My Year Without Injectables: The Serums I’m Using Instead
I'm Adore Beauty's resident beauty newbie. Before working at Adore, I was travelling the world for 4 months with just one tiny tube of Jurlique moisturiser. I washed my face with warm water and used olive oil as a deep conditioning treatment. Oh, how things have changed!
I knew pregnancy would come with certain sacrifices: My favourite jeans, supermarket sushi and sleeping through the night. What I didn’t expect was the thing that would hit my vanity the hardest: no injectables.
For someone who has a strict quarterly appointment with my injector, the thought of going a full year without them felt… confronting.
I spent most of the first trimester unable to brush my teeth without dry heaving, so a consistent skincare routine was out of the question.
I looked in the mirror and sighed, not recognising myself. So I stopped looking in the mirror. I stopped posting to Instagram. My babymoon photos remain hidden from the internet forever.
No glow, no energy and no interest in documenting the hardest nine months of my life.
Why I Stopped Injectables During Pregnancy
Pregnancy skincare is confusing. TikTok comments will tell you everything is toxic, while official advice says most topical skincare has very low systemic absorption.
The general rule I followed was that if something wasn’t medically necessary, it was safer to avoid it because large clinical studies on pregnant women don’t exist.
Some skincare ingredients are generally considered safe because they absorb minimally through the skin; however, others are usually avoided, like hydroquinone and prescription vitamin A.
During pregnancy, two things were happening simultaneously: (1) My Botox was wearing off, and (2) hyperpigmentation was spreading across my cheeks (aka “the mask of pregnancy").
I knew nothing topical could replace injectables, but I wanted ingredients that would soften expression lines and keep my skin bright and hydrated.
Here's what I used...
My Pregnancy Skincare Routine
The Peptide Known for its Injectable-like Effect
Enter: peptides.
Normally, when facial muscles contract, nerve cells release neurotransmitters that trigger muscle movement.
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 works by interfering with the SNARE protein complex, which is the system nerves use to tell muscles to contract.
It basically slightly dampens the signal that tells your muscles to move. The result is that expression lines caused by repetitive movement can appear softer over time. Is it Botox? No.
But I used asap’s N20 peptide complex morning and night and was pleasantly surprised that my forehead and crow’s feet stayed (relatively) smooth.
I love the silky texture and the fact it also contains 20% niacinamide, which helps improve the look of hyperpigmentation.
My Postpartum Approach to Pigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is incredibly common thanks to hormonal shifts that increase melanin production.
Some pigmentation treatments rely on hydroquinone, which is generally avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to higher absorption.
PCA Skin’s Pigment Gel Pro is hydroquinone-free, instead featuring SynerPro Complex, a proprietary technology that uses multiple ingredients that work in synergy to fade discolouration and help protect against the appearance of new dark spots.
For anyone in their hyperpigmentation postpartum era (like me), this kind of multi-ingredient approach can be really helpful.
Vitamin C for Glow
If morning sickness drained the life out of my face, vitamin C brought the glow back.
Medik8’s C-Tetra Advanced uses 20% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a potent form of vitamin C, alongside phyto-exosomoes and hyaluronic acid.
It has a lightweight, cream texture, which is a dream to apply and sits beautifully under makeup.
Hydration and Plumping
SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan serum doesn’t just add hydration, it also contains ingredients designed to support the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid levels, helping maintain bounce and elasticity.
When your skin is well hydrated, fine lines naturally look softer, which is exactly what you want when your Botox has gone MIA after nine months.
I’ve tried A LOT of hydrating serums in my time, but nothing beats this SkinCeuticals HA serum.
It genuinely gives the skin a deep boost of moisture that lasts all day.
The Verdict After a Year Without Injectables
This photo was taken three months postpartum. LOOK AT ME! Wearing makeup and out for dinner. This is a woman whose baby has slept eight hours.
So no, my skin didn’t collapse without injectables. I am actually so happy with it right now; consistency is key!
Will I return to injectables eventually? Maybe. Probably. (Yes. Yes I will.)
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