Hormone-Safe Skincare as a Breastfeeding Gift: Why What You Put on Your Skin Matters

By Anna Cave-Bigley 

Since I began breastfeeding, I became obsessed with everything I ate and drank. I researched the best foods for milk supply, I sipped our SABI herbal teas to calm my nervous system, and I counted glasses of water like they were currency. But what I didn’t realise at the time was that one of the biggest exposures to hormone disruptors wasn’t in my kitchen, it was in my bathroom cabinet.

I thought of skincare as something surface-level. But postpartum, when my hormones were already in freefall, my skin was dry, reactive, and breaking out in ways I hadn’t seen since adolescence. That was the moment I started reading ingredient labels with the same scrutiny I gave to food, and I discovered something confronting: many mainstream products marketed to women contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). For a breastfeeding mother, already navigating plummeting oestrogen, surging prolactin, and cortisol spikes from sleep deprivation, those ingredients aren’t just irrelevant,  they’re risky.

That realisation shaped years ago how Hilary, my co-founder developed The SABI’s hormone-safe skincare range.

The Skin Isn’t a Wall, It’s a Gateway

The skin barrier is powerful, but it isn’t impenetrable. Compounds that are small, fat-soluble, and stable can pass through into the bloodstream. Up to 60% of topically applied ingredients may be absorbed depending on the molecule and formulation.

For breastfeeding mothers, that means skincare isn’t just cosmetic, it’s a daily hormonal decision. Here’s what you often find in conventional products:

• Parabens (preservatives) → mimic oestrogen and have been found in breast tissue.

• Phthalates (commonly hidden under “fragrance”) → linked to altered reproductive hormone levels and disrupted androgen balance.
  Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) → strips the skin barrier, worsening postpartum dryness and irritation.

• Synthetic musks (in perfumes and creams) → bioaccumulate in the body and have been detected in breastmilk.

For mothers recovering from birth, these exposures come at the exact time when hormonal balance is already fragile.

Postpartum Skin: Why It’s More Vulnerable

The postpartum period is a hormonal storm.

• Oestrogen and progesterone drop → leaving skin dry, less elastic, and more reactive.
  

• Androgen rebound → can trigger breakouts and acne flares.
  

• Cortisol remains high from stress and sleep loss → slowing repair and inflaming sensitivity.
  

• Prolactin rises to sustain milk → altering sebaceous gland activity and skin oil balance.
  

This explains why so many mothers notice new skin challenges: dry patches, irritation, breakouts, even conditions like eczema resurfacing. Using harsh, fragranced, or chemically loaded products only adds fuel to an already stressed system.

A Hormone-Safe Alternative

When we designed The SABI skincare range, we treated formulation like nutrition: if we wouldn’t want it in our bloodstream, why would we put it on our skin?

• The Active Nutrient Serum
  Built around rosehip oil,  rich in Vitamin A and essential fatty acids, it helps restore barrier function and fade hormonal pigmentation. Hyaluronic acid holds water at a cellular level, bringing back hydration depleted by low oestrogen. Niacinamide calms inflammation and redness. All without parabens or phthalates.
  

• The Reviving Face Mist
   More than a refresher: grapefruit water brings natural Vitamin C, while sage hydrosol supports antimicrobial balance. Crucially, it’s fragrance-free, so you don’t inhale or absorb synthetic musks while feeding. A reset for skin and mind between feeds.
  

• The Prebiotic Face & Body Cream
   Hormonal shifts can destabilise the skin microbiome. Our prebiotic blend helps rebuild it, while nourishing oils (shea, almond, jojoba) repair dryness. 99.7% natural, designed for barrier resilience, without SLS, parabens, or hormone disruptors.
  

Why This Is the Smarter Breastfeeding Gift

When you give hormone-safe skincare to a breastfeeding mother, you’re not just giving her a cream or serum. You’re giving her:

• Peace of mind → knowing what’s on her skin won’t disrupt her hormones or appear in breastmilk.
  

• Restoration → targeted support for dryness, sensitivity, or acne without harsh chemicals.
  

• A ritual of self-respect → 60 seconds to remind herself she matters as much as the baby.
  

Unlike flowers or baby clothes, skincare that is safe, effective, and rooted in science becomes a gift that truly honours her recovery.

We spend so much time talking about what breastfeeding women should eat or drink, but so little about what they put on their skin. Yet the evidence is clear: endocrine disruptors in beauty products are real, measurable, and avoidable.

Hormone-safe skincare is not indulgence,  it’s an overlooked pillar of postpartum care. It is both science and symbolism: science in protecting the mother’s body, symbolism in reminding her she deserves care that is as considered as the care she gives.

And that’s why we built The SABI range: to ensure mothers never have to choose between beauty and biology.

ABOUT ANNA

Anna is a Co-founder of The SABI and has spent the past 13 years working in or for governments, senior businessmen and politicians around the world. Living in Bogota, Colombia, she recently renovated one of Colombia’s oldest and most iconic coffee estates, developing a unique taste and travel experience. She lives with her husband and three boys Lorenzo, Alfie and Salvador who are responsible for the beautiful journey that inspired her to pursue The Sabi.

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 is changing the narrative around our hormones from one of taboo, embarrassment, and loneliness to awareness and even, pride. As more than a wellness brand, The SABI offers a carefully-crafted line of products to carry you through your hormonal journey, including rituals, supportive tools, and ancient herbal remedies that have been tested time and time again by women and now come backed by medicine. The SABI is a blend of science and nature conceived by women who have experienced the joys and deep struggles of bringing a child into the world, the pains of a heavy, difficult period, miscarriage, and difficulty conceiving.

We invite you to get to know your body and its cycles better –– to really understand what is going on inside. Learn to use your hormones to your advantage no matter your stage of life, and know that you can support and balance your hormone levels. We are here to help with the information, understanding and natural tools to support your body and the emotional process along with it.

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.

References

1. Monteiro-Riviere NA, et al. Skin absorption and systemic exposure. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2011.
   
   

2. Darbre PD, et al. Parabens detected in human breast tissue. J Appl Toxicol. 2004.
   
   

3. Meeker JD, et al. Phthalates and reproductive hormones. Fertil Steril. 2009.
   
   

4. Reiner JL, Kannan K. Synthetic musks in human tissue and milk. Environ Sci Technol. 2006.
   
   

5. WHO & UNEP. State of the Science of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals. 2013.