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.
16
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.
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: MotherToBaby: Topical acne treatments in pregnancy and breastfeeding https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582985/
Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid used for exfoliation and as a preservative. Exposure depends on concentration, product category, treated area, frequency, skin condition and inhalation or oral potential. Current SCCS assessments support specified cosmetic uses and restrictions; ordinary limited-area low-strength topical use is not equivalent to a professional peel, large-area leave-on treatment or oral salicylate exposure. MamaSkin retains Low Risk with those route and exposure qualifications.
Sources: SCCS/1646/22: Final Opinion on Salicylic Acid https://health.ec.europa.eu/latest-updates/sccs-final-opinion-salicylic-acid-2023-06-09_en; SCCS follow-up on children's exposure https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/sccs-opinion-salicylic-acid-cas-no-69-72-7-ec-no-200-712-3-childrens-exposure_en
Plant-derived chelating antioxidant and mild exfoliant, often used at 1–2% in brightening and resurfacing formulas. Available data and expert reviews do not show reproductive toxicity at topical cosmetic doses; main issue is potential irritation in over-exfoliating routines. Frequently included among chemical exfoliants considered acceptable in pregnancy when used in moderation.
Sources: CIR: Phytic acid ingredient safety information https://www.cir-safety.org/ingredient/phytic-acid
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
Solvent and humectant commonly used in leave-on products. Not associated with pregnancy-specific concerns at cosmetic exposure levels.
Sources: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US); Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU)
peg/ppg/polybutylene glycol-8/5/3 glycerin is a high-molecular-weight cosmetic polymer or film former. Dermal absorption is expected to be limited when manufactured with appropriate residual-monomer and impurity controls. Relevant CIR polymer assessments did not identify a pregnancy-specific concern for normal topical use; airborne powder or spray droplets should not be inhaled.
Sources: CIR Amended Safety Assessment of Acrylates Copolymers https://cir-safety.org/ingredient/acrylates-copolymer; CIR vinylpyrrolidone-polymer assessment.
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
Humectant and preservative booster. Considered safe for cosmetic use with low systemic exposure.
Sources: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US); Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU)
A glucose-derived humectant and conditioning ingredient. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that methyl gluceth-20 is safe as used in cosmetics; reviewed skin testing did not indicate sensitisation. No pregnancy-specific concern was identified for normal topical cosmetic exposure.
Sources: CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Methyl Gluceth-10 and Methyl Gluceth-20 https://cir-reports.cir-safety.org/view-attachment?id=fb9dc889-8e74-ec11-8943-0022482f06a6
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
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
Cellulose-derived thickener used to build viscosity and improve texture. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support normal topical use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical signal identified in the material reviewed.
Sources: CIR Quick Reference Table / ingredient status (Hydroxyethylcellulose, Final Report 03/2009); EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
Preservative used to help protect formulas from microbial growth. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support present cosmetic use; no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical concern was identified in the material reviewed, although some users may still notice local irritation or sensitivity.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Chlorphenesin 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
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
A brown-algae-derived extract used for skin conditioning and hydration. Cosmetic safety reviewers specifically included this ingredient in the small subset of brown algae extracts found safe in current practices of use and concentration. Manufacturers should control naturally occurring iodine, arsenic and heavy-metal impurities.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Brown Algae-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics https://cir-reports.cir-safety.org/view-attachment/?id=c6b5b3d7-8c74-ec11-8943-0022482f06a6
Synthetic peptide mimetic used in topical cosmetic anti-aging formulas, often described as a neurotransmitter-inhibiting or expression-line peptide. 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.
Synthetic peptide used as a skin-conditioning ingredient. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources do not indicate a known pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific concern in normal topical cosmetic use. The available cosmetic safety assessment concluded this ingredient is safe in cosmetics at concentrations up to 0.005%; safety above that concentration was not established in the reviewed report.
Sources: CIR Expert Panel, Safety Assessment of Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Amide as Used in Cosmetics, final report, 2021
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.
