Formaldehyde

Some ingredients release formaldehyde, which is linked to cancer. The EPA classifies it as a possible carcinogen. The following ingredients either release or breakdown into formaldehyde:

• bronopol (or 2-brono-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol)


• diazolidinyl urea


• DMDM hydantion


• imidazolidinyl urea


• quaternium 15

In a study conducted by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics on 28 children’s skin care products, 23 (or 82%) contained formaldehyde at levels between 54-610ppm.