Name

Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate

We recommend avoiding

Description

Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate is a cosmetic preservative used shampoos, baby wipes, cleaning agents, cleansing bars, lotions and many other household products. It is the sodium salt of modified amino acid glycine.

Benefits

Keeps bacteria in water-based formulas at bay.

Considerations

• Releases Formaldehyde Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate works as a preservative by slowly releasing small amounts of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. • Skin Irritation Known skin irritant and sensitizer. • Eye Irritation Irritating and damaging to eyes. • Cancer The EU classifies sodium hydroxymethylglycinate as a possible carcinogen. • Genotoxic The EU classifies this ingredient as damaging to DNA. • Respiratory Toxicant May cause respiratory irritation in aerosolized products.

Synonyms

Sodium 2-((hydroxymethyl)amino)acetate Sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate sodium hydroxymethylglycinate Sodium N-(hydroxymethyl)glycinate Glycine, N-(hydroxymethyl)-, monosodium salt sodium;2-(hydroxymethylamino)acetate Sodium hydroxymethylamino acetate N-(Hydroxymethyl)glycine monosodium salt Sodium (hydroxymethyl)glycinate Glycine, N-(hydroxymethyl)-, sodium salt (1:1) Sodium 2-(hydroxymethylamino)acetate Hydroxymethylaminoacetic acid, sodium salt Hydroxymethylglycine, sodium salt N-(Hydroxymethyl)glycine, monosodium salt Sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate, AldrichCPR GLYCINE, N-(HYDROXYMETHYL)-, SODIUM SALT Q27276411 N-(Hydroxymethyl)glycine monosodium salt; Sodium hydroxymethylamino acetate

Research Sources

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20233550/ https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.067.576 https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/23664641

Summary

Avoid.