Formaldehyde
Also known as: formalin, methylene glycol, methanal
Varies by use. The concern our method flags differs by product type and market — see the per-use verdicts below.
By NordicScan Evidence Engine · generated from structured evidence records · source spans verified by automated gates · Reviewed 2026-07-08 · Evidence snapshot geo-wave1-evidence-snapshot-2026-07-08 · Scoring engine det_v3 · how we score.
What it is
Formaldehyde is a small aldehyde that can appear directly or be released from related ingredients in some cosmetic contexts.
Why people ask
People ask because hair-smoothing, releaser-labelling and proposed-rule scopes are easy to mix together.
What our method flags — by use
Cosmetic · US hair-smoothing products (proposed-rule state)
In US hair-smoothing scope, our method rates formaldehyde as higher-concern because FDA flags release when heated and the federal rulemaking posture is still proposed-rule stage.
The US FDA flagged by current hair-smoothing page that formaldehyde can be released into the air as a gas when certain products are heated; Reginfo records a proposed-rule stage for banning formaldehyde and releasers in hair smoothing or straightening products.
| Authority / source | Finding (our paraphrase) | Evidence tier | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US FDA | The US FDA flagged by current hair-smoothing page that formaldehyde can be released into the air as a gas when certain products are heated; Reginfo records a proposed-rule stage for banning formaldehyde and releasers in hair smoothing or straightening products. | authority_regulatory | 2024-10-15 | source |
| Reginfo.gov / HHS-FDA | HHS-FDA flagged by Unified Agenda entry a proposed rule that would ban formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals as ingredients in US hair smoothing or hair straightening products; applicability is proposed-rule stage, not a final federal cosmetics ban. | authority_regulatory / -- | 2024-04-01 | source |
Evidence coverage for this use: Fair (computed from source count × authority tier × recency; signals depth, does not change the concern band).
Cosmetic · EU cosmetics (formaldehyde as such)
In EU cosmetics, our method rates formaldehyde as higher-concern: formaldehyde as an ingredient is on the prohibited-substances list (Annex II, entry 1577).
The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2019/831 formaldehyde as a cosmetic ingredient (Annex II entry 1577).
| Authority / source | Finding (our paraphrase) | Evidence tier | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union / EUR-Lex | The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2019/831 formaldehyde as a cosmetic ingredient (Annex II entry 1577). | authority_regulatory | 2019-05-22 | source |
| European Union / EUR-Lex | The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2019/831 formaldehyde as such — Annex II entry 1577 (CAS 50-00-0) prohibits it as a cosmetic ingredient; the separate releaser-labelling rule covers preservatives that release formaldehyde. | authority_regulatory / -- | 2019-05-22 | source |
Evidence coverage for this use: Fair (computed from source count × authority tier × recency; signals depth, does not change the concern band).
Cosmetic · EU releaser labelling
In EU releaser-labelling scope, our method rates formaldehyde as moderate-concern because the EU warning rule is concentration-triggered and product-scope specific.
The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2022/1181 finished cosmetic products containing listed formaldehyde releasers to carry the warning "releases formaldehyde" above 0.001% released formaldehyde.
| Authority / source | Finding (our paraphrase) | Evidence tier | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Union / EUR-Lex | The EU restricted by Regulation (EU) 2022/1181 finished cosmetic products containing listed formaldehyde releasers to carry the warning "releases formaldehyde" above 0.001% released formaldehyde. | authority_regulatory | 2022-07-08 | source |
Evidence coverage for this use: Limited (computed from source count × authority tier × recency; signals depth, does not change the concern band).
How this moves a product’s score
On a product score, formaldehyde contributes higher or moderate concern depending on whether the product sits in US heated hair-smoothing scope or EU releaser-labelling scope.
Reviewed 2026-07-08 · Evidence snapshot geo-wave1-evidence-snapshot-2026-07-08 · Scoring engine det_v3 · Sources checked 2026-07-08 · See how we score.