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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Limited

Dmdm Hydantoin

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions (moderate), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate), and Contamination concerns (high)

SYNONYMS

● AS-10924
● ST50950036
● SY101650
● Q5205613
● 1,3-BIS (HYDROXYMETHYL)-5,5-DIMETHYLIMIDAZOLIDINE-2,4-DIONE
● FT-0606699
● 1,3-DIMETHYLOL-5,5-DIMETHYL-HYDANTOIN
● SC-15332
● W-104844
● CAS-6440-58-0

Unacceptable

Unacceptable: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient

DMDM hydantoin is an antimicrobial formaldehyde releaser preservative. People exposed to such formaldehyde-releasing ingredients may develop a formaldehyde allergy or an allergy to the ingredient itself and its decomposition products. In the U.S., approximately 20% of cosmetics and personal care products contain a formaldehyde-releaser and the frequency of contact allergy to these ingredients is much higher among Americans compared to studies in Europe.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • HIGH
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • MODERATE
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

Expand content Collapse content
styling gel/lotion175 products
conditioner333 products
anti-aging12 products
body firming lotion32 products
around-eye cream7 products
facial moisturizer/treatment49 products
shampoo338 products
styling mousse/foam36 products
body wash/cleanser194 products
mask22 products
exfoliant/scrub26 products
bar soap7 products
hair spray18 products
shaving cream (men's)3 products
after shave8 products
hair styling aid187 products
facial cleanser64 products
moisturizer141 products
liquid hand soap119 products
hair treatment/serum86 products
after sun product20 products
serums & essences11 products
hair relaxer7 products
hair-loss treatment1 products
detangler11 products
Putties, Puddings & Clays1 products
Hair Styling Gel11 products
Other Hair Care Preparations1 products
bubble bath8 products
makeup remover27 products
shaving cream2 products
eye makeup remover3 products
Exfoliants2 products
hair color and bleaching8 products
hand cream28 products
sunless tanning7 products
foot moisturizer10 products
mouthwash1 products
daily use with SPF7 products
Facial Sun Care2 products
baby lotion5 products
recreational sunscreen2 products
concealer12 products
baby oil1 products
baby bubble bath1 products
baby shampoo2 products
beard cleanser3 products
hand sanitizer13 products
Facial Cleansing Water1 products
beard care7 products
toners/astringents4 products
nail polish1 products
glitter3 products
eye liner3 products
foot cleansing1 products
body spray3 products
foundation20 products
brow liner2 products
BB cream4 products
baby wipes3 products
makeup primer2 products
hair removal waxes2 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)1 products
baby soap2 products
foot odor control1 products
personal cleansing1 products
bath oil/salts/soak3 products
facial powder1 products
body art1 products
Oils & Serums1 products
mascara1 products
CC cream4 products
Wipes1 products
other men's products2 products
nail treatment2 products
Face Wipes1 products

Contamination concerns

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Chemical
FORMALDEHYDE

Cancer

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Cancer - limited evidenceOverall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99(2008-01-01)

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported 'as used' concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in productCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Allergies/immunotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Human skin toxicant or allergen - strong evidenceCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergiesUS National Library of Medicine,
Limited evidence of dermal toxicity or allergiesEuropean Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
Known human [[system]] toxicant or allergenPeer Reviewed Literature

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Human any irritant - strong evidenceCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada

Use restrictions

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit)Japan Ministry of Health
Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - prohibited for use in some types of cosmeticsJapan Ministry of Health
  • Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity to Humans, as evaluated in IARC Monographs Volumes 1-99(2008-01-01)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • US National Library of Medicine,
  • European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
  • Peer Reviewed Literature
  • Environment Canada
  • Japan Ministry of Health

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

Can’t find your product?

Enter the ingredients in EWG’s Build Your Own Report tool to get an approximate score for that product.

BUILD YOUR OWN REPORT

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