VeriMomHIGH RISK
Should I Avoid ethylhexanol During Pregnancy? | VeriMom
Reviewed by VeriMom Editorial Team · Last reviewed
ECHA regulatory hazard statements
- •H361
- •H361D
Products containing ethylhexanol — check your shelf
These products list ethylhexanol 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".
Mew mew tweet
100Mew mew tweet Cedar Spruce Baking Soda Free
L'Occitane
100L´Occitane Powder To-mousse Facial Exfoliator
Avero
100Avero Solid Deodorant
Unknown
100schmidts here now
Sustain Yourself
100Sustain Yourself Natural Deodorant
Bitamin
100Bitamin Natural Deodorant N'orange
Dr Teals's
99Dr Teals's Aluminum Free Deodorant Charcoal
900care
99Déodorant stick parfum embruns
HappySoaps
99Happysoaps Neutraal
Routine
99Routine The Curator
Sources & references
Authoritative references used to score this ingredient.
Pregnancy-Safe Alternatives to ethylhexanol | VeriMom
Ingredients — Pregnancy-Safe Ingredients Database — 28,000+ Ingredients Rated
See also
FAQ
- Is ethylhexanol safe during pregnancy?
- Animal developmental/toxicity studies in rodents (dermal and dietary studies) do not show teratogenicity or consistent developmental toxicity at doses up to high levels; authoritative registries (ECHA registration / PubChem summary of NTP studies) report no developmental or maternal effects at tested doses. No harmonised CLP H360 classification was found; some safety data sheets/C&L notifications list suspected reproductive hazard (H361) but these appear to be company notifications rather than an EU-harmonised classification, so they do not by themselves justify raising the hazard score. Topical cosmetic exposure would be expected to give low but measurable systemic exposure. (Tyl et al. 1992; PubChem/NTP summary; ECHA substance/registration information).
- Is ethylhexanol safe while breastfeeding?
- No reliable mammalian data show reproductive/developmental effects at relevant exposures and no authoritative guidance (CIR or SCCS) listing as unsafe in lactation was located. Systemic absorption from topical use is expected to be low but measurable, so small amounts could theoretically reach breast milk, but direct data on milk transfer are lacking. Company SDS/C&L notifications claiming H361 are not harmonised and do not provide definitive evidence of lactation risk. (PubChem/NTP; ECHA registration/dossier).
- Is ethylhexanol safe for baby skin?
- No infant-specific developmental or reproductive toxicity data were identified. Given measurable dermal absorption in adults and the increased surface-area-to-weight and immature barrier in infants, exposure rating is increased by one for baby skin (adult e=1 → baby e=2). The available rodent developmental studies do not indicate teratogenicity at tested doses. Recent non-mammalian studies (zebrafish) report neurodevelopmental effects, but these are not directly translatable to human infant skin/ systemic risk without further mammalian evidence. (Tyl et al. 1992; recent zebrafish study; PubChem/ECHA summaries).
- How does VeriMom score ethylhexanol?
- VeriMom scores ethylhexanol at 33/100 (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 ethylhexanol?
- See our curated list of pregnancy-safe alternatives to ethylhexanol based on similar function and a no-known-risks safety band.
Check every label in 2 seconds
Get VeriMom free — scan any product and see the pregnancy safety score instantly.
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.