Are shampoos and makeup during pregnancy changing baby growth?
Yes. Peer-reviewed research shows that environmental chemicals found in everyday personal care products can disrupt the metabolic pathways and growth factors essential for a healthy pregnancy.
What's actually in it
Many shampoos, lotions, and makeup products contain hidden mixtures of chemicals that your body absorbs through the skin. These include PFAS (often used for texture or water resistance) and heavy metals like chromium. These substances do not stay on the surface of your skin. They enter your bloodstream and can reach the developing fetus.
Recent science shows that these pollutants don't just sit in your system. They actively interfere with how your body processes amino acids and fatty acids. These are the building blocks your baby needs to grow properly during those critical early months.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Biol Trace Elem Res found that exposure to chromium during pregnancy is linked to changes in fetal growth, with responses that may differ depending on the sex of the baby.
Furthermore, a 2026 study in Environ Int identified that mixtures of environmental pollutants are directly associated with disturbances to vital metabolic pathways during early pregnancy. These pathways are responsible for managing the nutrients your baby relies on for development.
Additional peer-reviewed research highlights that PFAS levels in the blood during pregnancy are connected to changes in gestational weight gain, according to a 2026 study in Int J Hyg Environ Health. When you use conventional products, you are adding to your total chemical load, which can impact both maternal health and fetal outcomes.
The research at a glance
What to use instead
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