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.
- Methylsilanol Carboxymethyl Theophylline Alginate
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - 4-Hydroxypropylamino-3-Nitrophenol
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Benzophenone-2
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Nonoxynol-10
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Origanum Vulgare Leaf Oil
Absorbed into the body
High risk - O-Phenylphenol
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Octoxynol-10
Endocrine disruptor, Fetal development, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Xanthium Sibiricum Fruit Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Oil Expressed
Increases sun sensitivity, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Rubber Latex
Common allergen, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Sodium Chlorite
Irritant, Absorbed into the body
High risk - 1-Hydroxyethyl 4,5-Diamino Pyrazole Sulfate
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Acetyl Hexamethyl Tetralin
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Ammonium Thioglycolate
Absorbed into the body, Irritant
High risk - Iodine
Fetal development, Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Achyranthes Bidentata Root Extract
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Frangula Alnus Bark Extract
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Pimenta Officinalis Leaf Oil
Absorbed into the body, Irritant
High risk - Sr-Oligopeptide-91 Clostridium Botulinum Polypeptide-1
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development, Neural development
High risk - 1,2,4-Trihydroxybenzene
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Artemisia Annua Leaf Extract
Fetal development
High risk - Chlorophene
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Diethyllutidinate
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Octoxynol-11
Endocrine disruptor, Fetal development, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Oleamide DEA
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development, Carcinogen concern
High risk - Origanum Majorana Flower Oil
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Pinus Palustris Wood Tar
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Stannous Chloride
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Vinca Minor Leaf Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Aminoguanidine Hcl
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Cinchona Calisaya Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Cinnamomum Cassia Bark/Syzgium Aromaticum Bud/Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf/Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Stimulates the uterus
High risk - Di-Sodium Iodide
Fetal development, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Ethyl Methoxycinnamate
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Lavandula Intermedia Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - P-Phenylenediamine Sulfate
Absorbed into the body, Common allergen, Endocrine disruptor
High risk - Cannabidiol, Derived From Extract Or Tincture Or Resin Of Cannabis
Fetal development, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Dimethyl Sulfoxide
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Disodium Selenite
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Glaucium Flavum Leaf Extract
Alkaloid content, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Humus Extract
Absorbed into the body, Contamination risk
High risk - Kalanchoe Daigremontiana Leaf Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Lapachol
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Ocimum Tenuiflorum Oil
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Pilocarpus Pennatifolius Leaf Extract
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Thioglycolic Acid
Absorbed into the body, Irritant
High risk - Thymus Zygis Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Zerumbone
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Ammonium C6-16 Perfluoroalkylethyl Phosphate
Fetal development, Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Flavesone
Hormone disruptor, Fetal development
High risk - Human Umbilical Mesenchymal Stem Cell Conditioned Media
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Nymphaea Caerulea Leaf Cell Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development, Neural development
High risk - Pelargonium Roseum Stem Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Pimenta Acris Leaf Oil
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Salvia Miltiorrhiza Flower/Leaf/Root Extract
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Andrographolide
Fetal development, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Artemisia Argyi Leaf Oil
Fetal development, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Nepeta Cataria Oil
Stimulates the uterus, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Propagermanium
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Ravensara Aromatica Leaf Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Ricinus Communis Root Extract
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Angelica Dahurica Extract
Hormone disruptor, Increases sun sensitivity, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Basic Red 46
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Betula Lenta Bark Oil
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Bimatoprost
Fetal development, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Cinnamomum Verum Powder
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Juniperus Communis Wood Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Melaleuca Quinquenervia Leaf Oil
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Melaleuca Teretifolia Branch/Leaf Oil
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Octoxynol-40
Endocrine disruptor, Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Pimpinella Anisum Fruit Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - High risk
- Seahorse Extract
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Theophylline
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - 4-Amino-3-Nitrophenol
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Allylanisole
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Artemisia Absinthium Herb Oil
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Ethyl Cyanoacrylate
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Ethylhexyl P-Methoxycinnamate
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
High risk - Hydrolyzed Psoralea Corylifolia Extract
Absorbed into the body, Increases sun sensitivity
High risk - Leonurus Japonicus Extract
Absorbed into the body
High risk - M-Aminophenol Sulfate
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Melia Azedarach Leaf Extract
Absorbed into the body
High risk - Mucuna Pruriens Seed Extract
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Nonoxynol-20
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Octoxynol-13
Endocrine disruptor, Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Perfluoroisohexane
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Symphytum Officinale Root Cell Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk - Tetrabutyl Ethylidenebisphenol
Endocrine disruptor, Fetal development, Absorbed into the body
High risk - Triacetyl Retinoyl Phytosphingosine
Known teratogen, Fetal development
High risk - Voacanga Africana Seed Extract
Alkaloid content, Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
High risk
Caution Advised
816 of the 1,147 ingredients flagged for pregnancy.
Medium risk. Published guidance stops short of advising against these, and usually turns on how much, how often, or over how much skin. Open an ingredient to see what the concern actually is.
- Parfum/Fragrance
Absorbed into the body, Common allergen
Medium risk - Salicylic Acid
Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - Ethylhexyl Salicylate
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
Medium risk - Propylparaben
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - Octocrylene
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
Medium risk - Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil
Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - Cyclohexasiloxane
Endocrine disruptor, Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - Eugenol
Absorbed into the body, Irritant
Medium risk - Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Common allergen, Irritant
Medium risk - Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - DMDM Hydantoin
Common allergen, Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - Citrus Aurantium Bergamia Fruit Oil
Increases sun sensitivity, Common allergen, Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - Mentha Piperita Oil
Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Increases sun sensitivity, Irritant
Medium risk - Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Hormone disruptor
Medium risk - Cyclomethicone
Endocrine disruptor
Medium risk - Cocamide MEA
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
Medium risk - Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil
Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - T-Butyl Alcohol
Absorbed into the body, Endocrine disruptor
Medium risk - Cananga Odorata Flower Oil
Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - Arnica Montana Flower Extract
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
Medium risk - Lavandula Angustifolia Extract
Hormone disruptor, Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil
Absorbed into the body, Fetal development
Medium risk - Pelargonium Graveolens Oil
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
Medium risk - Butylparaben
Endocrine disruptor, Fetal development, Absorbed into the body
Medium risk - Fucus Vesiculosus Extract
Absorbed into the body, Hormone disruptor
Medium risk - Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil
Increases sun sensitivity, Irritant
Medium risk - Citrus Grandis Peel Oil
Increases sun sensitivity, Irritant
Medium 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.
Download on theApp Store