DMDM Hydantoin
دي إم دي إم هيدانتوين
Preservative (Annex V) · INCI: DMDM Hydantoin
The verdict
Permitted, but it releases formaldehyde — worth knowing if your skin reacts.
What it is
A formaldehyde-releasing preservative.
A formaldehyde RELEASER: it works by slowly releasing small amounts of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde itself is EU-banned (Annex II), but releasers stay permitted within limits. The EU just tightened the 'releases formaldehyde' warning threshold to 0.001% (from 0.05%, effective 15 Jul 2026). Relevant if you're formaldehyde-sensitive.
Evidence & status
IARC carcinogen group
not_classified
EU status
Annex V #33 permitted preservative — max 0.6%.
US · FDA status
preservative; CIR/SCCS-reviewed
Halal status: halal
Synthetic; halal/vegan.
Primary source
Evidence, not medical advice. You decide.
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