Quaternium-15 — Allergy Risk & Safety Profile

Name: Is Quaternium-15 Safe? Allergy Risk & Alternatives
Creator: SkinDetekt

INCI: QUATERNIUM-15

Also known as: Dowicil 200

🔴 High Risk

Key Facts

CAS Number: 4080-31-3
Category: preservative
Risk Level: high
Common Allergen: Yes
Max Concentration: 0.2%
Found In: moisturizer, foundation, lotion

Is Quaternium-15 safe in cosmetics?

Quaternium-15 is rated high risk in cosmetic products. It is a known allergen that can cause contact dermatitis in sensitized individuals. Releases the highest amount of formaldehyde among formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. Safer alternatives include Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate. Commonly found in moisturizer, foundation, lotion.

What is Quaternium-15?

Formaldehyde-releasing preservative. Releases the most formaldehyde of all FRP.

Allergy & Safety Information

Quaternium-15 is classified as a high-risk ingredient. It is a known cause of allergic contact dermatitis. Individuals with sensitive skin or a history of contact allergies should avoid products containing this ingredient. A patch test is recommended before first use of any product containing Quaternium-15.

This ingredient is classified as high risk from an allergenicity perspective. It is a recognised cause of allergic contact dermatitis with a relatively high sensitisation rate in patch-tested populations. People with a history of skin reactions to cosmetics, or with conditions such as eczema or sensitive skin, should exercise particular caution.

Allergen Note: Releases the highest amount of formaldehyde among formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.

About Preservative Ingredients

Preservatives prevent microbial growth in water-containing cosmetic formulas. Without them, products would spoil within days. However, preservatives are among the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis — they must be present in high enough concentrations to be effective, yet that same efficacy can irritate sensitised skin.

Relevance for Quaternium-15: If you react to one preservative, you may be cross-reactive to others in the same chemical family (e.g., isothiazolinones, formaldehyde releasers, or parabens). Checking the full preservative profile of every product you use is the most reliable way to identify your personal trigger.

How to Identify Quaternium-15 in Products

Cosmetic ingredients are listed by their INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) name in descending order of concentration. To check whether a product contains Quaternium-15, scan the ingredient list for its INCI name exactly as it appears above. Ingredients present at 1% or less may appear in any order after the 1% threshold.

Product types to prioritise checking: Moisturizer, Foundation, Lotion. These product categories are the most common sources of Quaternium-15 exposure based on formulation data.

Not sure if your products contain Quaternium-15? Paste the ingredient list into the free ingredient checker to scan for Quaternium-15 and other allergens automatically.