Diazolidinyl urea is an antimicrobial

Antimicrobial

An anti-microbial is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoans. Antimicrobial drugs either kill microbes or prevent the growth of microbes...

 preservative

Preservative

A preservative is a naturally occurring or synthetically produced substance that is added to products such as foods, pharmaceuticals, paints, biological samples, wood, etc. to prevent decomposition by microbial growth or by undesirable chemical changes....

 used in cosmetics

Cosmetics

Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...

. It is chemically related to imidazolidinyl urea

Imidazolidinyl urea

Imidazolidinyl urea is an antimicrobial preservative used in cosmetics . It is chemically related to diazolidinyl urea which is used in the same way. Imidazolidinyl urea acts as a formaldehyde releaser.- Safety :...

 which is used in the same way. Diazolidinyl urea acts as a formaldehyde releaser

Formaldehyde releaser

- Antimicrobials :Formaldehyde releasers are often used as an antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics. Examples include:* Quaternium-15* Imidazolidinyl urea * Diazolidinyl urea * DMDM hydantoin...

.

It is used in many cosmetics

Cosmetics

Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...

, skin care products, shampoo

Shampoo

Shampoo is a hair care product used for the removal of oils, dirt, skin particles, dandruff, environmental pollutants and other contaminant particles that gradually build up in hair...

s and conditioners, as well as a wide range of products including bubble baths, baby wipes and household detergents. Diazolidinyl urea is found in the commercially available preservative Germaben

Germaben

Germaben II is a clear, viscous liquid used to inhibit microbial, yeast and mould growth in cosmetics and other personal products. It contains propylene glycol, propylparaben, methylparaben, and diazolidinyl urea...

.

Commercial diazolidinyl urea is a mixture of different formaldehyde addition products including polymers.
Diazolidinyl urea is produced by the chemical reaction

Chemical reaction

A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Chemical reactions can be either spontaneous, requiring no input of energy, or non-spontaneous, typically following the input of some type of energy, such as heat, light or electricity...

 of allantoin

Allantoin

Allantoin is a chemical compound with formula C4H6N4O3. It is also called 5-ureidohydantoin or glyoxyldiureide. It is a diureide of glyoxylic acid....

 and formaldehyde

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde, hence its systematic name methanal.Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent odor. It is an important precursor to many other chemical compounds, especially for polymers...

 in the presence of sodium hydroxide solution and heat.