Fragrance, Phthalates & Parabens
Everyday exposureBeauty & personal careAlso called · 8 names▾▴
fragrance pregnancy, perfume pregnancy, phthalates in cosmetics, DEP in fragrance, parabens pregnancy, fragrance-free products, phthalate-free makeup, endocrine disruptors cosmetics
Body & fragrance
General information · effects depend on amount, timing, and how it is used. About these sources
Research strength: 3 / 5
FDA says DEP may be used in fragrance and that labels may group fragrance ingredients under ‘Fragrance’ or ‘Flavor.’ FDA reports no evidence that phthalates as used in cosmetics pose a risk and no information showing that parabens as used in cosmetics affect human health. ACOG advises considering products without phthalates and parabens when possible, a precaution that differs in scope from FDA’s statements about current cosmetic use. Human studies measured urinary or serum markers, not exposure from a named beauty product or the effect of use in this trimester. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- FDA: Phthalates in CosmeticsUS government
- FDA: Parabens in CosmeticsUS government
- ACOG: Toxic Chemicals: Steps to Stay Safer Before and During PregnancyProfessional society
- Welch et al., pooled study of prenatal phthalate biomarkers and preterm birthUS government
- Trasande et al., prenatal phenol and paraben exposures and birth outcomesUS government
- Li et al., prenatal paraben exposure and pregnancy complicationsUS government
- Ou et al., phthalates and missed abortionUS government
Research strength: 3 / 5
FDA says cosmetic fragrance may contain DEP, while labels may not name each fragrance ingredient; FDA also reports no evidence of a risk from phthalates as used in cosmetics. ACOG advises considering products without phthalates and parabens when possible, while MotherToBaby reports that adverse health hazards have not been identified for pregnant people from exposure to these chemicals. In the HERMOSA study, 100 adolescent girls switched products for three days and some urinary markers fell, while ethylparaben and butylparaben markers rose. The study measured short-term exposure markers, not pregnancy outcomes or the contents of every replacement product. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- FDA: Phthalates in CosmeticsUS government
- FDA: Fragrances in CosmeticsUS government
- MotherToBaby: Cosmetics Exposures in Pregnancy and BreastfeedingTeratology service
- ACOG: Toxic Chemicals: Steps to Stay Safer Before and During PregnancyProfessional society
- Harley et al., HERMOSA product-switching studyUS government
Research strength: 3 / 5
Welch et al. pooled 16 US cohorts with 6,045 pregnancies and found higher odds of preterm birth for some urinary phthalate markers, with some estimates close to no association. Trasande et al. found a methylparaben biomarker association with small-for-gestational-age birth, but not with preterm birth or low birth weight. These studies measured exposure markers from many possible sources and did not identify a cosmetic product as the source. FDA’s cosmetic-use statements and ACOG’s precautionary product-choice guidance differ in scope, so both are shown. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- Welch et al., pooled study of prenatal phthalate biomarkers and preterm birthUS government
- Trasande et al., prenatal phenol and paraben exposures and birth outcomesUS government
- FDA: Phthalates in CosmeticsUS government
- ACOG: Toxic Chemicals: Steps to Stay Safer Before and During PregnancyProfessional society
- Li et al., prenatal paraben exposure and pregnancy complicationsUS government
- Ou et al., phthalates and missed abortionUS government
Fragrance, Phthalates & Parabens — Breastfeeding
Research strength: 3 / 5
FDA’s cosmetic pages discuss ingredient use and labeling, not health outcomes in nursing infants. A 2026 Taiwan study detected methylparaben in 81% and ethylparaben in 100% of 63 milk samples and estimated infant intake, but did not assess infant health. A second Taiwan study measured parabens in 268 milk samples and also estimated intake rather than health outcomes. MotherToBaby’s cosmetics page does not give a breastfeeding-specific outcome estimate. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- MotherToBaby: Cosmetics Exposures in Pregnancy and BreastfeedingTeratology service
- FDA: Parabens in CosmeticsUS government
- Chang et al., parabens in breast milk and estimated infant intakeUS government
- Wang et al., parabens in human milk and placentaUS government
- Marie et al., perinatal cosmetics guidelinesUS government
- Chang et al., prenatal parabens and infant eczemaUS government
Pregnancy
Harley et al. (2016) studied 100 adolescent girls who switched to replacement products for three days. Urinary mono-ethyl phthalate fell 27.4%, methylparaben 43.9%, and propylparaben 45.4%; ethylparaben and butylparaben markers increased. The study measured short-term exposure markers, not pregnancy outcomes, and did not test every replacement product for its ingredients. Welch et al. (2022) pooled 16 US cohorts with 6,045 pregnancies. Higher urinary levels of several phthalate markers were associated with 12% to 16% higher odds of preterm birth per interquartile-range increase, but some confidence intervals included or touched no association. Trasande et al. (2024) analyzed 3,619 mother-infant pairs from 11 cohorts. A one-unit increase in log10 pregnancy-averaged methylparaben was associated with higher odds of small-for-gestational-age birth (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.03-1.70); the study found no association of methylparaben with preterm birth or low birth weight. A 2026 prospective cohort of 934 mother-infant pairs in Ningxia, China, reported associations between serum levels of several parabens and pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, and anemia. A 2026 study of 50 missed-abortion cases and 50 elective terminations reported an association between butyl benzyl phthalate exposure and missed abortion; it also included cell experiments. These observational studies measured biomarkers or tissue exposure, not a named beauty product, and do not establish that cosmetic use caused an outcome. FDA’s cosmetic-use statements and MotherToBaby’s broader pregnancy statement do not assess these individual findings, so their scope differs.
Breastfeeding
Marie et al. (2022) published perinatal cosmetics guidelines that favor fewer products and simple, fragrance-free, rinsable products with short ingredient lists; the fragrance-free preference is described as expert consensus, not a product-specific breastfeeding outcome. Two 2026 Taiwan biomonitoring studies detected parabens in human milk and estimated infant intake. One tested 63 milk samples from 54 mothers and reported methylparaben in 81% and ethylparaben in 100% of samples; the other measured four parabens in 268 milk samples and 189 placentas. Neither study measured infant health outcomes. A 2026 study of 336 mother-infant pairs measured maternal serum parabens during pregnancy, not breast milk; its breastfeeding analysis modified an indirect prenatal-exposure and eczema association, and does not show that parabens transferred through milk caused eczema. MotherToBaby’s cosmetics page discusses pregnancy exposure but does not provide a breastfeeding-specific outcome estimate.
FDA says DEP is the phthalate commonly used in fragrance products, where it can act as a solvent or fixative. US cosmetic labels may list a fragrance or flavor mixture without naming each ingredient, so a label may not show whether DEP is present in a fragrance mixture. FDA also says parabens are commonly used as cosmetic preservatives. FDA reports no evidence that phthalates as used in cosmetics pose a risk, no concern about DEP as currently used in cosmetics and fragrances, and no information showing that parabens as used in cosmetics affect human health.
What was tested
HERMOSA measured urine markers before and after three days of product switching in 100 adolescent girls. Welch and Trasande analyzed pregnancy biomarkers and birth outcomes, not specific cosmetic products. The 2026 pregnancy-complications and missed-abortion papers measured maternal serum or pregnancy tissue and reported observational associations. The Taiwan lactation studies measured milk concentrations and estimated intake, not infant outcomes. The 2026 eczema study measured maternal serum during pregnancy, not parabens in breast milk.
Precautionary product-choice guidance and statements about current cosmetic use
- Source A says
- FDA reports no evidence that phthalates as used in cosmetics pose a risk, no concern about DEP as currently used, and no information showing that parabens as used in cosmetics affect human health. MotherToBaby reports that adverse health hazards have not been identified for pregnant people from exposure to phthalates and parabens. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Phthalates in Cosmetics, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Parabens in Cosmetics, MotherToBaby, Cosmetics Exposures in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding)
- Source B says
- ACOG advises considering products without phthalates and parabens when possible and distinguishes fragrance-free products from unscented products. (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Toxic Chemicals: Steps to Stay Safer Before and During Pregnancy)
- Why they differ
- ACOG provides precautionary product-choice guidance. FDA describes its assessment of cosmetic use, while MotherToBaby summarizes pregnancy exposure more broadly. The statements differ in emphasis and scope; ACOG’s advice does not itself identify established harm from ordinary use of a named cosmetic.
- Other sources
- Marie et al. also published perinatal product-reduction guidance, with a simple, fragrance-free product preference identified as expert consensus. Observational pregnancy studies report biomarker associations but do not identify a particular cosmetic product as the source. (Marie et al., Use of Cosmetic Products in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women and Young Children: Guidelines for Interventions during the Perinatal Period, Welch et al., Associations Between Prenatal Urinary Biomarkers of Phthalate Exposure and Preterm Birth, Trasande et al., Prenatal Phenol and Paraben Exposures and Adverse Birth Outcomes, Li et al., Prenatal Paraben Exposure and Pregnancy Complications: The Moderating Role of Psychological Anxiety, Ou et al., Association of Phthalates with miR-3651, ATP6AP2, and SEC63 Dysregulation in Missed Abortion: Clinical and In Vitro Evidence)
- What the evidence shows overall
- The sources address different questions. FDA and MotherToBaby describe what has or has not been identified for cosmetic or pregnancy exposure, while ACOG and Marie et al. offer precautionary product-choice guidance. Cohort findings about urinary, serum, or tissue markers do not identify a specific product or establish that ordinary cosmetic use caused a pregnancy outcome. The entry therefore keeps the existing compatible ratings and shows the guidance difference rather than treating it as proof of harm.
- ACOG advises considering products without phthalates and parabens when possible, and explains that fragrance-free differs from unscented. (ACOG: Toxic Chemicals: Steps to Stay Safer Before and During Pregnancy)
- Marie et al.’s perinatal guidelines favor simple, fragrance-free, rinsable products with short ingredient lists; the fragrance-free preference is expert consensus. (Marie et al., perinatal cosmetics guidelines)
- FDA says fragrance or flavor ingredients may be grouped on cosmetic labels and that a consumer may not be able to determine whether a fragrance mixture contains phthalates from the label. (FDA: Phthalates in Cosmetics)
General research, not specific to pregnancy.
Regulatory findings address named substances and exposure groups, so they do not establish a pregnancy or breastfeeding rating for fragrance mixtures.
- The EU Cosmetics Regulation lists dibutyl phthalate and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in Annex II. This restriction names those substances and does not mean that every phthalate has the same regulatory status. (European Union Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, consolidated 18 May 2026)
- The SCCS’s 2023 opinion evaluates methylparaben as a cosmetic preservative under stated concentration limits. Its 2025 butylparaben opinion addresses children’s direct cosmetic exposure, not maternal use during pregnancy or exposure through milk. (European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, Opinion on Methylparaben, European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, Opinion on Butylparaben, Children’s Exposure)
- FDA’s rule about ephedrine-alkaloid dietary supplements concerns those supplements, not cosmetics containing fragrance, phthalates, or parabens, and not ephedrine or pseudoephedrine medicines.
Experiences from moms and non-medical voices. Not medical evidence.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Phthalates in CosmeticsUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2022-05-19Independent check
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Fragrances in CosmeticsUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2022-02-28
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Parabens in CosmeticsUS governmentSecondaryPage dated 2025-11-18Independent check
- MotherToBaby, Cosmetics Exposures in Pregnancy and BreastfeedingTeratology serviceSecondaryIndependent check
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Toxic Chemicals: Steps to Stay Safer Before and During PregnancyProfessional societySecondaryIndependent check
- Harley et al., Reducing Phthalate, Paraben, and Phenol Exposure from Personal Care Products in Adolescent Girls: HERMOSAUS governmentPrimary
- Welch et al., Associations Between Prenatal Urinary Biomarkers of Phthalate Exposure and Preterm BirthUS governmentPrimary
- Trasande et al., Prenatal Phenol and Paraben Exposures and Adverse Birth OutcomesUS governmentPrimary
- Marie et al., Use of Cosmetic Products in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women and Young Children: Guidelines for Interventions during the Perinatal PeriodUS governmentSecondaryIndependent check
- Li et al., Prenatal Paraben Exposure and Pregnancy Complications: The Moderating Role of Psychological AnxietyUS governmentPrimary
- Ou et al., Association of Phthalates with miR-3651, ATP6AP2, and SEC63 Dysregulation in Missed Abortion: Clinical and In Vitro EvidenceUS governmentPrimary
- Chang et al., Prenatal Parabens Exposure and Infantile Eczema: Mediation by IL-17A, Effect Modification by Breastfeeding, and Evidence from Network ToxicologyUS governmentPrimary
- Chang et al., Methylparaben and Ethylparaben Exposure Through Breast Milk in the First Six Months of LactationUS governmentPrimary
- Wang et al., Biomonitoring of Parabens in Human Milk and Placenta and Estimated Daily Intake in Northern TaiwanUS governmentPrimary
- European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, Opinion on MethylparabenEU agencySecondaryPage dated 2023-12-15Independent check
- European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, Opinion on Butylparaben, Children’s ExposureEU agencySecondaryPage dated 2025-05-02Independent check
- European Union Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, consolidated 18 May 2026EU agencySecondaryPage dated 2026-05-18Independent check
Last reviewed 2026-10-18
Independent check 2026-10-18
Not yet clinician-reviewed
Ask your provider about your situation.