HCG is known as the “pregnancy hormone” for a reason: it’s produced around a developing embryo by the cells that will become the placenta. Because of this, HCG is the hormone that is measured to confirm a pregnancy. During pregnancy, HCG acts as something of a manager of estrogen and progesterone, increasing their production and maintaining their balance to facilitate the health of both mom and baby. While it has no known direct effects on skin, it plays a supporting role in the work of estrogen and progesterone, which take credit for a myriad of benefits including that coveted “glow.”