The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution is generally considered safe during pregnancy by major medical organizations, though the guidance isn’t unanimous. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists lists glycolic acid as an over-the-counter ingredient that can be used during pregnancy, and Australia’s MotherSafe program agrees. However, the product’s own manufacturer, DECIEM, hasn’t tested its products on pregnant people and doesn’t make specific safety claims.
What Medical Organizations Say
ACOG explicitly includes glycolic acid on its list of pregnancy-safe over-the-counter acne treatments, alongside benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, and topical salicylic acid. Australia’s Royal Hospital for Women reaches the same conclusion, stating that glycolic acid is “considered safe to use in pregnancy.” These guidelines refer to glycolic acid at cosmetic concentrations, which typically means products under 10%. The Ordinary’s toner sits at 7%, well within that range.
Not every source agrees. The InfantRisk Center, a drug safety resource for pregnancy and breastfeeding, takes a more cautious position. It notes that glycolic acid caused harm in animal studies, though at doses higher than what cosmetic products deliver. Their recommendation is to avoid glycolic acid until more research is available, particularly because concentrations vary widely across products and chemical peels.
This split in guidance is worth understanding: no human studies have shown harm from cosmetic-strength glycolic acid during pregnancy, but no large clinical trials have specifically confirmed its safety in pregnant women either. The “safe” designation from ACOG and other groups is based on what’s known about the ingredient’s minimal absorption and low-risk profile, not on dedicated pregnancy trials.
How Much Actually Enters Your Bloodstream
One reason glycolic acid gets a pass from most experts is that very little of it makes it past the skin’s surface. According to data from the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme, a 5% glycolic acid product at a low pH (which is typical of exfoliating toners) showed maximum skin penetration averaging around 12% of the applied amount, with most subjects falling between 2% and 22%. At a more neutral pH, penetration dropped to under 2%.
In practical terms, if you swipe a glycolic acid toner across your face, only a small fraction reaches deeper skin layers, and an even smaller fraction enters systemic circulation. This is fundamentally different from swallowing an ingredient, which is why topical glycolic acid is treated as lower risk than, say, oral retinoids, which are strictly off-limits during pregnancy.
What DECIEM Says About Their Product
DECIEM’s official position is that while each ingredient in their products has been tested for topical safety, they have not tested their formulations on pregnant or breastfeeding people. The company specifically warns against using products containing retinoids (like their Granactive Retinoid or Retinol formulas) during pregnancy but does not single out glycolic acid as a concern.
This is a standard legal stance for cosmetics companies. It doesn’t mean the product is unsafe during pregnancy. It means the company hasn’t conducted its own pregnancy-specific testing and won’t make a claim it can’t back with proprietary data.
Pregnancy Can Change How Your Skin Reacts
Even if glycolic acid is safe from a toxicity standpoint, your skin may not tolerate it the way it did before pregnancy. Hormonal shifts increase skin sensitivity, and products you’ve used comfortably for years can suddenly cause redness, stinging, or irritation. Glycolic acid is one of the stronger alpha hydroxy acids, and at 7% in a leave-on toner format, it delivers more prolonged contact with the skin than a wash-off cleanser would.
There’s also a specific concern with hyperpigmentation. Many pregnant women develop melasma, the dark patches that appear on the face due to hormonal changes. Glycolic acid can help fade hyperpigmentation, but irritating the skin with an exfoliant can also trigger more pigmentation in darker skin tones or sensitized skin. If you notice increased irritation, scaling back to every other day or switching to a gentler acid may be more practical than pushing through.
Lower-Risk Alternatives Worth Considering
If you’d rather err on the side of caution or your skin is reacting poorly to glycolic acid, several other exfoliating ingredients carry a clearer safety profile during pregnancy:
- Azelaic acid is one of the best-studied options. ACOG includes it on its safe list, and it treats both acne and hyperpigmentation, making it a strong substitute for glycolic acid.
- Lactic acid is a milder alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates with less irritation. It’s a good option if your skin has become more reactive during pregnancy.
- Mandelic acid has a larger molecular size, which means it penetrates skin more slowly and tends to be the gentlest of the common chemical exfoliants.
All three can be used daily if your skin tolerates them, and they’re widely available at similar price points to The Ordinary’s glycolic toner.
The Bottom Line on Safety
Most dermatologists and obstetric guidelines consider The Ordinary’s 7% glycolic acid toner acceptable during pregnancy. It falls below the 10% concentration threshold that experts generally cite as the upper limit, and topical application results in minimal systemic absorption. The main dissenting voice, the InfantRisk Center, urges caution based on high-dose animal data rather than evidence of harm in humans at cosmetic concentrations. If you’re comfortable with where the majority of medical guidance lands, continuing to use the product is a reasonable choice. If you prefer to eliminate any uncertainty, azelaic acid or lactic acid will give you similar exfoliating benefits with even less debate about their safety profile.