Abstract: HPLC was applied to the determination of formaldehyde in cosmetics.Formaldehyde in cosmetic sample was extracted with acetonitrile.An aliquot of the extract was taken and derivatized with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in a weakly acidic medium.The derivatized product was determined by HPLC.The Supelco Discovery C18 column (4.6 mm×250 mm,5 μm) was used in the analysis.The mobile phase used was a mixture of acetonitrile and water with a ratio of 65 to 35 by volume.The flow-rate chosen was 1.0 mL·min-1.UV-detection was made at the wavelength of 365 nm.Precision and recovery tests were made at the concentration level of 5.0,50.0 and 100.0 μg·g-1 of formaldehyde,and the results obtained were as follows: recovery in the range of 70%-102%,RSD<5.0%,detection limit 5.0 μg·g-1.