The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% by The Ordinary
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.

Formula and assessment check

Ingredient safety review updated 23 November 2025. Product formulas can change, so compare the ingredients shown here with the packaging you have.

Report a formula mismatch

MamaSkin assessment · 23 November 2025

Is The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% suitable during pregnancy?

MamaSkin currently classifies The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 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.

What does the ingredient evidence show?

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.

11 of 11 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.

10

No known risks

1

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

Water

No Known Risks

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

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

A solvent or preservative-support ingredient used to dissolve actives and stabilise a formula. No reproductive or pregnancy-specific signal was identified for the low concentrations used in finished topical cosmetics. Solvents can still increase local irritation or the delivery of other formula ingredients.

Sources: European Commission CosIng ingredient inventory; European Chemicals Agency substance information; published dermal and cosmetic-use data for dimethyl isosorbide, phenylpropanol and benzyl glycol.

Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum

No Known Risks

tamarindus indica seed gum is a cosmetic formulation, mineral, sugar-derived or organic-acid ingredient. Available identity, use and related safety evidence did not identify a pregnancy-specific concern for normal topical cosmetic exposure. Cosmetic-grade purity and ordinary irritation precautions remain applicable.

Sources: CIR ingredient and related-family safety assessments; CIR Quick Reference Table https://www.cir-safety.org/supplementaldoc/quick-reference-table-december-2025; European Commission CosIng

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

isoceteth-20 is used as 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 at higher concentrations, but no pregnancy-specific concern was identified for normal topical or rinse-off use.

Sources: CIR safety assessments of alkyl PEG ethers, N-acyl taurates, fatty amidopropyl amines and related cosmetic surfactants https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/taurat122015FR.pdf; CIR Quick Reference Table https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/QRT-Update-Dec2025.pdf

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.

Questions about this assessment

Has every ingredient in The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% been assessed?

11 of 11 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 Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 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