The Ordinary
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
Low risk75/100
The Ordinary
Niacinamide 5% Face And Body Emulsion
Emulsions
Some ingredients carry a low-risk flag. Read the formulation context before deciding.
19 of 19 ingredients rated
Is it suitable during pregnancy?
MamaSkin rates the recorded formula for The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face And Body Emulsion as Low risk (76/100). Review the ingredient context and any manual-review explanation before deciding.
Why this rating?
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.
19 of 19 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.
How we assess productsIngredient breakdown
The recorded formula, with evidence behind each rating. Unmatched ingredients are marked Not assessed in grey.
Ingredient ratings and evidence
Higher-risk flags first. Open an ingredient for evidence.
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 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
Ethyl Macadamiate
No known risks
A plant-derived fixed oil or lipid used as an emollient and skin-conditioning ingredient. Cosmetic safety review focuses on oxidation, irritation, impurities and source allergy; no pregnancy-specific reproductive or developmental hazard was identified for normal topical exposure.
Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Plant-Derived Fatty Acid Oils as Used in Cosmetics; European Commission CosIng ingredient inventory.
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
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)
Show all 19 ingredients
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
Sphingomonas Ferment Extract
No known risks
A fermentation-derived cosmetic ingredient used for conditioning or formula support. Composition depends on organism, substrate and controls. No pregnancy-specific hazard was identified for normal topical exposure; ingestion is outside this classification.
Sources: CIR materials on microbial and fermentation-derived ingredients; European Commission CosIng.
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)
Ethylhexyl Olivate
No known risks
A fatty-acid ester used mainly for emollience, slip, cleansing or formula texture. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that these named esters are safe in current cosmetic practices, with non-irritating formulation conditions where specified.
Sources: CIR: Glycol Stearate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Heptyl Undecylenate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate and Octyldodecyl Myristate conclusions; December 2025 Quick Reference Table https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/QRT-Update-Dec2025.pdf
Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
No known risks
A polyglycerin fatty-acid ester used as an emulsifier, dispersant or emollient. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that the assessed polyglyceryl fatty-acid esters are safe in current practices when formulated to be non-irritating.
Sources: CIR: Polyglyceryl Fatty Acid Esters conclusion, IJT 42(Suppl. 2), 2023; December 2025 Quick Reference Table https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/QRT-Update-Dec2025.pdf
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
No known risks
A high-molecular-weight polymer used to thicken, bind and stabilise formulas. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that acrylates copolymers are safe in current practices when formulas avoid irritation and residual monomers are controlled. Absorption of the finished polymer is expected to be limited.
Sources: CIR: Amended Safety Assessment of Acrylates Copolymers as Used in Cosmetics https://cir-reports.cir-safety.org/view-attachment?id=c3a1aad1-8c74-ec11-8943-0022482f06a6
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
Sodium Citrate
No known risks
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
Citric Acid
No known risks
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
Malic Acid
No known risks
A naturally occurring hydroxy dicarboxylic acid used mainly to adjust pH, support exfoliation or condition skin. No pregnancy-specific systemic concern was identified for normal topical cosmetic exposure. At sufficiently high concentration or low pH, hydroxy acids can sting, irritate skin and increase sensitivity to other irritants; those local effects depend on the finished formulation rather than indicating reproductive toxicity.
Sources: CIR: Amended Safety Assessment of Malic Acid and Sodium Malate https://www.cir-safety.org/supplementaldoc/amended-safety-assessment-malic-acid-and-sodium-malate-used-cosmetics; CIR assessments of alpha-hydroxy acids as used in cosmetics; European Commission CosIng ingredient inventory for Malic Acid and Tartaric Acid.
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
No known risks
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
Tocopherol
No known risks
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)
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)
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
Full recorded ingredient list
Water, Ethyl Macadamiate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Isoceteth-20, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Ingredient ratings refreshed 1 October 2026. Formulas vary by market and can change. Always compare with your packaging.
Questions about this assessment
Why does The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face And Body Emulsion have a Low risk rating?
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. The product score is a stored assessment, not a clinical safety guarantee.
Does the niacinamide rating cover every ingredient in this product?
No. Niacinamide appears in the recorded formula, but its individual rating applies to that ingredient, not automatically to the whole product. Check the other ingredient ratings, any grey Not assessed entries and the stored product assessment. A niacinamide percentage or a product name is not a substitute for checking the full list.
Has every ingredient in The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face And Body Emulsion been assessed?
19 of 19 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 my The Ordinary Niacinamide 5% Face And Body Emulsion?
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.
