2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1

TL;DR. This ingredient is a preservative used to control bacteria and fungi in water-based personal care formulas. It is typically used at very low levels because it is a formaldehyde-releasing system.

What does 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1 do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is a preservative used to control bacteria and fungi in water-based personal care formulas. It is typically used at very low levels because it is a formaldehyde-releasing system.

Is 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1 clean?

This ingredient has significant clean-standard friction because it is a formaldehyde donor and can be associated with sensitization in some users. It also has formulation restrictions because nitrosamine formation is a concern when paired with certain amine-containing ingredients.

Is 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1 sustainable?

This material is synthetic and not a renewable plant or mineral-derived input. It is not valued in sustainability frameworks because of its halogenated structure, reactive breakdown pathway, and aquatic-impact concerns.

Is 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1 COSMOS-approved?

It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards. From a Green Chemistry perspective, it has weak alignment because it relies on nonrenewable synthetic chemistry and a preservation mechanism tied to reactive decomposition products.

How does 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1 work chemically?

The molecule is a small brominated nitroalcohol that preserves by releasing reactive antimicrobial species, including formaldehyde under use conditions. Typical regulatory use is up to about 0.1% in cosmetics, and formulators generally keep it away from amines and strongly alkaline conditions because stability and nitrosamine-control issues become more relevant.

Last updated 2026-05-13