The INKEY List Azelaic Acid 10% for Redness Relief by The INKEY List
The INKEY List

The INKEY List Azelaic Acid 10% for Redness Relief

Serums

Safety score

Pregnancy-focused assessment

Low Risk75/100
Higher concernLower concern

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 mismatch

MamaSkin assessment · 9 December 2025

Is The INKEY List Azelaic Acid 10% for Redness Relief suitable during pregnancy?

MamaSkin currently classifies The INKEY List Azelaic Acid 10% for Redness Relief as Low risk, with a stored score of 75/100. This is a precautionary classification, not an unqualified pregnancy-safe recommendation. Read the ingredient context and any manual-review explanation below.

What does the ingredient evidence show?

The recorded formula includes 2 ingredient entries with risk flags: Azelaic Acid (Low risk), Phenoxyethanol (Low risk). These are ingredient-level flags; they do not replace the stored product assessment or account for every formulation detail.

17 of 17 ingredient entries on this page have a recorded score, evidence summary and source text. That describes documentation coverage, not proof that the finished formula has been clinically tested during pregnancy.

Ingredient breakdown

See how the listed formula falls across MamaSkin's pregnancy-focused risk bands.

15

No known risks

2

Low risk

0

Medium risk

0

High risk

Ingredients

Ingredients with a higher risk flag appear first, followed by the rest of the formula.

Phenoxyethanol

Low Risk

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative permitted in EU cosmetics up to 1.0%. The SCCS concluded it is safe for cosmetic use at that level, including when considering higher cosmetic exposure scenarios in infants and young children. Main practical concern is irritation/stinging on very sensitive or compromised skin rather than a pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific risk.

Sources: SCCS/1575/16: Phenoxyethanol opinion https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/phenoxyethanol_en

Azelaic Acid

Low Risk

Azelaic acid is used topically for acne and pigmentation. MotherToBaby reports that ACOG lists OTC azelaic acid among ingredients that can be used during pregnancy if needed. Product information for 20% azelaic acid states that adequate controlled pregnancy studies are lacking, reports reassuring animal data and estimates about 3.6% absorption after a single topical dose. MamaSkin retains Low Risk while avoiding a categorical “pregnancy-safe” claim.

Sources: MotherToBaby: Topical Acne Treatments https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582985/, Skinoren 20% cream product information https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/285/smpc

Water

No Known Risks

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

Show all (17)

Propanediol

No Known Risks

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)

Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

No Known Risks

Large polymer thickener, stabilizer and texture ingredient used in gels, creams and sunscreens. Systemic exposure from topical cosmetic use is expected to be low, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific concern identified in reviewed cosmetic references.

Sources: CIR cosmetic ingredient safety references for acrylates copolymers; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

Acacia Senegal Gum

No Known Risks

A large plant-derived polysaccharide gum used as a binder and film former. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review reaffirmed it as safe in current cosmetic use. Rare allergy and control of pesticide or heavy-metal impurities remain practical considerations, but no pregnancy-specific concern is identified for normal topical exposure.

Sources: CIR: Amended Safety Assessment of Acacia Senegal Gum and Acacia Senegal Gum Extract https://www.cir-safety.org/supplementaldoc/amended-safety-assessment-acacia-senegal-gum-and-acacia-senegal-gum-extract-used-cos

Xanthan Gum

No Known Risks

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

Sources: European cosmetics regulatory framework

Allantoin

No Known Risks

Allantoin is a soothing skin protectant commonly used to help reduce irritation and support comfort, with no known pregnancy or breastfeeding concerns in topical cosmetic use.

Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation

Glycerin

No Known Risks

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

Ethylhexylglycerin

No Known Risks

Preservative booster and skin-conditioning agent. Considered safe for cosmetic use with low systemic exposure when used as intended.

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

Polysorbate 60

No Known Risks

Nonionic emulsifier and solubilizer used to help oil and water phases mix. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support normal topical use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical signal identified.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Polysorbates as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

Sorbitan Isostearate

No Known Risks

Emulsifier used to help oil and water phases remain mixed. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support topical use in cosmetics; the main practical issue is irritation potential in some formulas rather than a pregnancy-specific concern.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Sorbitan Esters as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

Maltodextrin

No Known Risks

Polysaccharide carrier and bulking agent used for texture and delivery support. 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 Polysaccharide Gums as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

Sodium Hydroxide

No Known Risks

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

Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract

No Known Risks

A botanical extract, juice or water used primarily for skin conditioning, moisturising, soothing or antioxidant support. Direct pregnancy studies of the named cosmetic material were not identified. No reproductive or developmental hazard was identified for normal topical exposure to a compliant finished cosmetic; oral herbal or medicinal use is outside this classification.

Sources: European Commission CosIng ingredient inventory; Cosmetic Ingredient Review botanical safety-assessment framework and relevant plant-family assessments. No ingredient-specific human pregnancy study of normal topical cosmetic use was identified.

Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract

No Known Risks

A fruit, seed or food-plant extract used for skin conditioning and antioxidant support. No pregnancy-specific signal was identified for the low topical exposure expected from a finished cosmetic. Direct pregnancy studies are generally unavailable, and botanical allergy remains possible.

Sources: European Commission CosIng ingredient inventory; CIR botanical safety framework and relevant fruit-derived ingredient assessments; peer-reviewed cosmetic and phytochemical literature for the named plants.

Polylysine

No Known Risks

polylysine is an amino acid, peptide, protein-related or glycosaminoglycan cosmetic conditioning ingredient. Expected systemic exposure from normal topical use is low, and relevant cosmetic-family assessments did not identify a pregnancy-specific concern. Manufacturing quality and residual allergenic proteins remain relevant where applicable.

Sources: CIR assessments of alpha-amino acids, plant-derived amino acids, proteins and peptides https://www.cir-safety.org/supplementaldoc/safety-assessment-%CE%B1-amino-acids-used-cosmetics; European Commission CosIng

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.

Questions about this assessment

Has every ingredient in The INKEY List Azelaic Acid 10% for Redness Relief been assessed?

17 of 17 ingredient entries on this page have a recorded score, evidence summary and source text. That describes documentation coverage, not proof that the finished formula has been clinically tested during pregnancy.

Does this assessment apply to the The INKEY List Azelaic Acid 10% for Redness Relief I have?

Only if the ingredient list on your packaging matches the recorded formula shown here. Formulas can differ by market and change over time. Compare the full list, not just the product name; report a mismatch if it differs.

Does this pregnancy assessment also establish breastfeeding suitability?

No. This page presents a pregnancy-focused product assessment. Do not infer a breastfeeding conclusion from its score or label; breastfeeding requires a separate assessment of the formula and how it is used.

How to use this assessment

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.

Read the full methodology