Ingredient deep-dive

Imidazolidinyl Urea: Is It a Microplastic?

Medium concernPlasticiser / chemical of concern

Formaldehyde-releasing preservative in the same family as DMDM hydantoin. Not a plastic.

Where it appears

Lotions and creams
Shampoo
Makeup

Regulatory status (2026)

European Union

Permitted with concentration limits and formaldehyde-release labelling.

United States

No federal restriction.

Cleaner alternatives

Phenoxyethanol
Benzyl alcohol
Sodium benzoate systems

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Imidazolidinyl Urea, common questions

Is Imidazolidinyl Urea a microplastic?

Yes: it is classified as a synthetic polymer. Formaldehyde-releasing preservative in the same family as DMDM hydantoin. Not a plastic.

Is Imidazolidinyl Urea banned?

EU: Permitted with concentration limits and formaldehyde-release labelling. US: No federal restriction.

What can I use instead of Imidazolidinyl Urea?

Cleaner alternatives include: Phenoxyethanol; Benzyl alcohol; Sodium benzoate systems.

What products contain Imidazolidinyl Urea?

Commonly found in: Lotions and creams; Shampoo; Makeup.

Related ingredients

Parabens

Plasticiser / chemical of concern · Medium concern

Preservatives flagged for endocrine activity; commonly co-occur with plastic polymers in synthetic formulas.

Phthalates

Plasticiser / chemical of concern · High concern

Plasticisers used to soften plastic, banned from many products. Strong endocrine disruptors.

BHT / BHA

Plasticiser / chemical of concern · Low concern

Synthetic antioxidants, co-occurrence flag in plastic-heavy formulas.

DEHP (Diethylhexyl Phthalate)

Plasticiser / chemical of concern · High concern

The most studied plasticiser and a recognised endocrine disruptor. Banned in EU cosmetics. It reaches food and bodies mainly through plastic packaging and processing equipment rather than through cosmetic formulas.