Safety score
Pregnancy-focused assessment
One or more ingredients have a low-risk flag in MamaSkin's current assessment. Review the notes and your own circumstances.
Formula and assessment check
Ingredient safety review updated 9 December 2025. Product formulas can change, so compare the ingredients shown here with the packaging you have.
Report a formula mismatchSee how the listed formula falls across MamaSkin's pregnancy-focused risk bands.
25
No known risks
2
Low risk
0
Medium risk
0
High risk
Ingredients with a higher risk flag appear first, followed by the rest of the formula.
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid used for exfoliation. Low-strength topical use (up to 2%) on limited areas is generally considered low risk. Higher concentrations, large-area use, or professional peels are avoided during pregnancy due to systemic absorption concerns.
Sources: PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), NHS, MotherToBaby (OTIS), UKTIS (BUMPS)
Polyhydroxy acid (PHA) used as a gentle exfoliant/humectant; generally less irritating than AHAs due to lower penetration. Considered safe as used in cosmetics, with no pregnancy-specific contraindications identified at topical cosmetic concentrations.
Sources: PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM)
An anionic cleansing surfactant. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is safe in rinse-off cosmetics and in leave-on products up to 5%, provided it is not used in ways that promote nitrosamine formation or inhalation. No pregnancy-specific concern was identified under those conditions.
Sources: CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Cocoyl Sarcosine and Related Sarcosinates https://cir-reports.cir-safety.org/view-attachment?id=915a3c2f-8e74-ec11-8943-0022482f06a6
An amphoteric cleansing and foam-supporting surfactant. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that sultaines, including cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, are safe in current practices when formulas are non-irritating and impurities and nitrosamine formation are controlled. Rare contact allergy remains possible.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Sultaines as Used in Cosmetics https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/sultaines_0.pdf
Glycerin is a widely used humectant that supports hydration and the skin barrier, with a long safety record and no known pregnancy or breastfeeding concerns in topical cosmetic use.
Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is widely used for barrier support and tone/texture benefits, and is generally considered safe in pregnancy and breastfeeding when used topically at cosmetic concentrations.
Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation
A mild anionic surfactant derived from fatty acids and methyltaurate, used mainly in cleansers and shampoos. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that the reviewed taurate surfactants, including sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, are safe in current cosmetic use when formulated to be non-irritating. No pregnancy-specific concern is identified for normal topical exposure.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Alkyl Taurate Amides and Taurate Salts https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/taurat122015FR.pdf
An ethoxylated ester used as a thickener and emulsifier. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that PEG-150 pentaerythrityl tetrastearate is safe in current practices. Manufacturing should control ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane residues.
Sources: CIR: PEG Pentaerythrityl Esters final assessment, June 2014; December 2025 Quick Reference Table https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/QRT-Update-Dec2025.pdf
Skin-identical barrier lipid used to support the stratum corneum and reduce dryness. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support normal topical use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical signal identified in the material reviewed.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Ceramides as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
Skin-identical barrier lipid used to support barrier function and reduce dryness. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support normal topical use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical signal identified in the material reviewed.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Ceramides as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
Skin-identical barrier lipid used to support barrier structure and reduce dryness. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support normal topical use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical signal identified in the material reviewed.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Ceramides as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
Polymer thickener used to create gel textures. Large-molecule ingredient with negligible systemic absorption.
Sources: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US); Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU)
The calcium salt of gluconic acid, used mainly as a skin-conditioning or formulation-support ingredient. Cosmetic safety reviewers included calcium gluconate in their assessment of monosaccharides, disaccharides and related ingredients and concluded that the reviewed ingredients are safe in current cosmetic use. No pregnancy-specific concern is identified for normal topical exposure.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Related Ingredients https://www.cir-safety.org/supplementaldoc/safety-assessment-monosaccharides-disaccharides-and-related-ingredients-used-cosme-0
An ester of citric acid and ethanol used as a solvent, deodorant ingredient and fragrance carrier. Cosmetic safety reviewers assessed triethyl citrate with citric acid, citrate salts and alkyl citrate esters and concluded that the group is safe in current cosmetic use when formulated to avoid irritation. Triethyl citrate is also an established food-use substance, and no pregnancy-specific concern is identified for normal topical cosmetic exposure.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Citric Acid, Inorganic Citrate Salts, and Alkyl Citrate Esters https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24861367/
Preservative widely used in foods and cosmetics. Considered safe at regulated concentrations with low systemic exposure from topical use.
Sources: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU); European cosmetics regulatory framework
pH adjuster used in very small quantities to balance formulations. Not associated with pregnancy-specific concerns.
Sources: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU); European cosmetics regulatory framework
An emulsifier and surfactant made from lauric and lactic-acid components. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that alkyl lactyl lactates, including sodium lauroyl lactylate, are safe in current practices when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitising. No pregnancy-specific concern was identified for normal cosmetic use.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Alkyl Lactyl Lactates as Used in Cosmetics https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/alkylL062019final.pdf
Skin-conditioning lipid used in barrier-support formulas, often alongside ceramides and fatty acids. Normal topical cosmetic use has no known pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific concern identified in reviewed cosmetic references.
Sources: CIR cosmetic ingredient safety references for cholesterol and related sterols; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
Chelating agent used to stabilise formulations; minimal dermal absorption and no known pregnancy or breastfeeding risks at typical cosmetic concentrations.
Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation
Humectant and preservative booster used to support product stability. Low systemic exposure expected from topical cosmetic use.
Sources: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU); Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US)
Humectant and skin-conditioning ingredient in the hyaluronate family. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support current cosmetic use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical concern identified in the material reviewed.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Hyaluronates as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
Chelating ingredient used to improve formula stability by binding trace metals. Reviewed cosmetic ingredient references do not identify a pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific concern for normal topical use.
Sources: CIR cosmetic ingredient safety references for chelating agents; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
Natural polysaccharide thickener used for stability and texture. Not associated with pregnancy-specific concerns.
Sources: European cosmetics regulatory framework
Skin-conditioning lipid used in barrier-support formulas, commonly alongside ceramides and cholesterol. Reviewed cosmetic ingredient references do not identify a pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific concern for normal topical use.
Sources: CIR cosmetic ingredient safety references for sphingolipids/skin-conditioning lipids; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
Preservative acid used to help control microbial growth and support formula stability. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support current cosmetic use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical concern identified in the material reviewed; some users may still notice local irritation or stinging, especially on compromised skin.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Benzoic Acid and Sodium Benzoate as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
Formulations can change without notice. For the most accurate result, compare this list with your packaging and scan the exact ingredient label in MamaSkin when you repurchase.
The risk band is the primary conclusion. The score adds detail within that band and should not be used to compare products as if a one-point difference were clinically meaningful.
MamaSkin provides pregnancy-focused information, not medical advice. Your midwife, GP, pharmacist or dermatologist should take priority when your circumstances differ from typical cosmetic use.
