Cancer-Linked Chemicals Found in Soaps, Lotions and Shampoos

According to a New Study on Personal Care Products

May 21, 2025

A new study has found that many personal care products used daily by women—like body lotions, shampoos, soaps and cosmetics—contain chemicals that release formaldehyde, a substance known to cause cancer. These chemicals are especially common in products used by African-American and Latina women in the United States, but some of these brands are sold widely, including in India.

What the research, published in the Environmental Science & Technology Letters, a journal run by the American Chemical Society, found is worrying. Out of 1,143 personal care products logged by 45 women, one product openly listed formaldehyde—an eyelash glue. But 41 products contained chemicals called formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, or FRPs. These are chemicals that slowly release formaldehyde over time as a way to prevent bacteria and extend shelf life. Many users don’t realise this because the label doesn’t say “formaldehyde” directly.

Formaldehyde is a well-known carcinogen, meaning it can cause cancer. It has also been linked to skin irritation and allergic reactions.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified it as a Group 1 carcinogen, which is the highest risk category.

In India, formaldehyde is restricted in cosmetics, but formaldehyde-releasing chemicals are still allowed and are not always clearly marked.

The most common FRP in this study was DMDM hydantoin, found in 19 products. It showed up in nearly half of all skincare products and more than half of the hair products containing FRPs. Another chemical, diazolidinyl urea, was found in 17 products—mostly body lotions and creams. A third chemical, imidazolidinyl urea, was found in four products, including shampoos and cosmetics. Two products—one lotion and one shampoo—contained more than one of these chemicals.

One major finding was that 12 of the lotions containing FRPs came from a single popular brand: Bath & Body Works, which also has outlets and an online presence in India. This means consumers in India are not necessarily shielded from these ingredients.

The women who took part in the study used them multiple times a day. For instance, one participant used a hand soap containing FRPs more than twice daily. Over a five-day period, 20 participants used lotions with these chemicals a total of 76 times. That kind of repeated exposure increases risk, according to the study.

In all, more than half of the participants used at least one product containing an FRP, and many didn’t know it. While the study focused on Black and Latina women, its findings are relevant worldwide, especially in countries like India where awareness around ingredients is still low and labelling regulations are not strictly enforced.

To understand how widespread the issue is, the researchers looked at a U.S. government database called CPDat, which includes nearly 78,000 personal care products. They found that around 7.6% of all products listed either formaldehyde or an FRP. These included face cleansers, makeup, nail polish, body lotions, hair products and even sunscreen and glitter. For example, nearly one-third of after-sun lotions contained FRPs, and about one in five hair styling products did too.

The concern is that people often don’t know what to look for. FRPs don’t have obvious names. Ingredients like DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea and imidazolidinyl urea don’t look dangerous at first glance, but they slowly release formaldehyde into the product—and onto the skin.

Indian consumers need to be cautious about personal care products, especially those that are fragranced or promise long-lasting freshness. These are often the ones that need strong preservatives. Products that are heavily marketed, scented or designed to sit on shelves for months or years are more likely to include FRPs.

The researchers behind the study say that clearer labelling and stricter rules are urgently needed. But until that happens, the best defence is awareness.

The study focused on women living in California and was led by Dr. Ami Zota, an environmental health scientist. It was part of an initiative called the Toxic-Free Beauty Project, which aims to understand how harmful chemicals in beauty and grooming products affect the health of women of colour.

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