How do I know which skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy
Use the free tool — SkinSafeMom
What this guide is about
If you are pregnant and worried about your face cream, serum or sunscreen, you are not alone. This page explains, in plain language, how a free tool called SkinSafeMom can help you see which ingredients ACOG and the FDA say to avoid or ask about during pregnancy. This is not medical advice. Always confirm with your doctor before you change anything you use on your skin.
What ACOG and the FDA say
ACOG and the FDA keep lists of ingredients to avoid or ask about during pregnancy. SkinSafeMom checks the ingredient list you paste against those lists. The tool does not tell you to stop using anything — it only shows you which ingredients are flagged by ACOG and the FDA so you know what to bring up with your doctor.
How SkinSafeMom can help
Here is how it works, based on the tool's own description:
- You paste the ingredient list from your face cream, serum or sunscreen.
- The tool checks it against what ACOG and the FDA say to avoid or ask about in pregnancy.
- It then shows safer options side by side, along with price, ship time and sources, so you can compare.
- It is free and does not require a login.
What we don't know
We should be honest about the gaps:
- The material does not list which specific ingredients are flagged — you need to paste your own list to see.
- It is not stated whether the ingredient lists you paste are saved or stored anywhere.
- Prices and ship times shown for "safer options" are worth double-checking directly with the seller, since they can change.
Important cautions
- This tool is not medical advice. It only shows what ACOG and the FDA flag — it does not decide what is safe for you personally.
- Always talk to your doctor or OB before you stop, start or change any skincare product during pregnancy.
- Confirm current price and availability with the seller before you buy any suggested alternative.
What to do next
The free SkinSafeMom tool reads your own ingredient list — you paste it in yourself, and it checks your actual product against what ACOG and the FDA say to avoid or ask about in pregnancy, then shows you safer options to compare. No login is needed. Bring whatever it shows you to your next appointment and ask your doctor about it before making any changes.