Preservativehigh risk Common irritant
Formaldehyde
INCI · Formaldehyde
A strong preservative and known carcinogen. Causes severe allergic reactions.
Why dermatologists flag it
Known carcinogen and strong sensitizer - restricted in EU cosmetics
Names to look for on labels
Formaldehyde appears under any of these names — manufacturers choose between INCI, common, and local-language terms freely.
FormaldehydeFormalinMethanalFormic aldehydeफॉर्मेल्डिहाइडFormaldehydformaldéhyde
Sub-ingredients to watch for
These are known components of Formaldehyde that must be listed separately under EU labeling rules.
DMDM HydantoinImidazolidinyl UreaDiazolidinyl UreaQuaternium-15Bronopol2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diolSodium Hydroxymethylglycinate5-bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxaneMethenamineHexamethylenetetraminePolyoxymethylene urea
Common product categories
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