Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives in Personal Care Products

Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives in Personal Care Products

When you reach for your favorite lotion, shampoo, or body soap, the last thing you expect is exposure to a chemical linked to cancer. Unfortunately, for many people, particularly Black women and Latinas in the U.S., this danger is more than hypothetical. A growing body of research has found that formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs)—toxic chemicals known to cause cancer and skin irritation—are hiding in the labels of everyday personal care products.

These preservatives are added to extend shelf life and keep products free from bacteria, but they come with a significant cost to human health. What’s especially concerning is that these ingredients often don’t clearly advertise their relationship to formaldehyde. Instead, they appear on labels as scientific-sounding names like DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, or imidazolidinyl urea—terms that offer little warning to the average consumer.

At LitigationConnect, we believe that information is power. If you or a loved one has suffered health issues after using beauty or hygiene products, understanding how these chemicals work—and how they can harm you—is the first step toward seeking justice.

What Are Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives (FRPs)?

Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas that is used in building materials, household products, and—most troublingly—personal care products. It’s a well-known carcinogen, classified as such by numerous health authorities including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the U.S. National Toxicology Program.

But because formaldehyde itself is harsh and can be unstable, many companies turn to FRPs—compounds that gradually release small amounts of formaldehyde over time to prevent microbial growth in products like shampoo, moisturizer, and makeup. These chemicals help maintain product shelf life and prevent spoilage. However, they also expose users to repeated, low-level doses of a substance that can build up in the body and lead to long-term harm.

Some of the most commonly used FRPs include:

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

You won’t see the word “formaldehyde” on most ingredient labels. But make no mistake—if any of the above ingredients are present, your product may be silently releasing this dangerous compound.

New Research Exposes Who’s at Risk

In a recent study conducted by Silent Spring Institute and community organizations in South Los Angeles, researchers examined the personal care routines of 70 Black and Latina women over a period of five to seven days. Participants were asked to log every product they used and upload photos of the ingredient lists.

The findings were staggering:

• 53% of women reported using at least one product containing formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.
• The most common chemical identified was DMDM hydantoin, found in nearly half of all skincare products and more than half of hair products that contained FRPs.
• Many products were used daily or multiple times per day, significantly increasing the risk of chronic exposure.
• A single participant could be using several products simultaneously, amplifying their cumulative exposure to harmful chemicals.

These results add to the growing alarm about how hidden toxins disproportionately affect women of color. Previous studies have already highlighted the dangers of hair relaxers and chemical straighteners linked to hormone-sensitive cancers. This new data expands the concern beyond hair care to everyday items like body lotions, shower gels, shampoos, and even eyelash glue.

Why It’s Hard to Spot These Chemicals

Part of what makes formaldehyde exposure from personal care products so insidious is how easily it hides in plain sight. Most FRPs do not include “formaldehyde” in their names, and the average consumer has no way of knowing what they’re dealing with unless they’ve memorized a list of chemical aliases.

Even more troubling is that some products containing formaldehyde or FRPs don’t list them at all. In previous ingredient tests, researchers found detectable levels of formaldehyde in products that had no such ingredient listed—a result that suggests manufacturers may not fully disclose chemical content, or that contamination is occurring during the production process.

Regulation in the U.S. is lacking. Unlike in the European Union, where products containing even trace amounts of formaldehyde must carry a warning label, the U.S. currently has no national mandate for such transparency in cosmetic labeling. California and Washington are set to ban certain formaldehyde-containing products by 2025, but for now, millions of consumers remain unprotected.

Disproportionate Burdens on Black and Latina Women

The link between beauty product usage and racial health disparities is no coincidence. Cultural and societal pressures—driven by beauty standards steeped in racism—have led to widespread and long-term use of products that may carry serious health risks. Black women, for example, are more likely than white women to use hair straighteners, relaxers, and a wider array of styling products. Latina women often use more cosmetics, including eyeliners and foundations, which may also contain FRPs.

Community organizations like Black Women for Wellness have long raised the alarm about how the beauty industry targets women of color with toxic products. This recent study confirms what many activists have feared for years: these exposures aren’t isolated—they’re part of a systemic pattern that results in disproportionately high health risks.

This is a matter of environmental justice. When marginalized communities are both more likely to be exposed and less likely to have access to safe alternatives or health information, the result is a cycle of harm that demands urgent attention.

What Are the Health Risks?

The health implications of chronic exposure to formaldehyde and FRPs are serious. Repeated exposure can happen through skin contact, inhalation, or even mucosal absorption. Some of the known and suspected health consequences include:

• Cancer: Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. It has been linked to cancers of the nasopharynx, sinuses, and blood-forming tissues (like leukemia). Concerns have also been raised about its possible link to breast and uterine cancers, particularly when present in hair products.
• Skin Irritation and Allergies: Many people develop allergic contact dermatitis from FRPs. In fact, studies show that 8-9% of the U.S. population may be sensitive to these chemicals, resulting in painful skin reactions.
• Respiratory Problems: Inhalation of formaldehyde vapors can lead to irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. This can be particularly dangerous for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
• Endocrine Disruption: Though more research is needed, some studies suggest that FRPs may interfere with hormone function, raising additional concerns for reproductive health and developmental impacts.

The risk isn't just about one product—it’s about cumulative exposure over time, often beginning in childhood and continuing for decades.

Industry Accountability and the Fight for Safer Products

Why are these harmful chemicals still legal in so many products? The answer lies in the weak regulatory framework of the U.S. cosmetic industry. The FDA does not require companies to prove the safety of their personal care products before they go to market. Manufacturers are allowed to use almost any raw material, as long as it’s “not harmful under labeled or customary conditions of use.”

This outdated system leaves the burden of proof on consumers and researchers. By the time the health risks become apparent—often after years or even decades—it may be too late for many victims to avoid harm.

Advocates are pushing for change. In 2023, the FDA proposed a ban on formaldehyde in hair straighteners, but the rule has not yet been enacted. State-level legislation in California and Washington offers hope, but nationwide action is urgently needed.

Meanwhile, companies continue to use FRPs in products marketed to women, children, and communities of color—without proper warning or disclosure. For too long, profit has taken priority over public health.

How to Protect Yourself

If you're feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone. It shouldn't be your job to decode ingredient lists or conduct chemical safety research just to feel safe using soap. But until stronger regulations are in place, there are some proactive steps you can take to reduce your risk:

1. Check Ingredient Labels: Look for terms like DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, and quaternium-15.
2. Use Clean Beauty Apps: Apps like Detox Me or Think Dirty can scan product barcodes and highlight harmful ingredients.
3. Avoid Products with “Long Shelf Life” Claims: These are often loaded with preservatives to extend use for years.
4. Advocate for Safer Policies: Support legislation that bans toxic chemicals and requires clear labeling.
5. Stay Informed: Follow trusted sources for updates on product safety and legal actions.

Still, even the most diligent consumers can’t avoid every harmful exposure. And for those who are already suffering the health consequences, the focus now must be on justice, accountability, and healing.

Long-Term Harm and the Legal Road Ahead

We’ve already seen how widespread the use of formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRPs) is in personal care products, and how their health risks—from cancer to chronic skin irritation—can devastate individuals who use these products daily, often without any warning labels or safety notices.

But what happens if you or someone you love has already been harmed? What if you’ve used products for years that, only now, are being shown to contain toxic substances—products that were marketed as safe, often endorsed by trusted brands, and even recommended for daily use?

This is where the conversation shifts from individual vigilance to collective accountability. The legal system may not move as quickly as scientific research, but it has a crucial role to play in protecting consumers, holding manufacturers accountable, and demanding justice when profit-driven decisions lead to real human suffering.

Why Aren’t There Any Personal Care Products Mass Tort Lawsuits Yet?

Mass tort lawsuits often arise when there is strong scientific evidence linking a product to serious health risks, and when enough people have come forward with similar injuries to demonstrate a pattern of harm. These lawsuits consolidate individual claims into a coordinated legal strategy, making it easier for affected individuals to seek justice, especially against powerful corporations.

As of now, no formal mass tort litigation exists specifically focused on formaldehyde-releasing preservatives in personal care products. That may seem surprising given the evidence, but it reflects the early stage of awareness and documentation around these cases. Many victims may not yet realize that their illnesses could be linked to the products they’ve used every day for years.

Legal professionals are closely monitoring this issue. As new research like the Silent Spring Institute study continues to emerge, and as more individuals step forward with stories of illness linked to these products, the legal landscape could change quickly. We’ve seen this happen with other product liability cases in recent years, such as those involving hair relaxers and chemical straighteners, which are now the subject of ongoing litigation after years of scientific scrutiny.

So while there may not yet be an established lawsuit for FRP-related injuries, that doesn’t mean your story doesn’t matter. In fact, early reports and claims can be instrumental in sparking investigations, guiding scientific inquiry, and initiating legal action.

The Power of Your Story

If you’ve developed cancer, severe skin reactions, or other unexplained health issues—and you’ve regularly used personal care products that may contain formaldehyde or FRPs—it’s important to take your experience seriously. You might feel like it’s just a coincidence, or wonder if it’s worth exploring. But you don’t have to make that call alone.

Your story could be part of a larger pattern that hasn’t yet come fully into focus. And telling your story to a legal professional can help you:

• Determine whether the products you used are known to contain FRPs or other hazardous ingredients.
• Document your health history in a way that supports potential future claims.
• Understand whether other individuals have reported similar harms—and whether there may be grounds for collective action.

Too often, people dismiss their pain as isolated, or assume no one will listen. But when corporations cut corners or conceal information about product safety, they must be held accountable—and it starts with someone speaking up.

Cumulative Exposure: Why One Product Isn’t the Whole Story

It’s worth emphasizing that the danger from formaldehyde-releasing preservatives isn’t just about one product. It’s about cumulative exposure over time. Many people use a mix of products each day—soap, lotion, shampoo, deodorant, cosmetics—and if each of those contains even trace amounts of FRPs, the total exposure can add up quickly.

In the Taking Stock Study, some participants used three or more FRP-containing products daily, sometimes multiple times a day. Some of these were “leave-on” products like lotion, increasing the skin’s contact time with the chemical. Others were inhaled, like sprays and hair products used in confined spaces like bathrooms or salons.

When exposure is frequent and long-term, it elevates health risks significantly, and yet most safety assessments don’t account for this layered exposure. That’s a major gap in how personal care products are regulated in the U.S., and one that legal advocates are working hard to change.

I’ve Been Affected. What Should I Do?

If you suspect you’ve been harmed by a product containing formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, here are some steps to take:

• Document Your Product Use

Start by listing the personal care products you’ve used regularly—especially those used for many months or years. If you have photos of the packaging or receipts, keep those. Write down when you started and stopped using each product, and how often you used it.

• Record Health Symptoms and Diagnoses

Whether you’re dealing with skin issues, respiratory problems, or more serious illnesses like cancer, keep a detailed record. This includes diagnoses, dates, doctor visits, and any treatments you’ve undergone.

• Preserve Product Packaging (If Possible)

If you still have the product bottles or containers, hold on to them. Labels can help identify whether a known FRP was present—and may be crucial if legal action becomes viable.

• Speak With a Legal Professional

Even if there’s no active lawsuit yet, a qualified attorney can help you evaluate whether you may have a claim. They may also help determine if other individuals have experienced similar harm and whether your case could contribute to future mass litigation.

• Report Your Experience

You can also file a report with the FDA’s MedWatch program or a local consumer safety organization. These reports help build the data needed to push for regulatory reform and legal accountability.

Fighting for Justice—and Prevention

While the research into formaldehyde and FRPs in personal care products is still growing, one thing is already clear: the system is failing consumers. Products that many people use daily—especially women of color—contain hidden toxins with no clear warnings, no comprehensive safety testing, and little to no regulatory oversight.

This isn’t just a health issue. It’s a justice issue.

Communities that are already marginalized are bearing the brunt of chemical exposure, often without the information or resources to fight back. That's why empowering individuals with information, resources, and legal support is so vital. You have a right to know what’s in the products you use. You have a right to safe alternatives. And you have a right to hold corporations accountable when they fail to protect your health.

LitigationConnect Is Here to Help You Take the Next Step

At LitigationConnect, we work with a trusted network of legal professionals across the country who are committed to helping victims of corporate negligence seek justice. If you’ve experienced cancer, chronic illness, or other serious health effects after using personal care products that may contain formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, please reach out to discuss your legal options.

Even if there isn’t an active lawsuit yet, we can:

• Help you understand your legal options.
• Connect you with attorneys with extensive experience in product liability and environmental exposure.
• Support your effort to seek accountability—and possibly help others by speaking out.

This is about more than compensation. It’s about changing the way companies treat consumers. It’s about standing up for safety, transparency, and justice.

Contact LitigationConnect today at (833) 552-7274 or through the online form for a free, no-obligation consultation. Your experience matters. And we’re here to help you make it heard.