Skincare & Cosmetic Ingredients During Pregnancy

Skincare is one of the areas where pregnancy advice can feel disproportionately alarming relative to the actual risk — most of your existing routine is almost certainly fine. A small number of specific ingredients are worth avoiding or swapping out, and it’s worth knowing exactly which ones rather than becoming anxious about skincare in general.

Ingredients to avoid

Retinoids (retinol, tretinoin, isotretinoin, adapalene). This is the clearest and most important one. Oral isotretinoin (often known by the brand name Roaccutane) is well established to cause serious birth defects and must not be taken during pregnancy — anyone prescribed it is required to be on effective contraception. Topical retinoids, including over-the-counter retinol creams and prescription tretinoin or adapalene for acne, carry much lower absorption but are still generally advised against during pregnancy as a precaution, since the risk with oral use is so well documented. Stop using retinoid skincare products once you know you’re pregnant, or when trying to conceive.

High-strength salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a common acne and exfoliation ingredient, chemically related to aspirin. Low concentrations, such as those found in most everyday cleansers and spot treatments (generally under 2%), are considered acceptable by most dermatologists and the NHS. High-strength salicylic acid peels or prescription-strength treatments are best avoided — talk to your GP or a dermatologist if you’re using anything beyond an over-the-counter product.

Hydroquinone. This skin-lightening ingredient, used for pigmentation and melasma, has reasonably high systemic absorption and is generally advised against during pregnancy. Melasma (“the mask of pregnancy”) is common and usually fades after birth — most dermatologists recommend waiting until after pregnancy and breastfeeding to treat it.

Essential oils in high concentrations. Some essential oils used in skincare are best used cautiously or avoided in pregnancy — see our separate guide on essential oils and aromatherapy for the specifics.

Generally considered fine

Vitamin C, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid are all considered safe and are commonly recommended pregnancy-safe alternatives to retinoids for brightening and texture.

Benzoyl peroxide, another common acne treatment, has low systemic absorption and is generally considered acceptable in pregnancy, though as with anything you’re unsure about, mentioning it to your midwife or GP is a reasonable step, particularly if used over large areas or at higher strengths.

Sunscreen is not just safe but actively a good idea — pregnancy can increase skin sensitivity to pigmentation changes (melasma), and mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) are generally preferred as a precaution, though chemical sunscreens are not considered a significant concern either.

Standard moisturisers, cleansers, and makeup without the specific ingredients above don’t need to be changed.

A general approach

If you’re not sure about a specific product, checking the ingredients list for the items above is the most useful step, rather than assuming an entire category (like “anti-ageing” or “acne” products) needs to go. Many acne and anti-ageing products are formulated without retinoids or high-strength salicylic acid specifically because of pregnancy and general sensitivity concerns, so reformulated or “pregnancy-safe” ranges exist for most routines. If you’re using a prescription skincare treatment for a medical skin condition, don’t stop it without talking to the prescribing doctor first — some conditions are more important to keep controlled than the specific ingredient risk, and your doctor can weigh this properly.