murphyCetrimonium Bromide
AKA: 57-09-0, Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, Bromat, CETAB, Centimide, Acetoquat CTAB, Ctmab, Cee dee
Synthetic
Preservative
Cleanser
Emulsifier
Not Clean
OriginDerived from coconut or palm oil fatty acids and combined with bromine and trimethylamine compounds. Synthesized through quaternization of alkyldimethylamine with bromoalkane under controlled chemical conditions.
1-Hexadecanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-, bromide
Formula
C19H42BrN
Mol. Weight
364.40
CAS #
57-09-0
Form
Powder
State
Dry Powder
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
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
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
EWG
6
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Eye Irritant in Testing
1 study / 1 irritating / reactions severe (CIR 572)
Skin Irritant in Testing
1 study / 1 irritating / plus 1 case report (CIR 570 and 572)
Dermal Absorption 0.59–3.15%
3 animal studies in the CIR safety assessment (CIR 572)
Concentration Guide
0%50%100%
Reg. limit 0.1%
EU regulatory limit: 0.1%. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 44.
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR