VeriMomHIGH RISK
Should I Avoid retinyl propionate During Pregnancy? | VeriMom
Reviewed by VeriMom Editorial Team · Last reviewed
ECHA regulatory hazard statements
- •H360
- •H361d
Products containing retinyl propionate — check your shelf
These products list retinyl propionate on their INCI. If one is in your routine, consider swapping it during pregnancy.
OLAY
35Olay Body Cellscience B3 + Retinol
Pond’s
35Pond's Age Miracle Whip Cream
Pond’s
35Pond's Age Miracle Day Cream
Pond’s
35Pond's Age Miracle Youthful Glow Night Cream
Pond’s
35Pond's Age Miracle Youthful Glow Double Action Serum
Bioaqua
34BioAqua 6x Gentle-a Retinal Anti Aging Cream
Sesderma
34Sesderma Reti Age Eye Contour Gel
Lakme skin solution
34Lakme skin solution Hydrating Sheet Mask With Hyaluronic Acid
OLAY
34Olay Professional Prox Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Treatment
Zakka Naturals
34Zakka Naturals Acnetinol Dual Retinoids Microcapsules Serum
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".
Avero
100Avero Solid Deodorant
Mew mew tweet
100Mew mew tweet Cedar Spruce Baking Soda Free
L'Occitane
100L´Occitane Powder To-mousse Facial Exfoliator
Unknown
100schmidts here now
Sustain Yourself
100Sustain Yourself Natural Deodorant
Bitamin
100Bitamin Natural Deodorant N'orange
Routine
99Routine Sweet Jane Deodorant Jar
Laura Mercier
99Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Spf 20 - Oil Free
Routine
99Routine The Curator
bareMinerals
99bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF 30
Sources & references
Authoritative references used to score this ingredient.
Pregnancy-Safe Alternatives to retinyl propionate | VeriMom
Ingredients — Pregnancy-Safe Ingredients Database — 28,000+ Ingredients Rated
See also
FAQ
- Is retinyl propionate safe during pregnancy?
- Animal and toxicology literature show that preformed vitamin A and retinoids (including retinyl esters) cause dose‑dependent embryofetal malformations in multiple species; expert panels (CIR, SCCS) have reviewed retinol/retinyl esters for cosmetics. ECHA/industry dossiers and supplier SDSs list reproductive hazard statements (H360/H361) as self‑classified for retinyl propionate, and animal data (e.g., rodent/macaque studies of retinyl esters/retinoic acid) demonstrate teratogenicity. Topical cosmetic use gives low but measurable dermal absorption, so systemic exposure is generally low but not zero. Sources: CIR (retinol/retinyl esters safety assessment), SCCS opinions on vitamin A, ECHA registration / supplier SDSs, peer‑reviewed animal teratogenicity studies.
- Is retinyl propionate safe while breastfeeding?
- Mechanism (retinoid activity) is the same and systemic exposure from topical use is low but measurable; transferred levels in breastmilk after topical cosmetic use are not well quantified. Given the known developmental effects of systemic retinoids, breastfeeding risk is considered linked to maternal systemic exposure (which for cosmetic topical use is generally low). Relevant sources: CIR, SCCS, ECHA dossiers/SDS, animal/developmental literature.
- Is retinyl propionate safe for baby skin?
- No infant‑specific developmental hazard data were located; however, retinyl propionate is a retinol ester metabolised to active retinoids (mechanistic concern). Infant skin has higher absorption (immature barrier, higher surface‑area‑to‑weight), so exposure score is increased by +1. There is a lack of infant dermal PK data for retinyl propionate specifically. Sources: CIR and SCCS reviews of retinol/retinyl esters; general toxicology literature on retinoid embryopathy; ECHA registration/SDS noting reproductive hazard classifications.
- How does VeriMom score retinyl propionate?
- VeriMom scores retinyl propionate at 13/100 (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 retinyl propionate?
- See our curated list of pregnancy-safe alternatives to retinyl propionate 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.