertility-safe skincare guides and ingredient‑avoidance compilations. SKINICIAN+1

ABOUT HILARY

Hilary is the Co-Founder of The SABI, a Holistic Nutritionist, natural, whole foods Chef, product developer and advocate for women getting to know their bodies, cycles and selves better. Born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Baja California, Mexico, she now lives in Los Cabos with her partner Kees, a curly-tailed rescue dog from Curacao, Flint and her rainbow babies Paloma and Bea.  

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HORMONAL & PROUD

Created as a brand to help women navigate the toughest moments in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum — and practically every stage of life, the SABI aims to change the narrative around our hormones from one of taboo, embarrassment and loneliness, to awareness and even pride. Much more than a wellness brand, SABI offers a carefully crafted line of products to carry you through your hormonal journey; a set of rituals, supportive tools, and ancient herbal remedies that have been tested time and again by women and now, backed by medicine. SABI is a blend of science and nature conceived by women who have experienced the joys and deep implications of bringing a child into the world, the pains of a heavy and difficult period, miscarriage and difficulty conceiving

Here is an invitation to get to know your body and its cycles better and to really understand what is going on inside. Learn to use your hormonal cycle to your advantage no matter your stage of life, and know that you can always support and balance your hormone levels. Look for the right sources of information, know that there is help, and know that you’re supported.

DISCLAIMER

The SABI blog and articles are not meant to instruct or advise on medical or health conditions, but to inform. The information and opinions presented here do not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals for your unique situation.