Pregnancy
Skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy
These are the 1,147 ingredients in the Truva catalogue that carry a pregnancy flag, ordered by how strong the flag is. 331 are marked avoid. The rest are a caution, which is a different thing.
Flagged covers three levels here: avoid, high risk and medium risk. The first two are a recommendation to put the product down, matching how the Truva app rates the same ingredients. The third is a caution, and most of it sits on limited published data, which means the level is a precaution taken because nobody has studied the ingredient in pregnancy, not a finding that it caused harm. Every ingredient below has its own page with the level, the evidence behind it and the safer options the catalogue names. The full index is at all ingredients, A to Z.
Flagged
1,147
Ingredients carrying avoid, high risk or medium risk for pregnancy.
Not Recommended
331
Avoid and high risk together. Use something else while this profile applies.
Caution Advised
816
Medium risk. Worth reading the assessment before the product goes in the basket.
Catalogue read 15 September 2026. Every figure on this page comes out of that snapshot.
Not Recommended
331 of the 1,147 ingredients flagged for pregnancy.
Avoid and high risk both land here, matching how the Truva app rates the same ingredients. The recommendation is to use something else for as long as this profile applies to you.
- Retinyl Palmitate
Known teratogen, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Homosalate
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Benzophenone-4
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Benzophenone-3
Endocrine disruptor, Fetal development, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Cocamide DEA
Absorbed into the body, Carcinogen concern, Fetal development
High risk - Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Common allergen, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Salvia Sclarea Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Propyl Gallate
Hormone disruptor, Fetal development
High risk - Juniperus Mexicana Oil
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Jasminum Officinale Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Hypericum Perforatum Extract
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Cannabidiol
Fetal development, Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Dioscorea Villosa Root Extract
Hormone disruptor, Fetal development
High risk - Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development, Organ toxicity concern
High risk - Symphytum Officinale Root Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Commiphora Myrrha Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Chrysanthemum Parthenium Extract
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Azadirachta Indica Seed Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Cinnamomum Camphora Bark Oil
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Perfluorodecalin
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Benzophenone-1
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Thymus Vulgaris Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Glyoxal
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - TBHQ
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Methyl Perfluoroisobutyl Ether
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Myristica Fragrans Kernel Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Hydrastis Canadensis Extract
Fetal development, Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Colloidal Silver
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development, Builds up in tissue
High risk - Dimethylaminoethanol Tartrate
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development, Neural development
High risk - Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Leaf Oil
Absorbed into the body, Irritant
High risk - Origanum Majorana Leaf Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Benzophenone-5
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Tussilago Farfara Leaf Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Thymus Vulgaris Flower/Leaf Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - P-Aminophenol
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Illicium Verum Fruit/Seed Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Tussilago Farfara Flower Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Oil
Absorbed into the body, Irritant
High risk - Silver Oxide
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Achillea Millefolium Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Toluene-2,5-Diamine Sulfate
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Ammonia
Absorbed into the body, Irritant
High risk - Thuja Occidentalis Leaf Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Thuja Orientalis Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Extract
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Perfluorohexane
Fetal development, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Phenyl Salicylate
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Triphenyl Phosphate
Endocrine disruptor, Fetal development, Absorbed into the body
High risk - 2-Methylresorcinol
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Eugenia Caryophyllus Bud Extract
Absorbed into the body, Stimulates the uterus
High risk - N,N-Bis(2-Hydroxyethyl)-P-Phenylenediamine Sulfate
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Ethylhexyl Dimethyl PABA
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Thymus Mastichina Flower Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Methyl Salicylate
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Symphytum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Liver toxicity concern, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Sophora Flavescens Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Anethole
Hormone disruptor, Fetal development
High risk - Octoxynol-9
Endocrine disruptor, Fetal development
High risk - Cimicifuga Dahurica Root Extract
Hormone disruptor, Fetal development
High risk - Benzophenone
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Sodium Retinoyl Hyaluronate
Known teratogen, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Cinnamomum Camphora Wood Oil
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Lavandula Hybrida Grosso Herb Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Diethanolamine
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Larrea Divaricata Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Basic Orange 31
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Psoralea Corylifolia Fruit Extract
Absorbed into the body, Increases sun sensitivity, Fetal development
High risk - Trisodium NTA
Carcinogen concern, Fetal development
High risk - Glaucine
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Hydrastis Canadensis Root Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Tabebuia Impetiginosa Bark Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Salvia Sclarea Flower Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Xanthium Strumarium Fruit Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Aminoethylphosphinic Acid
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Angelica Archangelica Root Oil
Hormone disruptor, Increases sun sensitivity, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Perfluoroperhydrophenanthrene
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Ethylenediamine
Irritant, Absorbed into the body, Common allergen
High risk - Heptane
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Acorus Gramineus Root/Stem Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Diethylamine
Absorbed into the body, Carcinogen concern, Irritant
High risk - Tanacetum Annuum Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Asarum Sieboldi Root Extract
Known teratogen, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Arachidonic Acid
Absorbed into the body, Can inflame skin
High risk - Diethyl Phthalate
Hormone disruptor, Fetal development
High risk - Illicium Verum Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Tanacetum Vulgare Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Phytoecdysteroids
Hormone disruptor, Fetal development
High risk - Cinnamomum Camphora Leaf Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development, Known teratogen
High risk - Octafluoropentyl Methacrylate
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - 2-Amino-3-Hydroxypyridine
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Selenium Sulfide
Absorbed into the body, Known teratogen
High risk - Bumetrizole
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Polyperfluoroethoxymethoxy Difluoroethyl PEG Phosphate
Fetal development, Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Juniperus Oxycedrus Wood Oil
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Persicaria Hydropiper Extract
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Solanum Aviculare Fruit Extract
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - 2-Methyl-5-Hydroxyethylaminophenol
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Cinnamomum Cassia Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Epimedium Koreanum Extract
Hormone disruptor, Fetal development
High risk - Lanthanum Chloride
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Laurus Nobilis Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor, Fetal development
High risk - Leonurus Sibiricus Extract
Hormone disruptor, Fetal development
High risk - Magnesium Salicylate
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Thuja Plicata Wood Oil
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Cinchona Pubescens Bark Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Glutaral
Absorbed into the body, Irritant
High risk - Larrea Tridentata Extract
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Isopropylphthalimide
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - 2-Amino-6-Chloro-4-Nitrophenol
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Acorus Gramineus Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development, Neurotoxicity concern
High risk - Butoxyethanol
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Origanum Heracleoticum Flower Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Curculigo Orchioides Root Extract
Hormone disruptor, Fetal development
High risk - Octoxynol-12
Endocrine disruptor, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Hydrolyzed Placental Protein
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Isophorone Diamine
Irritant, Absorbed into the body
High risk
The same ingredient, answered four other ways.
An ingredient is not safe or unsafe on its own. It is safe or unsafe for a person at a point in their life, which is why the same name sits in one list and not in another.
The short way
Your bathroom shelf, checked in an afternoon.
Truva reads a label with the camera and answers for pregnancy specifically, including the trimester breakdown where the catalogue has one.
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