Is The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA Safe During Pregnancy? (Updated 2026 Guide)

Updated September 9, 2026

C Limit

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA

The Ordinary

Safe ingredients
40
Likely safe ingredients
4
Caution ingredients
2
Avoid ingredients
0
Total ingredients
46

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA receives a C grade, making it a use with caution choice during pregnancy rather than an automatic avoid. Its ingredient based assessment flags phenoxyethanol and triethanolamine for limited direct pregnancy evidence and exposure or formulation caveats, not proven harm from ordinary facial application.

You can use this, but maybe don't make it your everyday go to. Not the end of the world if you've used it. Consult your OBGYN or midwife if you have concerns.

Pregnancy Safe is 100% independent and research driven. No companies pay to promote or sponsor products.

What Ingredients Are in The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA?

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA has 46 ingredients. We flagged 2 ingredients to use with caution.

CAUTION

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative commonly used in cosmetics and skincare products to prevent microbial growth and extend shelf life. Phenoxyethanol warrants caution because direct pregnancy evidence is limited, although regulated cosmetic levels are considered low systemic risk and nipple area use creates separate infant ingestion concerns.

triethanolamine

CAUTION

Triethanolamine is an organic compound commonly used as a pH balancer and emulsifier in cosmetics and personal care products. Triethanolamine warrants caution because direct topical pregnancy data are lacking and low concern cosmetic use depends on formulation controls that prevent nitrosamine formation.

histidine

LIKELY SAFE

Histidine is an essential amino acid involved in protein synthesis and the production of histamine, playing a key role in immune response and metabolic processes. Histidine is likely low concern during pregnancy in ordinary topical cosmetics because skin permeability is low, although direct pregnancy studies are lacking.

palmitic acid

LIKELY SAFE

Palmitic acid is a common saturated fatty acid found in palm oil, animal fats, and various plant oils, often used in cosmetics and industrial applications. Palmitic acid is rated likely safe here, while the cited pregnancy concerns involve dietary saturated fat or elevated circulating levels rather than ordinary moisturizer application.

propanediol

LIKELY SAFE

Propanediol is a versatile, plant derived humectant and solvent commonly used in skincare and cosmetic formulations to retain moisture and improve product texture. Propanediol is rated likely safe for ordinary topical use here, but the supporting discussion concerns propylene glycol rather than direct pregnancy studies of this exact ingredient.

tocopherol

LIKELY SAFE

Tocopherol is a form of vitamin E commonly used as an antioxidant in skincare and cosmetic products. Topical tocopherol is considered low concern during pregnancy at normal cosmetic exposure, and high dose oral vitamin E concerns should not be applied to ordinary skin use.

alanine

SAFE

Alanine is a non essential amino acid that plays a key role in energy production and muscle metabolism. Alanine is compatible with normal topical cosmetic use during pregnancy, although direct studies in pregnant users are unavailable.

Answering Your Questions

How much The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA is safe during pregnancy?

If you choose to use it, apply a small amount sufficient for a thin layer on intact skin, following your package directions. Avoid unusually extensive application or use on broken skin; no pregnancy specific maximum amount has been established here.

Can you use The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA daily while pregnant?

Follow your package directions and use only as needed for dryness rather than repeatedly adding thick layers. Stop if persistent redness, burning, or irritation develops; using it less often does not establish a proven pregnancy safe exposure threshold.

Why does this moisturizer receive a C grade?

The C grade comes from ingredient based scoring, with phenoxyethanol and triethanolamine carrying caution ratings. Phenoxyethanol has limited direct pregnancy data and separate infant ingestion concerns for nipple area use, while triethanolamine requires appropriate formulation controls to prevent nitrosamine formation. This does not establish that the finished moisturizer is contaminated or that ordinary facial use causes pregnancy harm.

Is the hyaluronic acid in Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA safe during pregnancy?

Its sodium hyaluronate, a form of hyaluronic acid, is considered compatible with pregnancy in normal topical moisturizer use because systemic exposure is expected to be low, although direct pregnancy studies are limited. It is not the reason for the C grade, and this topical assessment does not apply to injectable fillers.

Can I use this moisturizer while breastfeeding?

Facial application is different from applying a product where your baby could swallow it. Do not use this moisturizer as a nipple cream, and keep treated areas away from your baby's mouth: the warning involving phenoxyethanol with chlorphenesin concerned infant oral exposure from a nipple cream, not ordinary facial skincare.

What alternatives should I consider during pregnancy?

If you prefer to avoid this formula's caution rated ingredients, look for a moisturizer without phenoxyethanol or triethanolamine whose complete formula has been reviewed for pregnancy. Glycerin and topical hyaluronic acid are compatible moisturizing ingredients, but their presence alone does not establish the safety of the whole product.

Can I use Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA if my skin is sensitive?

Pregnancy compatibility and skin tolerance are separate questions. Try a small area first and stop if it causes persistent stinging, redness, or a rash; a successful patch test checks local tolerance, not pregnancy safety.

Does this assessment mean other The Ordinary products are safe during pregnancy?

No this C grade applies only to Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA and the formula reviewed here. Other moisturizers, serums, and treatments need their own ingredient assessment, so compare your package's ingredient list rather than relying on the brand name.

What Are Pregnancy Safe Alternatives to The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA?

Here are some solid alternatives. Everything below has an A or B grade, meaning no flagged ingredients in our database.

Grade Product Brand Type
B+ Byoma Moisturizing Rich Cream Byoma moisturizer
A Byoma Gel Cream Moisturizer Byoma moisturizer
A Daily Moisturizing Cream Aveeno moisturizer
A Byoma Mini Gel Cream Moisturizer 0.68 Fl Oz Byoma moisturizer

Are Other The Ordinary Products Safe During Pregnancy?

We looked at 12 other The Ordinary products. 5 are pregnancy safe (A or B grade), while 7 need a closer look.

Grade Product Type
C+ The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 with Ceramides 60ml serum
C+ The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% serum
A 100% Plant-Derived Squalane face oil
A Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% In Vitamin F serum

How Does The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA Compare to Other Moisturizers?

We graded 981 Moisturizers for pregnancy safety. Here's how they stack up:

A
3%
B
14%
C
56%
D
17%
F
10%

The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA earns a C grade, placing it among the majority of Moisturizers. Only 3% of products in this category get an A grade, so it pays to choose carefully.

How Do We Score Products for Pregnancy Safety?

We analyze each product's ingredients and category to flag known risks and provide cautionary notices for general category safety concerns.

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References

  1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24335967/
  2. https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/amacid092012rep.pdf
  3. https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/QRT-Update-Dec2025.pdf
  4. https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/singredReq?id=415&lang=eng
  5. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-5173(93)90321-6