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 23 March 2026. 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.
20
No known risks
3
Low risk
0
Medium risk
0
High risk
Ingredients with a higher risk flag appear first, followed by the rest of the formula.
AAD guidance deems limited topical use acceptable during pregnancy. Limited systemic absorption; use under healthcare advice during pregnancy.
Sources: MotherToBaby: Topical acne treatments in pregnancy and breastfeeding https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582985/
Salicylate derivative used in cosmetics; low-strength topical use has low systemic absorption and is generally considered low risk in pregnancy. Avoid high-strength peels/large-area use.
Sources: MotherToBaby: Topical acne treatments including salicylic acid https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582985/
Alpha-hydroxy acid exfoliant. Listed by MotherToBaby as a common OTC topical acne ingredient used during pregnancy; when used as directed, OTC topical acne treatments are not expected to increase pregnancy complications. For consumer cosmetics, safety guidance commonly frames AHAs as safe at ≤10% (with appropriate pH and daily sun protection). Avoid high-strength/professional peels during pregnancy.
Sources: MotherToBaby: Topical acne treatments in pregnancy and breastfeeding https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582985/
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
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
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
An anionic surfactant used mainly to cleanse and create foam in shampoos, washes and facial cleansers. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that sodium alpha-olefin sulfonates are safe as used in rinse-off products and safe at low concentrations in leave-on products when formulated to be non-irritating. Concentrated surfactant can irritate skin or eyes, but no pregnancy-specific concern was identified for normal use of a correctly formulated finished cosmetic.
Sources: CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Sodium Alpha-Olefin Sulfonates https://cir-reports.cir-safety.org/view-attachment/?id=7c154447-8e74-ec11-8943-0022482f06a6
Natural polysaccharide thickener used for stability and texture. Not associated with pregnancy-specific concerns.
Sources: European cosmetics regulatory framework
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
Sodium chloride is used to adjust viscosity and texture in formulations; topical cosmetic use is considered low concern with no known pregnancy or breastfeeding risks.
Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation
Buffering and chelating ingredient used to control pH and formulation stability. 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 Citric Acid, Inorganic Citrate Salts, and Alkyl Citrate Esters as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
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
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
Solvent and humectant used to improve texture and ingredient solubility. Low systemic exposure expected from topical cosmetic use.
Sources: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US); Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU)
diethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate is 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, but no pregnancy-specific concern was identified for normal topical or rinse-off use.
Sources: CIR assessments of alkyl PEG/PPG ethers, amino-acid surfactants, sulfosuccinates and related conditioning agents; CIR Quick Reference Table https://www.cir-safety.org/supplementaldoc/quick-reference-table-december-2025
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)
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
Humectant and preservative booster. Considered safe for cosmetic use with low systemic exposure.
Sources: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US); Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU)
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
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
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
pH adjuster used in small amounts to maintain product stability. Not associated with pregnancy-specific concerns.
Sources: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU); European cosmetics regulatory framework
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.
