Originally published July 24 2013
Four common formaldehyde releasers to avoid in your cosmetics and skin care
by Danna Norek
(NaturalNews) Formaldehyde is a highly toxic chemical that is still used under the guise of different ingredient names that don't include "formaldehyde" in the title in a large number of products that are frequently in close contact with consumers. More often than not, even if we are diligent in avoiding formaldehyde as a known ingredient, we come in contact with this chemical quite a bit simply by proxy of other ingredients.
This is because many of the preservatives and antimicrobials still popularly used in modern day skin, body, hair and hygiene products are "formaldehyde releasers." They actually begin to release this toxic chemical as they sit on your shelf. Formaldehyde is highly effective as a preservative; however, it is also highly toxic to our immune system, nervous system and is also a major carcinogen.
The longer these ingredientsage, the more formaldehyde they release and the more toxic your product becomes. This is because they are designed to slowly decompose, providing a more long-lasting preservative effect- and may even continue to do so once they are absorbed into your body.
As you likely already know, many chemicals can stay in the body for years. Logic would dictate that we wouldn't want formaldehyde slowly releasing into our body for years. The following is a list of the most common formaldehyde releasing ingredients to avoid.
Quaternium-15
Quaternium-15 is a quaternary ammonium salt. It is most commonly used as part of what is usually a large "cocktail" of preservatives in personal and skin care products that require a long shelf life. It is a known formaldehyde donor.
The compound has even been identified by the EU (European Union) as an ingredient that may not be safe in cosmetics and therefore, its use has been limited. It is also used in latex paints, industrial types of adhesives and other home consumer products. Quaternium-15 has also been identified as a potential immune irritant as allergic responses have been reported.
DMDM Hydantoin
This is another preservative that you will find on the back of quite a few ingredient labels when browsing the health and beauty section. This ingredient is restricted for use in cosmetics in Japan due to safety concerns.
There are concerns that it may cause tissue irritation and also may interfere with immunity. This may likely be due to the fact that it begins to release formaldehyde over the life of whatever product it is present in since these are both health concerns attributed to formaldehyde.
Ureas
Ureas are a family of preservatives that also rely on the slow release of formaldehyde to keep products on the shelf longer. Look for these on ingredient labels to appear as either diazolidinyl urea or imidazolidinyl urea. These have been identified as potential skin and tissue irritants.
Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
This is commonly used not only as a preservative, but also as an additive to hair care products for straightening or softening effects. It has been identified as a potential allergen.
It is actually considered to be one of the lowest of the donors since it does not tend to release as much formaldehyde as those discussed previously. This ingredient can also be listed as any of the following: Glycine, N- (Hydroxymethyl) - Monosodium Salt; Glycine, N- (Hydroxymethyl) -, Sodium Salt; N-(Hydeoxymethyl) Glycine, Sodium Salt.
Sources for this article include:
http://ec.europa.eu
http://www.mybeautyspace.com
http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com
http://www.goodguide.com
About the author:
Danna Norek founded AuraSensory.com. Product line includes an MSM & Vitamin C Ester Hydrating & Brightening Face Cream and all natural plumping Hyaluronic Acid Serum (greatly increases skin's moisture retention), Sulfate Free Natural Shine Enhancing Shampoo and Deep Hydration Conditioner, a very effective natural deodorant, and other body care. Visit to learn more about what chemicals & ingredients to avoid in your beauty and personal care products at AuraSensory.com .
Danna Norek founded AuraSensory.com. Product line includes an MSM & Vitamin C Ester Hydrating & Brightening Face Cream and all natural plumping Hyaluronic Acid Serum (greatly increases skin's moisture retention), Sulfate Free Natural Shine Enhancing Shampoo and Deep Hydration Conditioner, a very effective natural deodorant, and other body care. Visit to learn more about what chemicals & ingredients to avoid in your beauty and personal care products at AuraSensory.com .
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