Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers

Never allowedReviewed September 18, 2026

DMDM Hydantoin · Quaternium-15 · Imidazolidinyl Urea · Diazolidinyl Urea · Bronopol · Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate · Formalin

Preservatives that work by slowly releasing formaldehyde into the product.

What it does: Preservation
Our take: Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen and one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis. The releasers never appear on a label as "formaldehyde," which is exactly why they need naming. You can read the entire ingredient list and never know it's there.

What we read

IARC Group 1 · reviewed Sep 2026

Every other ingredient, with the same treatment.

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never allowed28

ParabensPhthalatesFormaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservativesPEG compoundsPolysorbatesEthoxylated ingredientsDEA, TEA and MEA compoundsBHA and BHTPetrolatum, mineral oil and paraffinIsothiazolinone preservativesRetinol and retinyl estersHydroquinoneChemical UV filtersTalcCoal tar and synthetic dyesPFAS and fluorinated compoundsTriclosan and triclocarbanAntibacterials and antimicrobials we excludeSynthetic fragranceSynthetic musksSodium lauryl and laureth sulfateEDTA and synthetic chelatorsIndustrial solventsHeavy metalsPlastic microbeads and film-formersAerosol propellantsOther synthetic preservatives we excludeCyclic silicones

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