Feeling a little puffy? It’s really normal for feet, ankles and even fingers to swell up during pregnancy. It’s just your body holding onto more water than usual and can be worse in hot weather or if you’ve been standing for a long period. If you can, try and put your feet up (higher than your heart is best), regularly bend, stretch and rotate your feet to improve circulation and try one of these cooling, refreshing beauty buys to instantly soothe and de-puff hot, tired, heavy legs.
Cooling and de-puffing pregnancy beauty buys
1 of 10Bloom & Blossom Revitalising Leg and Foot Spray, £14, bloomandblossom.com
Seriously refreshing on hot, swollen legs, this natural spray instantly soothes and de-puffs. Not just your average cooling spray, horse chestnut seed and yellow sweet clover extracts have a proven anti-inflammatory effect, reducing swelling and the prevention of varicose veins. Not only a pregnancy must-have, stash in your handbag for cooling down on hot summer days and holidays.
2 of 10Natural Birthing Company Cool It Mama Spritz, £15.99, naturalbirthingcompany.co.uk
This gently-scented, aromatherapy spray with a blend of pure essential oils, flower essences and menthol not only de-puffs heavy legs, it can relieve nausea, cool during labour and give your mood a lift if you’re experiencing the ‘baby blues’.
3 of 10Mama Mio Lucky Legs Cooling Energising Leg Gel, £19.50, mioskincare.co.uk
Just when you feel like your legs are about to give up, massage in this light gel-cream. Menthol eases tired muscles, ginger root extract helps improve circulation, tangerine oil extract de-puffs and calms, while coconut oil reduces the pain of swollen ankles and deeply hydrates skin.
4 of 10Mama Bee Leg & Foot Creme, £12.99, burtsbees.co.uk
If you’re suffering from dry skin during pregnancy, or prefer a comforting formula, this rich cream nourishes, while the peppermint oil and rosemary extract stimulates and revives heavy legs.
5 of 10Elemis Instant Refreshing Gel, £30, timetospa.co.uk
If you need cooling relief, are commuting during the summer, or just feel like your legs are made of lead, apply this gel to trouble areas. Loaded with arnica, birch and witch hazel, cooling camphor and menthol, it reduces swelling, but it’s also brilliant for muscle tension, bruising and great massaged into temples and forehead to relieve headaches.
6 of 10The Spoiled Mama Cucumber & Aloe Vera Leg Gel, £24, effortlessskin.com
This light, refreshing gel not only eases uncomfortable fluid retention, it’s great for soothing sunburned or dry skin, puffy eyes and itchy or irritated skin. A great multi-tasking product.
7 of 10Crabtree & Evelyn La Source Reviving Foot & Leg Mist, £10, crabtree-evelyn.co.uk
Faster and more convenient than a gel or cream, this cooling spray gives immediate relief. Formulated with peppermint oil, menthol to stimulate, as well as a natural deodoriser to keep feet fresh.
8 of 10The Organic Pharmacy Bilberry Complex Cream, £15.95, theorganicpharmacy.com
An extremely soothing cream, with ginger and aesculus to improve circulation and de-puff legs and feet (and hands if your rings are fit-to-bursting). Bilberry, horse chestnut and witch hazel support capillaries too.
9 of 10Weleda Foot Balm, £8.95, weleda.co.uk
This non-greasy, 100% natural balm is loaded with therapeutic essential oils – soothing lavender, invigorating rosemary and citrusy sweet orange to keep feet fresh. Organic calendula has an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect and soothes inflamed skin.
10 of 10M&S Pure Mum To Be Foot & Leg Gel, £6, marksandspencer.com
This affordable mum-to-be skincare line is mild, gentle and approved by midwifes and suitable for even very sensitive skins. This light, tingly gel brings tired, swollen legs and feet back to life again.