VeriMomShould I Avoid benzophenone-2 During Pregnancy? | VeriMom
Reviewed by VeriMom Editorial Team · Last reviewed
ECHA regulatory hazard statements
- •H361
Products containing benzophenone-2 — check your shelf
These products list benzophenone-2 on their INCI. If one is in your routine, consider swapping it during pregnancy.
What to use instead
Pregnancy-safe ingredients that serve a similar function:
Pregnancy-safe products to use instead
Products built around the safer ingredients above, scored "no known risks" or "low risk".
Sources & references
Authoritative references used to score this ingredient.
Pregnancy-Safe Alternatives to benzophenone-2 | VeriMom
Ingredients — Pregnancy-Safe Ingredients Database — 28,000+ Ingredients Rated
See also
FAQ
- Is benzophenone-2 safe during pregnancy?
- Benzophenone-2 (BP‑2) is flagged as a reproductive/ED concern based on animal and mechanistic data (estrogenic activity in rodents and fish) and recent regulatory review by SCCS; this supports a 'suspected' reproductive hazard (h=2). Mechanistically, in vitro and in vivo studies show estrogenic/endocrine activity (m=2). Typical topical cosmetic use gives low but measurable systemic exposure (e=1). Key sources: CIR (overall cosmetic assessment), peer‑reviewed studies showing estrogenic activity, and the SCCS preliminary opinion raising concern.
- Is benzophenone-2 safe while breastfeeding?
- Hazard and mechanism same as for pregnancy (suspected reproductive/endocrine activity; demonstrated estrogenic effects in animals/in vitro). There are limited/no reliable human lactation transfer data; with topical exposure systemic levels are low but measurable so breastfeeding exposure is possible but likely low (e=1).
- Is benzophenone-2 safe for baby skin?
- Do not increase hazard or mechanism without infant‑specific evidence, but absorption/exposure is higher for infant skin. Because BP‑2 has measurable absorption in some studies and infants have higher surface‑area‑to‑weight and immature barriers, exposure score is increased by +1 (adult e=1 → baby e=2). Hazard and mechanistic concerns remain 'suspected' (h=2, m=2).
- How does VeriMom score benzophenone-2?
- VeriMom scores benzophenone-2 at 20/100 (high risk) based on EU CosIng status, ECHA hazard classifications, and peer-reviewed PubMed studies. Our scoring pipeline is fully transparent.
- What are pregnancy-safe alternatives to benzophenone-2?
- See our curated list of pregnancy-safe alternatives to benzophenone-2 based on similar function and a no-known-risks safety band.
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Medical Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Safety scores are based on publicly available data and may not reflect all risks. Always consult your healthcare provider before using any product during pregnancy or breastfeeding.