Beauty by Earth products are generally considered low-risk during pregnancy. The brand uses mostly organic, plant-based ingredients and avoids many of the chemicals that dermatologists flag as unsafe for pregnant women, like retinol, oxybenzone, and high-concentration acids. That said, “natural” doesn’t automatically mean pregnancy-safe, so it’s worth looking at specific product categories and what’s actually in them.
What the Brand Says
Beauty by Earth has publicly stated that all of their self tanners are safe to use while pregnant, though they recommend confirming with your doctor or midwife. Beyond self tanners, the brand hasn’t issued a blanket pregnancy-safe label across their entire product line. Their formulations lean heavily on organic plant oils, aloe, and botanical extracts rather than synthetic chemicals, which keeps them in a lower-risk category overall.
The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database rates several of Beauty by Earth’s most popular products as “low hazard,” including their face self tanner, aloe vera gel, hyaluronic acid face cream, and body self tanner lotion. These ratings reflect the overall toxicity profile of every ingredient in the formula, not pregnancy specifically, but they’re a useful baseline.
Self Tanners and DHA During Pregnancy
The active tanning ingredient in Beauty by Earth’s self tanners is DHA (dihydroxyacetone), the same compound used in virtually all sunless tanners. DHA works by reacting with dead skin cells on the surface to temporarily darken them. According to MotherToBaby, a service of the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists, less than 1% of DHA applied to skin is absorbed into the bloodstream. That means very small amounts, if any, would reach a developing baby.
Most over-the-counter self tanners contain 3 to 5% DHA, and the FDA has approved it for external use at concentrations up to 15%. No studies have directly examined whether sunless tanners increase the chance of miscarriage, birth defects, preterm delivery, or low birth weight. The lack of studies isn’t necessarily alarming; it reflects how little DHA enters the body through intact skin.
One important caveat: spray application can lead to inhaling DHA fumes, which could result in higher absorption than a lotion or mousse. If you’re using Beauty by Earth’s self tanner body spray, applying it in a well-ventilated area and avoiding breathing in the mist is a reasonable precaution. Lotions applied by hand are the lowest-risk option.
Facial Skincare Products
Two ingredients dermatologists universally tell pregnant women to avoid are retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) and high-dose salicylic acid. Beauty by Earth’s facial products don’t contain either. Their Foaming Face Wash, for example, is built around saponified sunflower and coconut oils, aloe, jojoba oil, and essential oils like lavender, orange, and ylang ylang. No salicylic acid, no glycolic acid, no retinol.
The brand does use essential oils in many formulations. Lavender and citrus oils are generally considered safe in the diluted concentrations found in rinse-off products like face washes. Some practitioners advise more caution with essential oils during the first trimester, but at the low percentages typical in commercial skincare, systemic absorption is minimal.
Sunscreen Safety
Beauty by Earth’s sunscreens use zinc oxide as the sole active ingredient, at a concentration of 20%. This is a mineral (physical) sunscreen, which sits on top of the skin and reflects UV rays rather than being absorbed into it. Mineral sunscreens are widely recommended as the safest option during pregnancy because they don’t enter the bloodstream the way chemical filters like oxybenzone and avobenzone can. The formula contains no chemical UV filters.
Preservatives and Other Ingredients
Instead of synthetic preservatives like parabens, Beauty by Earth uses plant-derived antimicrobials. Their self tanner spray, for instance, relies on radish root ferment filtrate and rosemary leaf extract to keep the product stable. These are common in “clean beauty” formulations and don’t carry the endocrine-disrupting concerns associated with parabens. Rosemary extract has a low concern rating for developmental toxicity in the EWG database, meaning it poses minimal risk at the concentrations used in skincare.
The brand also uses bakuchiol in some products as an alternative to retinol. Unlike retinoids, which are known to cause birth defects and are strictly off-limits during pregnancy, bakuchiol works through similar biological pathways (stimulating collagen, promoting cell turnover) without the teratogenic effects. It’s not classified as a risk during pregnancy or breastfeeding, making it one of the few anti-aging actives that doesn’t need to be shelved for nine months.
Products to Use With More Caution
While the overall ingredient profile is reassuring, a few practical considerations apply. Any spray product, whether self tanner or facial mist, carries a small inhalation risk. Stick to lotions and creams when possible, or use sprays in open, ventilated spaces. If your skin has become more sensitive during pregnancy (which is extremely common due to hormonal changes), patch test any new product on a small area first. Ingredients you tolerated before pregnancy can sometimes trigger irritation or allergic reactions when your skin’s sensitivity threshold shifts.
Products with higher concentrations of essential oils, particularly those designed to be left on the skin like serums or moisturizers, deserve slightly more scrutiny than rinse-off cleansers. If a product has a strong fragrance from essential oils and you’re in your first trimester, you might choose the unscented version if one is available.