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Ammonium Hydroxide
AKA “Ammonia water, Ammonia aqueous, Aquammonia, Ammonia, aqua, Household ammonia, monohydrate”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Ammonium hydroxide
AKA: Ammonia water, Ammonia aqueous, Aquammonia, Ammonia, Aqua, Household ammonia, Monohydrate
Synthetic · Antimicrobial · EWG: 6
Synthetic
Preservative
Cleanser
Synthetic
Clean
Helps balance pH levels in hair color formulas to ensure even application and optimal results.
Solubility Exists only in solution
Formula
H5NO
Mol. Weight
35.05
CAS #
1336-21-6
Form
Powder
State
Ammonium hydroxide appears as a colorless aqueous solution. Concentration of ammonia ranges up to approximately 30%. Ammonia vapors (which arise from the solution) irritate the eyes.
See origin →
Functions
Buffering
Denaturant
Cleansing
Makes oil and water mix so dirt, makeup, and sunscreen can actually be washed away. The reason your face wash foams.
Antimicrobial
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Stabilizes pH
Makes Alcohol Undrinkable
Antioxidant Protection
Reduces Inflammation
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
Known since ancient times as aqueous ammonia solution; historically used in textile and leather processing. In modern cosmetics, developed as a pH buffer and alkalizing agent, though not traditionally applied to skincare.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
EWG
6
CIR
Safe w/Qualifications
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
ewg-6
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Mild Irritant
Concentration Guide
6%
0%8%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 6%. NH3). Above 2%: Contains ammonia Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex III (Restricted Substances), Entry 4.
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU✔ permitted
JAPAN✔ permitted
CANADA✔ permitted
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Final Report: Safety Assessment of Ammonia and Ammonium Hydroxide as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Ammonia
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Ammonium Hydroxide
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
aqua
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Safety and efficacy of l-histidine monohydrochloride monohydrate produced using Corynebacterium glutamicum KCCM 80179 for all animal species.
EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP), Bampidis V, Azimonti G, de Lourdes Bastos M, Christensen H et al.
EFSA journal. European Food Safety Authority, 2019
→
Ammonium Hydroxide
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Effect of Chimpi, dried citrus peel, on aquaporin-3 expression in HaCaT human epidermal keratinocytes.
Ikarashi N, Kaneko M, Wakana D, Shinozaki Y, Tabata K et al.
Molecular biology reports, 2022
→
Natural soap is clinically effective and less toxic and more biodegradable in aquatic organisms and human skin cells than synthetic detergents.
Kanyama T, Masunaga A, Kawahara T, Morita H, Akita S
PloS one, 2025
→
Natural soap is clinically effective and less toxic and more biodegradable in aquatic organisms and human skin cells than synthetic detergents.
Kanyama T, Masunaga A, Kawahara T, Morita H, Akita S
PloS one, 2025
→
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR