Which skincare ingredients are OK in pregnancy?
Most hydrating, barrier and sunscreen ingredients are considered fine. Stop all retinoids (retinol, tretinoin, adapalene) and hydroquinone. For ingredients with little or no pregnancy data, we take the cautious route and suggest pausing them until after pregnancy and breastfeeding.
How we decided
Almost no skincare ingredient has been tested in pregnant people, because those trials are rarely done. The evidence we have comes from how much of an ingredient gets through the skin into the body, from experience with related oral drugs, and from reviews written for doctors (Bozzo 2011; Chien 2016). Where those sources disagree or are silent, this page leans conservative: we would rather you pause a cosmetic for nine months than take an unknown risk.
That means our labels are stricter than what you'll see in many 'pregnancy-safe' product lists. A product being sold as pregnancy-safe is a marketing claim, not a regulatory approval, and some popular choices (bakuchiol is the best example) have no pregnancy safety data at all.
Why retinoids are the main line
Oral isotretinoin, a vitamin A drug for severe acne, causes serious birth defects. Topical retinoids are absorbed in far smaller amounts, and studies have not shown the same pattern, but a few case reports and the shared mechanism are why doctors' reviews advise stopping tretinoin, adapalene and over-the-counter retinol during pregnancy (Bozzo 2011; Chien 2016). If you used a retinoid before you knew you were pregnant, the absorbed dose was very small; stop now and mention it at your next prenatal visit rather than worrying.
Breastfeeding
The same list is a reasonable guide while breastfeeding. Keep any product off the nipple and areola, and wash your hands after applying. Acne guidelines that cover lactation also favour azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide and topical clindamycin (Reynolds 2024).
Ingredient by ingredient
| Ingredient | Our call | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Retinol | Stop | Vitamin A derivative. Reviews advise avoiding all topical retinoids in pregnancy because of the link between oral retinoids and birth defects. |
| Tretinoin | Stop | Prescription retinoid. Very little is absorbed, but case reports exist and the advice is to stop. |
| Adapalene | Stop | Retinoid sold over the counter. Same guidance as tretinoin; the Differin label also tells pregnant users to ask a doctor first. |
| Hydroquinone | Stop | A relatively large share of an applied dose is absorbed (estimates around 35 to 45%), so most reviews recommend avoiding it. |
| Alpha Arbutin | Pause | A hydroquinone relative that can release small amounts of hydroquinone. No pregnancy data, so we suggest waiting. |
| Kojic Acid | Pause | No pregnancy data and a known contact-allergy risk. Melasma often fades after delivery anyway. |
| Tranexamic Acid | Pause | Topical use is studied for melasma, but not in pregnancy. The oral drug affects clotting, so we'd rather you wait. |
| AHA/BHA Peel | Postpone | Skip in-clinic peels, especially salicylic acid and stronger TCA peels. Gentle at-home AHA products are covered separately below. |
| Salicylic Acid | Low strength only | A salicylic face wash or a 2% leave-on on small areas is generally considered acceptable; avoid peels and whole-body use, since it is related to aspirin. |
| Bakuchiol | Pause | Often sold as a pregnancy-safe retinol alternative, but there is no pregnancy safety data. |
| Mandelic Acid | Low strength only | An AHA like glycolic acid but with less research. Low-strength leave-ons are likely fine; skip peels. |
| Copper Peptides | Limited data | No study has tested copper peptides in pregnancy. Most skin products act locally with little reaching the blood (Bozzo 2011), but copper peptides were not assessed, so ask your doctor or pause. |
| Peptides | Generally fine | Signal peptides such as Matrixyl have no pregnancy studies, but no specific concerns are reported and most topicals stay in the skin (Bozzo 2011). Ask your doctor if unsure. |
| Glycolic Acid | Generally fine | Low-strength leave-on and wash products are considered acceptable. Use sunscreen, as AHAs increase sun sensitivity. |
| Lactic Acid | Generally fine | A milder AHA; low-strength products are considered acceptable. |
| Azelaic Acid | Preferred | One of the most recommended acne and pigment options in pregnancy; little is absorbed. |
| Benzoyl Peroxide | Generally fine | About 5% is absorbed and is rapidly converted to benzoic acid. Considered acceptable for acne in pregnancy. |
| Clindamycin | Generally fine | Topical clindamycin is commonly used for acne in pregnancy, often with benzoyl peroxide. |
| Niacinamide | Generally fine | A vitamin B3 form; no concerns reported for topical use. |
| Vitamin C | Generally fine | An antioxidant with no pregnancy concerns; useful alongside sunscreen for melasma-prone skin. |
| Vitamin E | Generally fine | Common in moisturizers and serums; no concerns reported. |
| Ferulic Acid | Generally fine | Antioxidant usually paired with vitamins C and E; no concerns reported. |
| Hyaluronic Acid | Generally fine | A hydrating molecule your skin already makes; it stays on the surface. |
| Ceramides | Generally fine | Barrier lipids, a good choice if pregnancy makes skin dry or itchy. |
| Squalane | Generally fine | An inert emollient; no concerns reported. |
| Centella Asiatica | Generally fine | Soothing plant extract; little data, low concern at cosmetic levels. |
| Snail Mucin | Generally fine | A hydrating cosmetic ingredient; no specific concerns, little data. |
| Sunscreen | Use daily | Sunscreen is the most useful pregnancy skincare step, because melasma is triggered by sun. Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) are a reasonable choice if you prefer to minimize absorption. |
A simple pregnancy routine
- MorningGentle cleanser, vitamin C or niacinamide, moisturizer, broad-spectrum SPF 30+ (reapply outdoors).
- EveningCleanser, azelaic acid for acne or pigment, then a ceramide moisturizer.
- A few times a weekA low-strength glycolic or lactic acid in place of azelaic acid, if your skin tolerates it.
- After deliveryRestart retinoids once you are no longer pregnant or breastfeeding.
Common pregnancy skin changes
Melasma
Brown patches on the cheeks and upper lip. Daily sunscreen and a hat matter most; azelaic acid and vitamin C can help. Many cases fade after pregnancy.
Acne
Hormone changes can trigger breakouts. Azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide and topical clindamycin are the usual options (Chien 2016).
Dryness and itch
A fragrance-free ceramide moisturizer. Severe itching, especially on the palms and soles, should be checked by your prenatal care team because it can signal a liver condition.
FAQ
I used retinol before I knew I was pregnant. Should I worry?
The amount absorbed from topical retinol is very small. Stop using it and mention it at your next appointment.
Is bakuchiol a safe retinol alternative in pregnancy?
It's often marketed that way, but there are no pregnancy safety studies, so we suggest pausing it.
Are chemical sunscreens safe in pregnancy?
No harm has been shown, but some filters are absorbed. Mineral sunscreen is a reasonable choice if you'd rather avoid that.
Can I keep using my salicylic acid cleanser?
Generally yes. A rinse-off cleanser leaves very little behind; avoid peels and large-area leave-on use.
Sources
- Bozzo P, Chua-Gocheco A, Einarson A. Safety of skin care products during pregnancy. Can Fam Physician. 2011;57(6):665-667.
- Chien AL, Qi J, Rainer B, Sachs DL, Helfrich YR. Treatment of acne in pregnancy. J Am Board Fam Med. 2016;29(2):254-262.
- Reynolds RV, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;90(5):1006.e1-1006.e30.
- Tretinoin cream and gel prescribing information and patient instructions. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine (updated October 9, 2024).
- Differin (adapalene gel 0.1%) Drug Facts and consumer information. Galderma Laboratories, L.P. DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine (updated December 7, 2022).
- Boo YC. Arbutin as a skin depigmenting agent with antimelanogenic and antioxidant properties. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021;10(7):1129.
- Zilles JC, Dos Santos FL, Kulkamp-Guerreiro IC, Contri RV. Biological activities and safety data of kojic acid and its derivatives: a review. Exp Dermatol. 2022;31(10):1500-1521.
- Nakagawa M, Kawai K, Kawai K. Contact allergy to kojic acid in skin care products. Contact Dermatitis. 1995;32(1):9-13.
- Calacattawi R, et al. Tranexamic acid as a therapeutic option for melasma management: meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Dermatolog Treat. 2024;35(1):2361106.
- Dhaliwal S, et al. Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing. Br J Dermatol. 2019;180(2):289-296.
- Dayal S, Kalra KD, Sahu P. Comparative study of efficacy and safety of 45% mandelic acid versus 30% salicylic acid peels in mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020;19(2):393-399.
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- Singh N, Brown AN, Gold MH. Snail extract for skin: a review of uses, projections, and limitations. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2024;23(4):1113-1121.
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