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 24 November 2025. Product formulas can change, so compare the ingredients shown here with the packaging you have.
Report a formula mismatchMamaSkin assessment · 24 November 2025
MamaSkin currently classifies The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum as Low risk, with a stored score of 76/100. This is a precautionary classification, not an unqualified pregnancy-safe recommendation. Read the ingredient context and any manual-review explanation below.
The recorded formula includes 1 ingredient entry with a risk flag: Phenoxyethanol (Low risk). These are ingredient-level flags; they do not replace the stored product assessment or account for every formulation detail.
22 of 23 ingredient entries on this page have a recorded score, evidence summary and source text. 1 entry does not have all of those fields. Unmatched entries retain the default No known risks label but are not independently assessed here; missing evidence does not establish safety.
See how the listed formula falls across MamaSkin's pregnancy-focused risk bands.
22
No known risks
1
Low risk
0
Medium risk
0
High risk
Ingredients with a higher risk flag appear first, followed by the rest of the formula.
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
Water (aqua) is the purified solvent used as the base of many cosmetics. MamaSkin classifies plain water as No known risks for normal topical use. Cosmetic water quality must be controlled to prevent contamination; this entry does not cover botanical waters or establish the safety of the finished formula.
Sources: Personal Care Products Council, CosmeticsInfo: Water https://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient/water/; FDA: Cosmetic Ingredient Names (Water/Aqua identity) https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling/cosmetic-ingredient-names
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)
Humectant and preservative booster. Considered safe for cosmetic use with low systemic exposure.
Sources: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US); Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU)
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
Crosslinked hyaluronate humectant used to support hydration at the skin surface. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support normal topical use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical signal identified.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Hyaluronates as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
Phospholipid mixture used as a skin-conditioning and delivery-support ingredient. 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 Lecithin and Other Phosphoglycerides as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
A family of long-chain skin lipids used to condition skin and support barrier formulations. Related sphingolipids and ceramide components occur naturally in human skin. Systemic exposure from topical cosmetic use is expected to be low, and no pregnancy-specific hazard signal was identified. Source purity and local tolerability remain relevant.
Sources: CIR assessments of Ceramides and related skin lipids; European Commission CosIng ingredient inventory; peer-reviewed dermatology literature on topical sphingolipids and skin-barrier function.
Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) is used for soothing and barrier support and is generally well tolerated, with no known pregnancy or breastfeeding concerns in topical cosmetic use.
Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation
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
Nonionic surfactant and solubiliser used to disperse oils and fragrance. 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 Polysorbates as Used in Cosmetics; 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
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
An aromatic acid used for fragrance, pH adjustment and preservative support. No pregnancy-specific concern was identified for the low topical exposure expected from a compliant finished cosmetic. Local irritation remains possible.
Sources: European Commission CosIng ingredient inventory; European Chemicals Agency substance information for p-anisic acid.
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)
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
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)
A glycol ether used as a cosmetic solvent and delivery aid. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that ethoxydiglycol is safe as used in cosmetics, with low toxicity in the reviewed exposure data. It is distinct from ethoxyethanol, which has a different and less favourable safety assessment.
Sources: CIR: Final Report on Butylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol and Dipropylene Glycol; CIR Quick Reference Table https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/qrt-r.pdf
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)
Solvent and humectant used to improve texture and ingredient solubility in topical cosmetics. Reviewed cosmetic ingredient references do not identify a pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific concern for normal topical use.
Sources: CIR cosmetic ingredient safety references for alkane diols/glycols; 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
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.
22 of 23 ingredient entries on this page have a recorded score, evidence summary and source text. 1 entry does not have all of those fields. Unmatched entries retain the default No known risks label but are not independently assessed here; missing evidence does not establish safety.
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.
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.
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.
