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 19 September 2026. Product formulas can change, so compare the ingredients shown here with the packaging you have.
Report a formula mismatchMamaSkin assessment · 19 September 2026
MamaSkin currently classifies The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution 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.
The recorded formula includes 2 ingredient entries with risk flags: Salicylic 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.
12 of 12 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.
See how the listed formula falls across MamaSkin's pregnancy-focused risk bands.
10
No known risks
2
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
Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid used for exfoliation and as a preservative. Exposure depends on concentration, product category, treated area, frequency, skin condition and inhalation or oral potential. Current SCCS assessments support specified cosmetic uses and restrictions; ordinary limited-area low-strength topical use is not equivalent to a professional peel, large-area leave-on treatment or oral salicylate exposure. MamaSkin retains Low Risk with those route and exposure qualifications.
Sources: SCCS/1646/22: Final Opinion on Salicylic Acid https://health.ec.europa.eu/latest-updates/sccs-final-opinion-salicylic-acid-2023-06-09_en; SCCS follow-up on children's exposure https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/sccs-opinion-salicylic-acid-cas-no-69-72-7-ec-no-200-712-3-childrens-exposure_en
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
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 saccharide complex used to improve surface hydration and reduce transepidermal water loss. 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 Saccharide Humectants / Saccharide Isomerate, etc.; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory
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
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
Natural polysaccharide thickener used for stability and texture. Not associated with pregnancy-specific concerns.
Sources: European cosmetics regulatory framework
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
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
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.
12 of 12 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.
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.
