Cetrimonium Bromide
AKA “57-09-0, Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, Bromat, CETAB, Centimide, Acetoquat CTAB, Ctmab, Cee dee”
Preservative
Ingredient Facts
Cetrimonium bromide
AKA: 57-09-0, Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, Bromat, CETAB, Centimide, Acetoquat CTAB, Ctmab, Cee dee
Preservative · Antimicrobial · EWG: 6
Synthetic
Preservative
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Plant Oil
Not Clean
1-Hexadecanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-, bromide
Formula
C19H42BrN
Mol. Weight
364.40
CAS #
57-09-0
Form
Powder
State
Dry Powder
See origin →
Functions
Antimicrobial
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Antistatic
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Emulsifying
Forces oil and water to stay mixed instead of separating into layers. The unsung hero holding your lotion together.
Fights Bacteria
Traditional Use
Developed in the mid-20th century as a synthetic quaternary ammonium salt. Created to provide conditioning and antistatic properties in hair and skincare products.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
6
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
ewg-6
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.1%
0%0%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 0.1%. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 44.
Regulatory Agencies
Potassium bromate.
IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, 1999
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Cetrimonium Chloride, Cetrimonium Bromide, and Steartrimonium Chloride
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Sodium Bromate and Potassium Bromate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Cetrimonium Bromide
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sodium Bromate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Cetrimonium Bromide
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Bromates
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Bromate intoxication: hairdressers' anuria.
Kutom A, Bazilinski NG, Magana L, Dunea G
American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, 1990
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR