Pregnancy-Safe Skincare: EWG's Guide to Low-Hazard Products (2026)

Important note: This guide is for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider about product use during pregnancy. EWG's ingredient ratings reflect hazard assessments, not clinical safety guarantees. NonToxicFinder is an independent site not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with EWG.

During pregnancy, many people want to re-evaluate the personal care products they use daily. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), an independent nonprofit, maintains the Skin Deep® database — a resource that scores cosmetics and personal care products based on ingredient hazard data. EWG also maintains the EWG VERIFIED® program, which sets the highest ingredient transparency standard in personal care. This guide explains how to use EWG's resources for pregnancy skincare research and highlights EWG VERIFIED® products across key categories.

Why EWG Skin Deep Is a Useful Resource During Pregnancy

EWG Skin Deep (ewg.org/skindeep) rates personal care products on a 1–10 hazard scale based on ingredient data from scientific literature and regulatory databases. A score of 1–2 means low hazard in EWG's assessment. EWG does not certify products as safe for pregnancy — that's not what the database is designed to do. What it does provide is an ingredient transparency tool: which products disclose their full ingredient list, and which ingredients have hazard flags in EWG's assessment. For pregnancy skincare research, this is a meaningful starting point alongside guidance from your healthcare provider.

Skincare Ingredients EWG Recommends Avoiding During Pregnancy

EWG Skin Deep rates the following ingredient categories as higher-concern in their hazard database — several are commonly flagged in pregnancy skincare discussions:

• Retinoids and retinol: EWG rates retinoids as higher-hazard in Skin Deep due to developmental and reproductive toxicity concerns in their ingredient data. Many healthcare providers also advise caution with retinoids during pregnancy — consult your provider.
• Chemical UV filters (oxybenzone, octinoxate): EWG rates oxybenzone as higher-concern in Skin Deep and recommends mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) as alternatives. For pregnancy sunscreen needs, mineral formulas are the EWG-aligned choice.
• Hydroquinone: A skin-lightening ingredient rated higher-concern by EWG; commonly advised against during pregnancy by dermatologists — consult your provider.
• Synthetic fragrance: EWG flags "fragrance" as a high-concern ingredient because it can represent an undisclosed mixture of chemical compounds. EWG VERIFIED® products must fully disclose fragrance components or be fragrance-free.
• Parabens: EWG flags certain parabens as potential endocrine disruptors in their ingredient database. EWG VERIFIED® products avoid parabens.

EWG's ratings reflect their hazard assessments based on available data — they are not medical safety determinations. For pregnancy-specific guidance, your OB/GYN, midwife, or dermatologist is the right resource.

Best EWG VERIFIED® Skincare for Pregnancy (Face, Body, Hair)

EWG VERIFIED® products meet EWG's strictest standards: full ingredient disclosure, no EWG-restricted substances, and brand enrollment in EWG's program. These products eliminate the need to check individual ingredient hazard scores — if it carries EWG VERIFIED®, it meets EWG's requirements. The following are EWG VERIFIED® picks across key skincare categories. We recommend comparing these to your current products using EWG Skin Deep to see how they compare on ingredient transparency.

Body Care — EWG VERIFIED® Picks

ATTITUDE Body Lotion, Unscented (EWG VERIFIED®): A fragrance-free daily moisturizer meeting EWG's full VERIFIED® standard. No retinoids, parabens, or synthetic fragrance. See our EWG Verified® body lotion guide for pricing and alternatives.

ATTITUDE Body Wash, Sensitive Skin (EWG VERIFIED®): Fragrance-free body wash at EWG's highest standard for personal care. No parabens, no synthetic fragrance, no phthalates. See our non-toxic body wash guide.

Hair Care — EWG VERIFIED® Picks

ATTITUDE Shampoo, Sensitive Scalp (EWG VERIFIED®): Fragrance-free shampoo at EWG's VERIFIED® standard. For pregnancy, the fragrance-free variants are preferred — see our EWG Verified® shampoo guide.

Sunscreen — Mineral SPF Options

EWG recommends mineral sunscreens (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) over chemical UV filters. For pregnancy sunscreen options rated by EWG, see our EWG Verified® sunscreen for adults guide — all picks use mineral UV filters. Note: consult your healthcare provider about sunscreen use frequency and application during pregnancy; FDA regulates SPF claims, not EWG.

EWG-Rated Sunscreen for Pregnancy (Mineral Only Recommendations)

EWG's annual sunscreen guide (ewg.org/sunscreen) specifically evaluates UV filter safety. EWG consistently rates zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as lower-concern alternatives to chemical UV filters like oxybenzone. For pregnancy, selecting an EWG VERIFIED® or EWG top-rated mineral sunscreen eliminates chemical UV filter exposure. See our EWG Verified® adult sunscreen guide for specific product picks with EWG ratings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does EWG certify products as safe for pregnancy?
No. EWG Skin Deep rates products based on ingredient hazard data — it does not certify products as safe for pregnancy or any other specific life stage. EWG's assessments are a resource for ingredient research, not clinical safety determinations. For pregnancy-specific guidance, always consult your healthcare provider.

What EWG Skin Deep score should I look for during pregnancy?
EWG Skin Deep scores products 1–10; lower scores indicate lower hazard in EWG's assessment. Scores of 1–2 are low hazard. EWG VERIFIED® products meet an additional standard beyond a good Skin Deep score — they require full ingredient disclosure and avoidance of EWG's restricted substances. Both are meaningful signals for pregnancy skincare research.

Are all EWG VERIFIED® products safe for pregnancy?
EWG VERIFIED® means a product meets EWG's ingredient standards — it doesn't represent a clinical safety guarantee for pregnancy use. EWG is not a medical authority. Your healthcare provider is the right resource for pregnancy safety determinations. EWG VERIFIED® products eliminate high-concern ingredients EWG flags in its ingredient database, which is a meaningful starting point.

Which ingredients should I ask my doctor about during pregnancy?
Commonly discussed categories include retinoids/retinol, hydroquinone, chemical UV filters (oxybenzone), and certain preservatives. EWG Skin Deep's ratings for these ingredients are a useful reference to bring to your provider conversation — but your OB/GYN, midwife, or dermatologist has the clinical context to advise you specifically.

The Bottom Line

EWG Skin Deep and EWG VERIFIED® are useful tools for ingredient transparency research during pregnancy — but they are resources, not medical certifications. For pregnancy-safe product recommendations, always consult your healthcare provider. For specific EWG VERIFIED® product picks across skincare categories, see our linked buying guides: body lotion, body wash, shampoo, and mineral sunscreen. We earn a commission on purchases through our links — EWG's ratings, not commissions, determine what appears here. NonToxicFinder is not affiliated with EWG.