Formaldehyde & Formaldehyde Releasing AgentsUpdated a month ago

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is released by a number of cosmetic preservatives, including diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, and sodium hydroxylmethylglycinate. The International Agency for Research on Carcinogens (“IARC”) has classified formaldehyde as 'carcinogenic to humans.' The American Society of Contact Dermatitis lists it as one of the core allergens, even in concentrations as low as 1%. Longer storage times and higher temperatures increase the amount of formaldehyde released from the formaldehyde-releasers. 

Sources:
https://online.personalcarecouncil.org/ctfa-static/online/lists/cir-pdfs/pr209.pdf
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/formaldehyde.html
https://www.contactderm.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=3563
http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/formaldehyde/

Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives

(Additional Names: DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Quaternium-15, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Methenamine, and Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate)

Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives release a small amount of formaldehyde into a product over time. The International Agency for Research on Carcinogens (“IARC”) has classified formaldehyde as carcinogenic to humans. The American Society of Contact Dermatitis lists it as one of the core allergens, even in concentrations as low as 1%. Longer storage times and higher temperatures increase the amount of formaldehyde released via the formaldehyde-releasers. 

Sources:
https://online.personalcarecouncil.org/ctfa-static/online/lists/cir-pdfs/pr209.pdf
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/formaldehyde.html
https://www.contactderm.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=3563
http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/formaldehyde/