VeriMomHIGH RISK
Should I Avoid benzylparaben During Pregnancy? | VeriMom
Reviewed by VeriMom Editorial Team · Last reviewed
ECHA regulatory hazard statements
- •H361
Products containing benzylparaben — check your shelf
These products list benzylparaben 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".
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Bitamin
100Bitamin Natural Deodorant N'orange
Avero
100Avero Solid Deodorant
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100Sustain Yourself Natural Deodorant
Gilette
99Gilette Intimate Anti-chafing Stick
Dr Teals's
99Dr Teals's Aluminum Free Deodorant Charcoal
HappySoaps
99Happysoaps Neutraal
900care
99Déodorant stick parfum embruns
Sources & references
Authoritative references used to score this ingredient.
Pregnancy-Safe Alternatives to benzylparaben | VeriMom
Ingredients — Pregnancy-Safe Ingredients Database — 28,000+ Ingredients Rated
See also
FAQ
- Is benzylparaben safe during pregnancy?
- Benzylparaben (INCI: Benzylparaben, CAS 94-18-8) is restricted/prohibited for use in cosmetics in the EU (Annex II), and peer‑reviewed in vivo and in vitro studies show estrogenic (uterotrophic) activity for benzylparaben, supporting a suspected reproductive hazard (H361-level concern). Systemic exposure from normal topical cosmetic use is measurable but not high. Sources: EU cosmetics Annex II prohibition and rat uterotrophic study. ([eur-lex.europa.eu](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX%3A32014R0358&utm_source=openai))
- Is benzylparaben safe while breastfeeding?
- Same hazard and mechanism considerations apply (suspected reproductive/estrogenic activity from animal and in vitro studies). Systemic absorption from topical use can lead to low but measurable maternal exposure; breastmilk transfer is plausible for lipophilic parabens though direct human lactation data for benzylparaben are limited. EU regulatory action reflects precaution. ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23220609/?utm_source=openai))
- Is benzylparaben safe for baby skin?
- Hazard and mechanism remain suspected (animal/in vitro estrogenicity). Infant skin has higher absorption per bodyweight; therefore exposure score is increased by +1 versus adults (measurable dermal absorption of parabens reported), raising exposure to moderate for 0–3 yr topical contact. No infant‑specific developmental human studies were found. ([pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23220609/?utm_source=openai))
- How does VeriMom score benzylparaben?
- VeriMom scores benzylparaben 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 benzylparaben?
- See our curated list of pregnancy-safe alternatives to benzylparaben 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.