Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a cosmetic ingredient used as an antimicrobial, denaturant agent. It is used in 11 products in our dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 2,281 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | FORMALDEHYDE |
| Function | ANTIMICROBIAL, DENATURANT, PRESERVATIVE |
| CAS number | 50-00-0 |
| EC number | 200-001-8 |
| Prevalence | 11 products (0.01% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Nail |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 2,281 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 60,500 |
Used in
Nail Care 72.7%Face Cleansers 18.2%Shampoos 9.1%
Frequently asked
- What does Formaldehyde do in skincare?
- Formaldehyde functions as an antimicrobial, denaturant agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Formaldehyde allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Formaldehyde?
- It is most commonly found in Nail products, especially nail care (72.7% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Formaldehyde
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.