Are phthalates safe during pregnancy?
Tap your actives or paste a label. See what to avoid, with sources.
- 1Actives
- 2Sorted
- 3Your list
Not medical advice: bring it to your OB-GYN.
Not medical advice: bring it to your OB-GYN.
Three stamps. The cautious one wins.
Avoid while pregnant: an FDA label, the AAD, ACOG or a peer-reviewed review advises against it. Ask your doctor first: a source says to limit it or to check with a doctor, the sources we read disagree, or we found too little to go on. Generally considered OK: every source we read that covers it says it can be used. No stamp replaces your OB-GYN.
Three stamps. The cautious one wins.
Avoid while pregnant: an FDA label, the AAD, ACOG or a peer-reviewed review advises against it. Ask your doctor first: a source says to limit it or to check with a doctor, the sources we read disagree, or we found too little to go on. Generally considered OK: every source we read that covers it says it can be used. No stamp replaces your OB-GYN.
Everything in this tool, in full
Educational, not medical advice. Every line below points to the source it comes from — bring it to your doctor.
What the sources say
The AAD lists them among the ingredients to use sparingly in pregnancy. The FDA says it has no evidence that phthalates as used in cosmetics pose a safety risk, and that diethyl phthalate is the only one still commonly used.
SourcesAmerican Academy of Dermatology: Dermatologist-approved pregnancy skin care (updated June 2025)FDA: Phthalates in Cosmetics
What phthalates are
The CDC describes phthalates as chemicals that make plastics more flexible, some of which also work as solvents. They’re used in vinyl, packaging and many personal care products such as soaps, shampoos, hair sprays and nail polishes. The CDC says most exposure comes from food and drink that touched phthalate-containing materials. In cosmetics, the FDA says diethyl phthalate is the only one still commonly used.
SourcesFDA: Phthalates in CosmeticsCDC National Biomonitoring Program: Phthalates factsheet (archived copy, December 2020)
What’s known, and what isn’t
CDC testing found phthalate breakdown products in the urine of much of the US population, so exposure is widespread; adult women had higher levels than men of the phthalates used in personal care products. The CDC says finding them doesn’t by itself mean they cause harm. Its summary: the human health effects of low levels are unknown, and some phthalates have affected the reproductive system of laboratory animals.
SourceCDC National Biomonitoring Program: Phthalates factsheet (archived copy, December 2020)
Check your whole routine
One ingredient is a start. The pregnancy-safe skincare checker stamps every active you use — tap them or paste a label — each with the reason and its source. Educational, not medical advice.
One face scan. Your whole routine, sorted.
This page answered your question. MySkincare starts from your own skin, and the products you already use.
- 1Scan your face3 photos: front, left profile, right profile.
- 2See your skin scoreFree6 zones scored separately: forehead, eye area, T-zone, both cheeks, chin.
- 3Scan your productsIt reads each ingredient list and says: keep it, watch it or replace it.
- 4Follow your routineMorning and night, checked so your products work together. With reminders.
MySkincare reads the products you already use and builds a routine for your skin. It doesn’t judge whether an ingredient is pregnancy-safe — for that, this page and your OB-GYN or dermatologist are the guide.
Questions people ask
Are phthalates safe to use while pregnant?
The AAD lists them among the ingredients to use sparingly in pregnancy. The FDA says it has no evidence that phthalates as used in cosmetics pose a safety risk, and that diethyl phthalate is the only one still commonly used.
SourcesAmerican Academy of Dermatology: Dermatologist-approved pregnancy skin care (updated June 2025)FDA: Phthalates in Cosmetics
Where do phthalates come from, if not makeup?
The CDC says most exposure comes from food and drink that came into contact with phthalate-containing materials. In cosmetics, the FDA says diethyl phthalate is the only one still commonly used.
SourcesFDA: Phthalates in CosmeticsCDC National Biomonitoring Program: Phthalates factsheet (archived copy, December 2020)
Is it harmful that phthalates show up in urine tests?
The CDC says a detectable level doesn’t by itself mean an adverse health effect, and that effects at low levels in people are unknown.
SourceCDC National Biomonitoring Program: Phthalates factsheet (archived copy, December 2020)
Where can I check my whole routine?
Use the pregnancy-safe skincare checker: it stamps every active you use, with the reason and its source. It’s educational, not medical advice — bring the result to your OB-GYN or dermatologist.
SourceAmerican Academy of Dermatology: Dermatologist-approved pregnancy skin care (updated June 2025)
American Academy of Dermatologyaad.org
- Dermatologist-approved pregnancy skin care (updated June 2025)
Should not be used during pregnancy, because they can put your baby at risk of birth defects: retinoids (including OTC retinol and adapalene), hydroquinone, finasteride, spironolactone, tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline, and 5-fluorouracil cream. Use sparingly: salicylic acid at high doses (greater than 2%), benzoyl peroxide, parabens, phthalates, phenol, triclosan, some essential oils. Mineral sunscreen, SPF 30+. Vitamin C in the morning, glycolic acid at night. No mention of niacinamide.
US Food and Drug Administrationfda.gov
- Phthalates in Cosmetics
No evidence that phthalates as used in cosmetics pose a safety risk; diethyl phthalate is the only one still commonly used.
Studies and other sources
- CDC National Biomonitoring Program: Phthalates factsheet (archived copy, December 2020)webarchive.library.unt.edu
Chemicals that make plastics flexible, also in soaps, shampoos, hair sprays and nail polishes; most exposure is from food and drink; exposure is widespread; human effects at low levels unknown; some affected the reproductive system of lab animals.