Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives in Personal Care Products: What You Need to Know 

Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives in Personal Care Products: What You Need to Know 

Every day, millions of Americans use personal care products that promise to nourish our skin, smooth our hair, or enhance our appearance. We use them in the morning before work, in the evening before bed, and often on our children and loved ones, trusting they are safe. But what happens when those everyday products contain hidden chemicals that may be harmful to your health? For too many individuals, especially Black and Latina women, that concern is more than hypothetical.

Recent studies have uncovered a troubling link between formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs) and serious health risks. These preservatives are found in products as common as shampoo, lotion, body wash, and even eyelash glue. They’re added to prevent bacteria growth and extend shelf life. But in the process, they may be exposing people, especially those who use multiple products daily, to toxic, cancer-causing chemicals.

The Hidden Danger in Everyday Products

A recent study from the Silent Spring Institute in collaboration with Black Women for Wellness, Occidental College, and Columbia University revealed that over half of Black and Latina women in a South Los Angeles sample group used at least one product containing FRPs. These weren’t obscure specialty products—they included widely available items such as:

• Body lotions
• Hair relaxers
• Shampoos and conditioners
• Facial cleansers
• Body soaps and washes
• Eyelash glue

This means women were applying potentially toxic substances multiple times a day—often without any knowledge of the risk. For example, DMDM hydantoin, the most common FRP found in the study, was present in 47% of skincare products and 58% of hair products that contained FRPs.

Many of these products were used daily, some several times a day. One participant in the study used hand soap with FRPs more than twice daily. Another used a leave-in conditioner, rinse-off conditioner, and a body wash—all containing FRPs—during a single week.

Why Are These Chemicals Still Legal?

Despite being classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a known carcinogen, formaldehyde is not currently banned from most personal care products in the U.S. In fact, the U.S. has some of the weakest cosmetics regulations in the developed world. While countries like those in the European Union have taken strong regulatory steps, including requiring products with formaldehyde to carry warning labels, the U.S. continues to allow the use of FRPs with minimal oversight.

In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a ban on formaldehyde in hair straightening products after multiple warnings over the years, but the rule has not yet been enacted. Meanwhile, California and Washington have passed state-level bans, which will go into effect in 2025. Still, for much of the country, consumers remain largely unprotected.

Even when formaldehyde is not listed as an ingredient, it can still be released by these preservatives in trace amounts, which can build up with chronic use over time. This repeated exposure is especially concerning for individuals who use multiple products daily and for children, whose developing bodies may be more vulnerable to chemical toxicity.

Disproportionate Harm to Black and Latina Women

Perhaps one of the most disturbing findings is the disproportionate exposure among women of color. The use of certain personal care products—especially hair relaxers, skin lighteners, and fragranced lotions—is more common among Black and Latina women due to racist beauty standards, targeted marketing, and limited access to safer alternatives.

Hair discrimination, in particular, has played a significant role. Many Black women have felt pressure—culturally or professionally—to use hair straighteners, relaxers, and styling products to conform to white-centric beauty norms. These products often contain the highest concentrations of FRPs.

In one case from the study, 12 different body lotions containing FRPs were all from the same popular brand, highlighting how few safe options exist in mainstream markets. Even among women trying to be conscious of ingredients, misleading labeling and unfamiliar chemical names make it nearly impossible to make informed decisions.

“We’re trying to do the right thing,” said Janette Robinson Flint, executive director of Black Women for Wellness. “But there needs to be more government oversight. We shouldn’t have to be chemists to figure out what kinds of products will make us sick.”

Real Health Risks of FRP Exposure

The risks aren’t abstract or hypothetical. Formaldehyde exposure has been linked to:

• Leukemia
• Nasopharyngeal cancer
• Uterine cancer
• Breast cancer
• Allergic contact dermatitis
• Asthma and respiratory irritation

While some may downplay the effects of low-dose exposure, it’s important to understand that formaldehyde is cumulative. The body doesn't just "flush it out" with each use. For people using these products repeatedly and in combination, the risk multiplies.

And the concern isn’t just for consumers. Salon workers, beauty professionals, and caregivers—many of whom are also women of color—are routinely exposed to these chemicals in their workplace. In fact, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a hazard alert in 2011 specifically warning about the dangers of formaldehyde in salon environments.

The Struggle for Beauty Justice

This conversation is part of a larger movement for beauty justice—a growing recognition that the cosmetics and personal care industry disproportionately harms women of color, particularly Black and Latina women. These groups are more likely to be exposed to harmful ingredients, less likely to be represented in safety research, and often lack access to safer, affordable alternatives.

“Beauty justice” isn’t just about vanity. It’s about bodily autonomy, public health, and environmental justice. When large corporations prioritize profit over safety and regulators fail to intervene, communities are left to suffer the consequences. And too often, those communities are the same ones already overburdened by pollution, discrimination, and healthcare disparities.

What’s Being Done: Regulation and Reform

As the health risks of formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs) become more widely acknowledged, momentum for stronger regulation is growing—but change has been slow and uneven.

In 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a rule to ban formaldehyde from hair-straightening products, citing its cancer risk and longstanding concerns raised by consumer safety advocates. However, this ban has yet to be finalized, and FRPs in other personal care products remain largely unregulated at the federal level.

Meanwhile, several states have stepped in with stronger measures:

• California passed the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, which bans formaldehyde and several FRPs in cosmetics beginning in 2025.
• Washington State adopted similar legislation, also effective in 2025, that includes restrictions on formaldehyde and methylene glycol.
• At least 10 other states have introduced or passed health advisories or policy proposals targeting these toxic chemicals.

In stark contrast, the European Union has long required warning labels for products containing formaldehyde releasers and banned formaldehyde entirely as a cosmetic ingredient back in 2009.

Despite these international standards, many products containing FRPs are still readily available in U.S. stores. And because there’s no universal ingredient labeling requirement for trace contaminants or byproducts, even the most diligent consumers can’t always make fully informed choices.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Family

Although full regulatory reform is still pending, there are steps consumers can take today to reduce their exposure to FRPs and advocate for safer products.

Check Product Labels (Carefully)

Formaldehyde itself may not appear on the label, but some common FRP ingredients to watch out for include:

• DMDM Hydantoin
• Diazolidinyl Urea
• Imidazolidinyl Urea
• Quaternium-15
• Bronopol
• Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate

These ingredients may sound obscure, but if you spot them on a product label—especially on items you use frequently, like lotions, shampoos, or soaps—it’s best to consider a safer alternative.

Use Ingredient-Screening Tools

Apps like Detox Me by the Silent Spring Institute or websites like EWG’s Skin Deep Database allow you to scan or search product ingredients and get safety ratings based on scientific research.

These tools can help you identify hidden hazards and explore cleaner alternatives for everyday items without needing to decode complex chemical names yourself.

Choose Fragrance-Free and Hypoallergenic Products

While not foolproof, products labeled as “fragrance-free,” “formaldehyde-free,” or “hypoallergenic” are often less likely to contain FRPs or other high-risk preservatives. However, always cross-check with a trusted database or app when possible.

Prioritize Fewer, Simpler Products

Reducing your overall product use—or switching to brands with short, transparent ingredient lists—can go a long way toward minimizing your cumulative exposure. Every product counts, especially those that are:

• Leave-on (e.g., lotion, makeup, hair creams)
• Applied to large areas of the body
• Used daily or multiple times a day

Spread Awareness in Your Community

One of the most powerful ways to protect others is by sharing knowledge. Many people still don’t know that personal care products can contain carcinogens or that safer alternatives even exist.

You can help change that by:

• Sharing articles and resources on social media
• Talking with friends and family
• Supporting local health organizations focused on environmental justice and consumer safety

The Power of Collective Action

Individual vigilance is crucial—but it shouldn't be the only line of defense. The burden of avoiding toxic products should not fall solely on consumers, especially when ingredient names are confusing and often buried in fine print.

True accountability must come from corporate transparency and government regulation. That’s why advocacy and collective action are essential.

Consumer pressure has already led to major wins:

• Some major retailers now require brands to disclose or eliminate hazardous ingredients.
• Several mainstream beauty brands have reformulated products after public outcry or lawsuits.
• States are enacting bans that could drive national policy change in the coming years.

The more people who demand safe, transparent products, the more pressure there is on companies and lawmakers to act.

Were You or a Loved One Harmed by These Products?

If you or someone you love has regularly used personal care products containing formaldehyde-releasing preservatives and later developed cancer or other health problems, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed, angry, and confused.

While mass tort lawsuits related to FRPs are still in the early stages, the health concerns are real and growing. Medical and legal professionals are closely monitoring the situation as new research continues to emerge.

We believe every person deserves to:

• Know what’s in the products they use
• Understand the risks
• Share their story
• Pursue justice if they’ve been harmed

If you believe a product you used may have contributed to your health issues, you don’t have to navigate this alone. Speaking with an experienced legal team can help you understand your rights, evaluate your situation, and explore your options.

You Deserve to Be Heard

Large corporations that manufacture personal care products are backed by powerful legal teams whose primary goal is to protect their bottom line, not your health. Too often, they know about potential dangers long before consumers do and fail to warn the public.

That’s why your voice matters. Every individual who speaks up adds strength to a growing movement demanding safer products, more honest labeling, and accountability from those responsible for putting health at risk.

If you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to a lawyer today. You may be entitled to financial compensation, and your story could help protect others from the same harm.

Have You Used a Product with Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives and Been Diagnosed with Cancer?

If you’ve used products like lotions, hair relaxers, or shampoos that may contain DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, or other formaldehyde-releasing preservatives and were later diagnosed with cancer or another serious illness, it’s time to speak with someone who can help to see if you qualify for a personal care products Lawsuit.

Call us today at 866-535-9515 or through our online form for a free, confidential consultation. You don’t need to have all the answers—we’re here to listen to your story, evaluate your claim, and help you take the next step toward justice.