DMDM Hydantoin

DMDM hydantoin is an ingredient that falls in the preservative category. This ingredient features broad spectrum protection, which means it is effective against gram positive bacteria, like S. aureus and B. cereus, gram negative bacteria, such as E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and yeast and molds, including A. niger.

DMDM hydantoin is a water-soluble preservative, giving it optimal antimicrobial capabilities. It is useful in a variety of skincare products, but they must include water in the formula. This includes emulsions, such as lotions, creams, and serums.

In addition, DMDM hydantoin is especially suitable for surfactant systems, meaning skin cleansers. Sometimes, preservatives are incompatible with surfactant ingredients, so the option to use DMDM hydantoin is rather useful.

Effective across a wide pH range also makes this ingredient very versatile. It can be used at pH levels as low as 3 and as high as 8 to 10. This ingredient is supplied as a clear, colorless liquid with a low viscosity and is normally used at levels ranging from 0.05 percent to 0.6 percent.

DMDM hydantoin is a very effective ingredient, even when compared to typical paraben mixes, and for this reason, it can be used at low levels. This makes the ingredient very cost effective, as well.

The chemical structure of this ingredient involves a five-membered ring that contains two nitrogen atoms and the base of two ketones. Specifically under acidic conditions, or very low pH levels, the ketones can break out of the ring in the form of formaldehyde, making DMDM hydantoin a formaldehyde releaser. This mode of action is what makes this ingredient so effective, as an environment filled with formaldehyde is not conducive to microbial growth.

Other formaldehyde releasers used in cosmetics include quaternium-15 and imidazolidinyl urea.