Ingredient decoder

Quaternium-15: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Quaternium-15

Acne verdict Watch

Worth watching on acne-prone skin

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Formaldehyde-releasing preservative, banned in EU cosmetics.

  • Preservative

Quaternium-15 in plain English

Quaternium-15 is a preservative that releases formaldehyde and is one of the better-known causes of preservative allergy. It is no longer allowed in EU cosmetics but may still appear in products from other markets. It does not clog pores, but people with reactive skin are better off avoiding it.

Is quaternium-15 bad for acne?

Not usually, but it is worth watching. Quaternium-15 is not a proven pore-clogger, but this preservative family is a well-known cause of skin allergies and irritation. Notice how your skin reacts when a product lists it near the top.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • Quaternium-15
  • Cis-1-(3-chloroallyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1-azoniaadamantane chloride
  • Chloroallyl methenamine chloride

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Frequently asked questions

Is quaternium-15 comedogenic?

Quaternium-15 has no published comedogenic rating in Fulton's 1989 table. It is not a proven pore-clogger, but it is worth watching on acne-prone skin.

What does quaternium-15 do in skincare?

In short: formaldehyde-releasing preservative, banned in EU cosmetics. In formulas it is used for preservative.

What else is quaternium-15 called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, quaternium-15 can also appear as Cis-1-(3-chloroallyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1-azoniaadamantane chloride or Chloroallyl methenamine chloride.

Sources