Chemicals in makeup, sunscreen may increase risk of pregnancy complications. Phenols and parabens in these products increase a pregnant woman’s risk of high blood pressure by 57%, particularly at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation

Chemicals commonly found in sunscreen, makeup and other personal care products could be putting pregnancies at risk, a new study warns.

Phenols and parabens in these products increase a pregnant woman’s risk of high blood pressure by 57%, particularly at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation, researchers reported Wednesday in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

“We found chemicals in everyday soaps, lotions, makeup, sunscreen and other personal care products and consumer products [that] increased risk of hypertension” among a study group of pregnant women in Puerto Rico, said study lead researcher Julia Varshavsky. She’s an assistant professor of health sciences at Northeastern University in Boston.

Phenols and parabens are used as UV filters in sunscreens, and to prevent the growth of harmful mold and bacteria in makeup and cosmetics, researchers said

[https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP14008](https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP14008)