Ingredient glossary
Propylene Glycol
On your shelf ✓What Propylene Glycol does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Propylene Glycol · Also: PG, 1,2-propanediol, Propane-1,2-diol
In short: Propylene Glycol delivers hydration and solvent, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is moderate. One thing to know: introduce it gently.
- What it does
- Hydration, solvent
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Watch out
- Introduce it gently
- Evidence
- Moderate
The molecule
The Glow take
Quiet, essential, and nothing to fear.
Propylene Glycol keeps a product safe to use from the first pump to the last, at tiny amounts. Not something you pay a premium for.
— Maya
What it does
- hydration
- solvent
- mildness
moderate evidenceThe backing here is a regulatory safety review, not an efficacy trial: the CIR expert panel concluded propylene glycol is safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating, and deleted its earlier 50 percent limit rather than lowering it, because the industry use survey behind the review reported it at anywhere from 0.0008 to 99 percent, up to 73 percent in deodorants. Two large patch-test registries found 2.3 percent positive of 45,138 patients and 3.5 percent of 23,359, with already-inflamed skin such as leg dermatitis the one clear risk factor, and a 2023 review notes propylene glycol is negative in predictive sensitisation tests, so how much of that signal is allergy rather than irritation is still unsettled. The panel also noted it can enhance skin penetration of other ingredients by a mechanism it could not identify, and warned it should not be formulated alongside ingredients judged safe only because they do not penetrate.
On a label: usually effective at 1-15%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- dry
- normal
- combo
- oily
- dehydrated
- acne prone
Approach with care
- very sensitive
- eczema
- Irritation riskModerate
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveTake care
Often chosen for acne prone. Take extra care if any of these apply to you: eczema.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- humectants
- preservatives
- antioxidants
Propylene Glycol, answered
Is Propylene Glycol safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Propylene Glycol is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Propylene Glycol?
Approach Propylene Glycol with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive and eczema. Its irritation risk is moderate, so introduce it slowly and patch test first.
What concentration of Propylene Glycol actually works?
Propylene Glycol tends to do its job in the 1 to 15% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.
Does it clog pores?
Published tables rate it 0 of 5 so it is very unlikely to clog.
- This rating comes from old lab tests on the isolated ingredient, not the finished product.
- The full formula, how much is used, and your own skin all matter more than one number.
- If you are acne-prone it is worth noticing, not a reason to avoid it on sight.
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Sources & how we reviewed this
- PMID 23064775abstract only, the full text is paywalled
- PMID 36702195abstract only, the full text is paywalled
- PMID 29064881abstract only, the full text is paywalled