Cetrimonium Bromide
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: 57-09-0, Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, Hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, Bromat, CETAB, Centimide, Acetoquat CTAB, Ctmab, Cee dee
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
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.
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
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
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.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR