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Urea

Urea suppliers and sourcing guide

Urea is a small, very water-soluble organic compound, CO(NH2)2. Industrial urea is made from ammonia and carbon dioxide under high pressure and temperature, then crystallized or prilled. For personal care, brands buy pharmacopeial or cosmetic grades as white crystals or granules, which are dissolved in the water phase of creams and lotions. The same molecule in fertilizer or technical grades is not suitable for cosmetics.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
carbamide · carbonyldiamide · CAS 57-13-6
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of urea

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • USP / Ph. Eur. crystals

    Pharmacopeial urea with tested purity and low biuret, used for OTC and cosmetic products.

  • Cosmetic-grade granules

    High-purity urea sold for personal care without full pharmacopeial documentation.

  • Food-grade urea

    Urea for food uses such as a fermentation aid in yeast-raised bakery products and alcoholic beverages.

  • Urea solutions

    Pre-dissolved urea at a stated concentration, often buffered.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Assay
Urea content by nitrogen determination or a pharmacopeial method.
Biuret
Biuret, a by-product of manufacture, by colorimetric method or HPLC.
Ammonium and alkalinity
Free ammonia or alkalinity, which rises when urea breaks down.
Loss on drying and residue on ignition
Moisture and inorganic residue.
Heavy metals
Lead and other metals by ICP-MS.
Clarity and color of solution
Appearance of a water solution against the specification.

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Urea is hygroscopic and cakes, so keep it in sealed, moisture-barrier bags in a cool, dry store. In water it slowly breaks down to ammonia and raises pH, especially when warm, so finished products are usually buffered and stability tested. Shelf life and retest dates come from the supplier.

Lots and expiry dates

Record grade, assay and biuret for each lot and keep pharmacopeial grades separate from technical stock. Use the oldest lots first and check for caking or ammonia odor before use.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

  • 21 CFR 184.1923 affirms urea (carbamide) as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a direct human food ingredient, used as a formulation aid and fermentation aid in yeast-raised bakery products, alcoholic beverages and gelatin products.

    Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)

  • Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist lists urea with a 10% maximum in cosmetics other than those intended to be diluted in bath water.

    Source: canada.ca (opens in a new tab)

  • Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists urea (carbamide) with humectant and skin-conditioning agent (humectant) among its non-medicinal purposes and a 10% upper limit for topical use.

    Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Urea suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking urea suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

Sell urea? Request a listing

Frequently asked questions

What forms of urea can brands buy?

Common forms include uSP / Ph. Eur. crystals, cosmetic-grade granules, food-grade urea and urea solutions. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for urea include?

Expect assay, biuret, ammonium and alkalinity, loss on drying and residue on ignition, heavy metals and clarity and color of solution, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should urea be stored?

Urea is hygroscopic and cakes, so keep it in sealed, moisture-barrier bags in a cool, dry store. In water it slowly breaks down to ammonia and raises pH, especially when warm, so finished products are usually buffered and stability tested. Shelf life and retest dates come from the supplier.

What is the regulatory status of urea?

21 CFR 184.1923 affirms urea (carbamide) as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a direct human food ingredient, used as a formulation aid and fermentation aid in yeast-raised bakery products, alcoholic beverages and gelatin products. Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist lists urea with a 10% maximum in cosmetics other than those intended to be diluted in bath water. Health Canada's Natural Health Products Ingredients Database lists urea (carbamide) with humectant and skin-conditioning agent (humectant) among its non-medicinal purposes and a 10% upper limit for topical use.

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