Is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% pregnancy-safe?

MamaSkin's current pregnancy-focused assessment places The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% in the Low Risk band with a safety score of 76/100. One or more ingredients have a low-risk flag in MamaSkin's current assessment. Review the notes and your own circumstances.

Can this product's assessment change?

Yes. Product formulas and the available evidence can change. Compare the ingredient list shown here with the current packaging and scan the label in MamaSkin when you repurchase.

The Ordinary

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%

Serums

Safety score

Pregnancy-focused assessment

Low Risk76/100

Higher concernLower concern

One or more ingredients have a low-risk flag in MamaSkin's current assessment. Review the notes and your own circumstances.

Ingredient safety review updated 23 November 2025.

Check the current formula in MamaSkin

Copy the product name, download MamaSkin and search it for free. You can also scan the ingredient label on the product you own.

Ingredient breakdown

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

No known risks

Low risk

Medium risk

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: EU SCCS; EU Cosmetics Regulation (Annex V preservative limit), SCCS Opinion on Phenoxyethanol (SCCS/1575/16, 2016)

Water

No Known Risks

Niacinamide

No Known Risks

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

Show all (11)

Pentylene Glycol

No Known Risks

Humectant and preservative booster. Considered safe for cosmetic use with low systemic exposure.

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

Zinc PCA

No Known Risks

A zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid used for skin conditioning, oil-control and antimicrobial support. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that the assessed zinc salts are safe in current cosmetic practices of use and concentration when formulated to be non-irritating. Zinc is an essential nutrient, but this entry assesses the low topical exposure from a finished cosmetic rather than supplements or medicinal doses. No pregnancy-specific topical concern was identified.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Zinc Salts as Used in Cosmetics https://www.cir-safety.org/supplementaldoc/safety-assessment-zinc-salts-used-cosmetics-1; CIR 146th Expert Panel Meeting final report record https://www.cir-safety.org/meeting/146th-cir-expert-panel-meeting

Dimethyl Isosorbide

No Known Risks

Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum

No Known Risks

Xanthan Gum

No Known Risks

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

Sources: European cosmetics regulatory framework

Isoceteth-20

No Known Risks

Ethoxydiglycol

No Known Risks

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

Chlorphenesin

No Known Risks

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.

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