Pregnancy Safe Skincare

Every product in our pregnancy safe collection carries our Pregnancy Safe badge — a signal that its full ingredient list has been reviewed against published clinical evidence, not assembled from generic avoidance lists. You can read about how all our badges work and the standards behind them.

How we define pregnancy safe at Skin-Nomad

Every product carrying our pregnancy safe badge has had its full ingredient list reviewed against published clinical guidance, including recommendations from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the 2024 update to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology guidelines on dermatologic safety in pregnancy (McMullan et al.), MotherToBaby fact sheets published by the Organisation of Teratology Information Specialists on the NIH Bookshelf, and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel safety assessments.

The badge means the product contains none of the ingredients we classify as definite avoids at any cosmetic concentration, and has been reviewed at the formulation level rather than assessed by category alone.

We update the collection as new products are added and as new evidence emerges. If a product is removed from the collection after you've purchased it, that reflects a change in our assessment, not a safety incident.

Ingredients we exclude from the pregnancy safe collection

All topical retinoids

This covers retinol, retinal, retinaldehyde, tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene, hydroxypinacolone retinoate (HPR), retinyl palmitate, and retinyl acetate. Oral isotretinoin is a confirmed teratogen. While topical retinoids have low dermal absorption, the JAAD 2024 guidelines, NHS guidance, and ACOG all recommend avoiding all topical retinoid forms throughout pregnancy. Bakuchiol is the evidence-backed alternative we recommend instead — browse our bakuchiol collection for pregnancy-compatible options.

Hydroquinone

Unlike most topical skincare ingredients, hydroquinone has an estimated systemic absorption rate of 35 to 45 per cent through intact skin, which is exceptionally high for a cosmetic ingredient. On this basis dermatology guidelines recommend avoidance during pregnancy. Niacinamide, vitamin C, azelaic acid, and tranexamic acid are all safe alternatives for brightening concerns. See our pigmentation collection for pregnancy-safe options.

Essential oils with uterotonic potential

Certain distilled essential oils have documented uterotonic or neurotoxic properties at relevant concentrations. We exclude: rosemary leaf oil (Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil), sage oil (Salvia Officinalis Oil), clary sage oil (Salvia Sclarea Oil), mugwort oil (Artemisia Vulgaris Oil), basil oil (Ocimum Basilicum Oil), eucalyptus oil, and cold-pressed non-furocoumarin-free bergamot oil. Importantly, extract and water forms of these botanicals are not excluded. Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, and Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract do not concentrate the volatile fractions that drive the concern in their distilled oil counterparts.

Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3)

ACOG specifically recommends avoiding sunscreens containing oxybenzone during pregnancy due to documented systemic absorption and a potential endocrine disruption signal. We recommend mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the default choice during pregnancy. All sunscreens in our pregnancy safe collection are also reef friendly and many carry our Mineral SPF badge — browse our mineral SPF collection.

Ingredients with no pregnancy safety data

Where an ingredient has no published developmental and reproductive toxicology data and a safe alternative exists, we apply a precautionary exclusion. This currently applies to idebenone (Hydroxydecyl Ubiquinone).

Lip products with undisclosed fragrance blends

Lip products are a distinct category because of the incidental ingestion pathway. We exclude lip products that contain Fragrance, Parfum, or Aroma as an undisclosed ingredient blend, because these terms may conceal individual aroma chemicals at concentrations that differ meaningfully from dermal exposure.

What we do not exclude

A number of ingredients are sometimes listed on third-party pregnancy avoidance guides without clinical justification. Our review found the following to be well-supported as safe at cosmetic concentrations.

Niacinamide is actively recommended by ACOG for pregnancy acne and hyperpigmentation. Hyaluronic acid in all its molecular weight variants is endogenous to human skin and not absorbed systemically. Bakuchiol is the evidence-supported retinol alternative and not a retinoid chemically or mechanistically. Azelaic acid at concentrations up to 10 per cent is ACOG-endorsed for pregnancy acne and melasma. Vitamin C and its stable derivatives have no adverse pregnancy signals at any cosmetic concentration. Centella asiatica and its actives, panthenol, ceramides, peptides of the palmitoyl and acetyl hexapeptide families, PDRN and sodium DNA, tranexamic acid at cosmetic concentrations, and topical glutathione at cosmetic concentrations are all without contraindication in published clinical literature.

On fragrance: the precautionary guidance to prefer fragrance-free products during pregnancy relates primarily to the risk of phthalate diluents, which are banned under EU and UK cosmetics regulation and do not apply to the brands in our range. Fragrance or Parfum as an INCI entry in a face or body product made to EU or UK regulatory standards does not itself constitute a clinical ground for exclusion. We do apply a stricter standard to lip products as noted above.

Common questions

Is niacinamide safe during pregnancy?

Yes. Niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin B3 derivative with no adverse pregnancy outcomes at any cosmetic concentration. ACOG and the AAD both recommend it as a safe choice for treating acne and hyperpigmentation during pregnancy. Browse our niacinamide collection for pregnancy-safe options.

Is hyaluronic acid safe during pregnancy?

Yes. Hyaluronic acid is produced naturally by the body, including at elevated levels during pregnancy to support fetal development. There is no systemic absorption from topical application and no contraindication in any clinical guideline.

Is bakuchiol safe during pregnancy?

Yes. Bakuchiol is a plant-derived ingredient that has been clinically shown to deliver retinol-like results on skin texture and fine lines. It is not a retinoid in structure or mechanism, and it is not contraindicated during pregnancy. It is the ingredient we recommend most often as a pregnancy-compatible alternative to retinol. See our bakuchiol collection.

Can I use vitamin C when pregnant?

Yes. Topical vitamin C and its stable derivatives are considered safe at all cosmetic concentrations. ACOG and the AAD recommend vitamin C as a safe antioxidant and brightening option during pregnancy.

What SPF is safe to use during pregnancy?

Mineral sunscreens with zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide are the preferred choice during pregnancy. These ingredients sit on the skin surface without significant systemic absorption. ACOG specifically recommends avoiding sunscreens containing oxybenzone. Browse our mineral SPF collection for pregnancy-compatible sunscreens.

Is azelaic acid safe during pregnancy?

Yes, at cosmetic concentrations of up to 10 per cent. ACOG recommends azelaic acid as a safe option for treating pregnancy-related acne and melasma. It is one of the most useful actives you can use during pregnancy for an even, clear complexion.

What skincare should I avoid when pregnant?

The clinically supported avoidance list is shorter than many guides suggest. The ingredients with clear clinical grounds for exclusion are retinoids in all topical forms, hydroquinone, oxybenzone in sunscreens, certain distilled essential oils with uterotonic properties (rosemary oil, sage oil, clary sage oil, mugwort oil, basil oil, eucalyptus oil), and ingredients with no pregnancy safety data where safe alternatives exist. The products in our pregnancy safe collection have been reviewed against all of these criteria.

A note on professional advice

Our pregnancy safe curation is based on published clinical evidence and ingredient safety assessments. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for guidance from your GP, obstetrician, midwife, or dermatologist. Every pregnancy is individual. If you have a specific health condition, are on prescription skincare, or have any concerns about a product, please speak to your healthcare provider before use.

For a full overview of how we curate and badge our products, visit our how our badges work page.