10% Pure Vitamin C Serum

Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) used for acne, exfoliation and preservation. Common over-the-counter acne strengths are 0.5-2%, including 0.5%, 1% and 2%; the FDA lists this acne-treatment range. Pregnancy guidance distinguishes these topical products from oral salicylates and strong peels. MotherToBaby reports that ACOG allows over-the-counter topical salicylic acid during pregnancy when needed. Only a small amount of topical acne treatment usually reaches the bloodstream through intact skin; exposure can increase with damaged skin, frequent use or treatment of large areas. Direct salicylic-acid-specific pregnancy data remain limited. MamaSkin's Low Risk rating is a dose-and-use precaution, not evidence that ordinary low-strength skincare causes fetal harm or a recommendation to avoid every BHA product. Use as directed on limited areas of intact skin. Discuss strengths above 2%, chemical peels, wart/corn removers, large-area treatment or use under occlusion with your clinician before use during pregnancy. The American Academy of Dermatology specifically advises discussing and limiting higher-strength salicylic acid above 2%. Percentage alone does not establish safety: formulation, area, frequency and skin condition also matter. General cosmetic-use limits are not pregnancy-specific safety thresholds.

Sources: https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/topical-acne-treatments-pregnancy/; https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/routine/pregnancy-skin-care; https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/omuf/monographs/OTC%20Monograph_M006-Topical%20Acne%20drug%20products%20for%20OTC%20Human%20Use%2011.23.2021.pdf; https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/salicylic-acid-cas-no-69-72-7-ec-no-200-712-3_en; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500675/

A high-molecular-weight polymer used as a film former, binder and texture ingredient. Cosmetic-grade polyacrylamide is considered safe when residual acrylamide monomer is tightly controlled. MamaSkin classifies it as low risk because safety depends on manufacturing controls for the hazardous residual monomer, rather than because the finished polymer is a known pregnancy-specific hazard.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment and Re-Review of Polyacrylamide https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/RR_Polyacrylamide.pdf; EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009, Annex III residual acrylamide limits https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32009R1223

No matched ingredient rating is available yet. Not assessed does not mean safe or unsafe.

Water (Aqua) is the standard purified water used as a cosmetic solvent. It has no pregnancy-specific risk in normal topical use.

Sources: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Water, https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredient-database/cosing-glossary-ingredients_en

Vitamin C antioxidant used to support brightness and photoprotection; functions as an antioxidant/pH adjuster in cosmetic formulas. No pregnancy-specific contraindications are identified for topical cosmetic use.

Sources: CIR (Ascorbic Acid); PubMed (NLM)

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

Volatile solvent used to improve texture, drying time, and penetration in some formulas. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support current cosmetic use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical concern identified in the material reviewed; the main practical issue is dryness, stinging, or barrier disruption in some users.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of SD Alcohol 40, Benzyl Alcohol, and Denatured Alcohol in Cosmetic Products; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

A strongly alkaline raw material used mainly in small amounts to adjust pH or during soap manufacture. Concentrated potassium hydroxide is corrosive, but that raw-material hazard is not representative of a correctly formulated finished cosmetic. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that inorganic hydroxides are safe in current cosmetic uses when products are formulated to be non-irritating, with special handling conditions for depilatories and hair straighteners. No pregnancy-specific concern is identified for normal use of a compliant finished product.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Inorganic Hydroxides as Used in Cosmetics https://www.cir-safety.org/supplementaldoc/safety-assessment-inorganic-hydroxides-used-cosmetics-0

A silicone resin used as a film former, texture enhancer and opacifying ingredient in makeup, sunscreen and skin care. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review concluded that polysilsesquioxanes including Polymethylsilsesquioxane are safe in current cosmetic use. Available evidence does not identify a pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific concern for normal topical cosmetic exposure.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Polysilsesquioxanes as Used in Cosmetics (Final Report) https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/PLYSIL122017FR.pdf

Propylene glycol is a common solvent and humectant with a long history of use; it is not considered a pregnancy or breastfeeding concern in topical cosmetics, though some individuals may experience irritation in leave-on products.

Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation

A high-molecular-weight tetraester used as an emollient, binder and texture agent. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that pentaerythrityl tetraesters, including pentaerythrityl tetraethylhexanoate, are safe in current practices of use and concentration. Dermal penetration is expected to be low.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Pentaerythrityl Tetraesters as Used in Cosmetics https://cir-reports.cir-safety.org/view-attachment/?id=7a10a771-8e74-ec11-8943-0022482f06a6

A purified branched hydrocarbon used as an emollient, solvent and texture agent. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that the assessed isoparaffins, including C13-14 isoparaffin, are safe in current practices of use and concentration.

Sources: CIR: Isoparaffins conclusion, IJT 31(Suppl. 3), 2012; December 2025 Quick Reference Table https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/QRT-Update-Dec2025.pdf

Vitamin E antioxidant used to protect oils and support the skin barrier. Not associated with pregnancy-specific concerns at cosmetic exposure.

Sources: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US); Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU)

Sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid salt) is used for hydration and cushioning, with very low systemic absorption from topical use and no known pregnancy or breastfeeding concerns at cosmetic concentrations.

Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation

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

Skin-conditioning ingredient commonly used in leave-on skincare. 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 Adenosine Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

Synthetic acetylated peptide ester used in topical soothing, skin-conditioning and anti-aging cosmetic formulas. Available cosmetic ingredient references do not identify a pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific concern for normal topical cosmetic use.

Sources: Schagen SK. Topical Peptide Treatments with Effective Anti-Aging Results. Cosmetics. 2017;4(2):16. doi:10.3390/cosmetics4020016; EU CosIng / INCI cosmetic ingredient references.

peg-20 methyl glucose sesquistearate is used as a cosmetic surfactant, emulsifier or conditioning agent. Relevant cosmetic-safety assessments support use when formulated to be non-irritating and with appropriate impurity controls. Local skin or eye irritation is possible at higher concentrations, but no pregnancy-specific concern was identified for normal topical or rinse-off use.

Sources: CIR safety assessments of alkyl PEG ethers, N-acyl taurates, fatty amidopropyl amines and related cosmetic surfactants https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/taurat122015FR.pdf; CIR Quick Reference Table https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/QRT-Update-Dec2025.pdf

poloxamer 338 is a cosmetic polymer or polymeric formulation aid. The reviewed material is distinct from any free reactive monomers; systemic dermal absorption is expected to be limited by molecular size when manufactured with appropriate impurity controls. No pregnancy-specific concern was identified for normal cosmetic use, although products should be formulated to avoid irritation.

Sources: CIR polymer safety assessments and Quick Reference Table https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/QRT-Update-Dec2025.pdf; European Commission CosIng ingredient inventory

A high-molecular-weight polymer used to thicken and stabilise formulas. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that acryloyldimethyltaurate polymers are safe in current cosmetic practices. Absorption of the finished polymer is expected to be limited, with residual monomers controlled during manufacture.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Acryloyldimethyltaurate Polymers as Used in Cosmetics; final report April 2017 https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/QRT-Update-Dec2025.pdf

Natural polysaccharide thickener used for stability and texture. Not associated with pregnancy-specific concerns.

Sources: European cosmetics regulatory framework

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)

Disodium EDTA is a chelating agent used to improve formula stability and performance; it is considered low concern in topical cosmetic use, with no known pregnancy or breastfeeding risks at typical concentrations.

Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation

An ethoxylated fatty alcohol used mainly as an emulsifier, surfactant or solubiliser. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that alkyl PEG/PPG ethers are safe in current practices when formulated to be non-irritating. Manufacturing controls should limit residual ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Alkyl PEG/PPG Ethers as Used in Cosmetics https://cir-safety.org/supplementaldoc/safety-assessment-alkyl-peg/ppg-ethers-used-cosmetics