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Formaldehyde in skincare
Known human carcinogen (IARC Group 1); banned or strictly restricted in cosmetics worldwide.
When directly added (rare) or released from FRPs in both AM and PM products. The risk is cumulative across all products used daily. Sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis risk increases with total daily formaldehyde exposure across all products. PM leave-on formulations containing FRPs represent higher risk due to extended skin contact duration.
What it is
Formaldehyde (HCHO) is an IARC Group 1 known human carcinogen (evidence for nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia from occupational inhalation). Rarely added directly to cosmetics, but released by FRPs: DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, and Bronopol. EU limit: 0.2% free formaldehyde; mandatory warning label above 0.001% proposed for 2024. California, Maryland, Oregon, Washington State, and Vermont have banned formaldehyde and FRPs from cosmetics.
The facts
| Category | Preservative / Biocide |
| Typical use | Morning and evening |
| Concentration YARAI treats as a full dose | 0.0% |
| EU maximum permitted concentration | 0.0% (a) 0.1% (free formaldehyde) b) 0.2% (free formaldehyde)) |
| EU Cosmetics Regulation annex | V |
| EU status | restricted |
| EU and US differ | FDA does not set a concentration limit for formaldehyde in cosmetics. California Prop 65 lists formaldehyde as a carcinogen; OSHA regulates occupational exposure. EU limits are stricter and label requirements more explicit. |
Why the amount matters, not just the presence
Most ingredient checkers tell you whether something is in the bottle. That is a smaller question than it sounds. Formaldehyde at 0.0% and formaldehyde at a trace level are not the same ingredient in any way that affects your skin.
An ingredient list is ordered by quantity, so position carries real information. YARAI reads that position and scores accordingly, which is why the same ingredient can land differently in two different products.
The honest limit: a list gives order, not percentages. Estimating concentration from position is an estimate. It is a better estimate than ignoring position, and it is still an estimate. We would rather tell you that than let a number look more certain than it is.
Regulatory status
BANNED as an ingredient in EU cosmetics (Annex II, CMR 1B carcinogen). Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are regulated individually in Annex V, and since Reg. 2022/1181 any product releasing over 0.001% formaldehyde must be labeled with the releases-formaldehyde warning.
Common questions
What does formaldehyde do in a skincare product?
Known human carcinogen (IARC Group 1); banned or strictly restricted in cosmetics worldwide.
How much formaldehyde should a product contain?
YARAI treats 0.0% as a full dose for this ingredient. Below that, the ingredient is present but is scored as contributing less. An ingredient list gives you the order of ingredients, not their percentages, so this is an estimate read from position rather than a measurement.
Is formaldehyde restricted in the EU?
The EU Cosmetics Regulation permits this ingredient up to 0.0% in leave-on cosmetics, listed under V. a) 0.1% (free formaldehyde) b) 0.2% (free formaldehyde)
When should I use formaldehyde?
When directly added (rare) or released from FRPs in both AM and PM products. The risk is cumulative across all products used daily. Sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis risk increases with total daily formaldehyde exposure across all products. PM leave-on formulations containing FRPs represent higher risk due to extended skin contact duration.
Check your own products
Point your camera at a product. YARAI identifies it from the label, finds that product's full ingredient list from published sources, and scores it. No barcode and no box needed, which is how it handles imported and small-brand products.
Concern level, category and thresholds on this page are read directly from the same data the YARAI app scores with, so this page and the app cannot disagree. EU figures cite Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Last built 2026-09-09. Nothing here is medical advice.