How we rate every product

How a product is rated

1. 1

   Collect the full ingredient list

   We start from the product's published ingredient list (INCI names, as printed on the packaging), gathered from ingredient databases such as INCIDecoder and brand listings. Each product page links to where its list came from.

2. 2

   Match ingredient names

   Labels spell the same ingredient in different ways, such as Aqua, Water, and Eau, or Parfum and Fragrance. We match these to one name and ignore amounts and notes in brackets, so “Retinol (0.1%)” is still retinol.

3. 3

   Check every ingredient against the rules

   Each ingredient is checked against the pregnancy rules below. Where an ingredient sits on the label doesn't matter: a flagged ingredient near the end of the list is still flagged.

4. 4

   The strictest match decides the rating

   One Avoid ingredient makes the product Avoid. Otherwise one Use caution ingredient makes it Use caution. A product with no matches is Pregnancy-safe.

5. 5

   Show the reason

   Every flagged product page names the ingredient that triggered the rating and why, and highlights it in the ingredient list, so you can decide with your doctor.

The ingredients we flag, and why

These are the complete rules. Any ingredient not listed here doesn't affect a product's pregnancy rating.

• Avoid

  Retinoid (vitamin A derivative)

  Topical retinoids are generally recommended to be avoided in pregnancy; oral retinoids are known to cause birth defects (MotherToBaby/ACOG, Mayo Clinic).

  Found in the catalog as: Retinyl Palmitate, Retinol, Retinal, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinyl Propionate, Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Linoleate, Retinyl Retinoate, Adapalene, Tretinoin, Retinaldehyde, Tocopheryl Retinoate, Retinol 8, Adapalene Usp, Hydrogenated Retinol, Retinyl Sunflowerseedate, Retinyl Palmitate ,Retinyl Palmitate

• Avoid

  Hydroquinone

  35–45% is absorbed through the skin; exposure should be minimized in pregnancy (Bozzo et al. 2011).

  Found in the catalog as: Hydroquinone

• Use caution

  Salicylic acid / BHA

  ACOG says over-the-counter salicylic acid products may be used if needed, but absorption rises with frequent use or large areas; avoid high-strength peels (MotherToBaby/ACOG, Bozzo et al. 2011).

  Found in the catalog as: Salicylic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Sodium Salicylate, Betaine Salicylate, Salicylic Acid Usp

• Use caution

  Arbutin (releases hydroquinone in skin)

  Breaks down into small amounts of hydroquinone; there is little pregnancy data, so it is commonly used with caution.

  Found in the catalog as: Arbutin, Alpha-Arbutin, A-Arbutin

• Use caution

  Chemical sunscreen filter with limited pregnancy data

  Not known to harm a pregnancy but not well studied, and absorbed into the bloodstream in FDA studies; mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) stay on the skin and are a lower-absorption choice (MotherToBaby, Matta et al. 2020).

  Found in the catalog as: Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Homosalate, Avobenzone, Octinoxate, Benzophenone-3, Oxybenzone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate/Octinoxate, Oxybenzone-3, Oxybenzone-4, Octocrylene/Octocrylène, Benzophenone-3 Oxybenzone

• Use caution

  Essential oil often flagged in pregnancy

  Clary sage and rosemary oils are commonly advised against at high concentrations in pregnancy.

  Found in the catalog as: Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Salvia Sclarea Extract, Rosemary Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil, Rosemary Oil, Salvia Sclarea Flower Oil, Salvia Sclarea Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Clary Sage Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Oil, Salvia Sclarea, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Essential Oil, Rosemary Oil Extract, Rosemary Essential Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Flower Oil, Salvia Sclarea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil Leaf Oil), Clary Sage Extract, Salvia Sclarea Leaf Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil Essential, Salvia Sclarea Flower/Leaf/Stem Water Flower/Leaf/Stem Water), Simmondsia Chinensis Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil , Gellidiela Acerosa Algae ) Extract

Allergen and sensitivity flags

Separately from the pregnancy rating, products are flagged for ingredients that commonly bother sensitive skin. These flags never change the pregnancy rating, and you can hide flagged products in the catalog.

fragrance

Fragrance or parfum, and fragrance allergens listed by name, such as linalool, limonene, citronellol, and geraniol.

essential oils

Plant essential oils such as tea tree, lavender, citrus peel, peppermint, eucalyptus, and rosemary oils.

snail mucin

Snail secretion filtrate and other snail-derived ingredients, for people who avoid or react to them.

alcohol denat.

Denatured (drying) alcohol, which can bother dry or sensitive skin.

niacinamide

Well tolerated by most people, but it can cause flushing or irritation for some.

What the ratings don't account for

• •Concentration. Ingredient lists don't give amounts, so a trace of salicylic acid is flagged the same as a high-strength peel.
• •How you use it. A rinse-off cleanser exposes you to far less than a leave-on serum used over a large area every day.
• •Your health history. Your doctor may advise differently based on your pregnancy, your skin, and any treatments you use.
• •Prescription and oral products. Ratings cover cosmetics used on the skin, not medicines taken by mouth.
• •Formula changes. Brands reformulate. Always check the label on the product you actually buy.

Jouaxia's ratings are general information, not medical advice. Please check your routine with your OB-GYN, midwife, fertility specialist, or dermatologist.

Common questions