Propylene Glycol is a multifunctional cosmetic ingredient widely used in skin-care, hair-care, cleansing, oral-care and personal-care formulations. It is a clear, colourless, slightly viscous and water-soluble liquid with strong hygroscopic properties.
Propylene Glycol is primarily used as a humectant, solvent, skin-conditioning ingredient, viscosity-controlling agent and functional fragrance ingredient. It can help retain moisture in cosmetic formulations while also dissolving or helping to solubilize a wide range of cosmetic ingredients.
According to current cosmetic ingredient information, Propylene Glycol is used in various products applied to the skin and hair, as well as tooth, mouth and lip-care products, sunscreens and deodorants.
Propylene Glycol is identified by CAS Number 57-55-6 and is available in different purity and quality grades for cosmetic, personal-care, food and other applications.
Propylene Glycol is a multifunctional diol commonly used as a solvent and humectant in cosmetic formulations. Its high water compatibility and ability to dissolve many organic ingredients make it useful in both aqueous and mixed-phase formulations.
In cosmetic products, Propylene Glycol can perform several functions simultaneously. It can attract and retain moisture, improve the solubility of selected ingredients, assist in delivering functional ingredients throughout a formulation and contribute to viscosity control.
Its low volatility and water miscibility make it particularly useful in formulations where a stable liquid carrier or humectant is required.
Current cosmetic references identify Propylene Glycol as a humectant, solvent, skin-conditioning, functional-fragrance and viscosity-controlling ingredient.
One of the most important applications of Propylene Glycol is as a humectant.
Humectants help attract and retain moisture within cosmetic formulations and can contribute to the moisturization profile of finished products. Propylene Glycol can therefore be incorporated into creams, lotions, facial products, cleansing products and other formulations where moisture management is important.
It can also help maintain the physical characteristics of formulations by reducing excessive moisture loss during storage.
Propylene Glycol is widely used as a solvent for cosmetic ingredients that may have limited compatibility with water.
It can help dissolve or disperse selected:
Its water compatibility makes it particularly useful in aqueous formulations.
Propylene Glycol is commonly used in skin-care formulations including creams, lotions, facial toners and moisturizing products.
It can contribute to:
Propylene Glycol is suitable for various hair-care products where humectancy and solvent functionality are required.
It can be incorporated into:
It can assist in maintaining moisture and helping to distribute selected functional ingredients through the formulation.
Propylene Glycol can be used in cleansing products as a solvent, humectant and formulation-support ingredient.
Applications include:
Propylene Glycol is also used in selected oral-care products because of its solvent and humectant properties.
Potential applications include:
Propylene Glycol can be used in deodorant formulations as a solvent and carrier for selected functional ingredients and fragrance materials.
It can assist in maintaining a homogeneous formulation and supporting the distribution of other components.
Propylene Glycol is highly soluble in water and can be readily incorporated into aqueous cosmetic systems.
This makes it particularly useful for water-based formulations, toners, gels, cleansers and other products where rapid and uniform mixing is required.
Propylene Glycol is hygroscopic, meaning it can attract and retain moisture from its surrounding environment.
Containers should therefore remain tightly closed during storage and handling to minimize unnecessary moisture uptake.
Propylene Glycol can generally be incorporated directly into the appropriate formulation phase. The processing sequence should depend on the other ingredients and the intended formulation.
When used as a solvent or carrier, it may be premixed with compatible ingredients before addition to the main batch.
Propylene Glycol itself is not normally used as a primary pH-adjusting ingredient. The final formulation pH should be established according to the requirements of the complete cosmetic system.
Propylene Glycol is compatible with water and many common cosmetic ingredients. Nevertheless, compatibility should be evaluated with the complete formulation, particularly when using high concentrations or sensitive active ingredients.
Propylene Glycol has a relatively low viscosity compared with many polymeric humectants. It can influence the viscosity and flow characteristics of finished formulations depending on concentration and the other ingredients present.
Store Propylene Glycol in a tightly closed container in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area. Protect the material from contamination, excessive heat and unnecessary exposure to moisture.
Propylene Glycol can be used in:
Swapnroop provides Propylene Glycol for cosmetic and personal-care formulation applications with a focus on consistent quality and controlled technical parameters.
Key advantages include:
Propylene Glycol is a multifunctional cosmetic ingredient used primarily as a humectant and solvent. It also provides skin-conditioning, viscosity-controlling and functional-fragrance functions.
The CAS Number of Propylene Glycol is 57-55-6.
Yes. Propylene Glycol is normally supplied as a clear, colourless, slightly viscous liquid.
Yes. Propylene Glycol is highly soluble in water and is widely used as a solvent and carrier in water-based cosmetic formulations.
It is used as a humectant, solvent, skin-conditioning ingredient, viscosity-controlling ingredient and functional fragrance ingredient.
Yes. It is used in creams, lotions, facial toners, gels, moisturizers and other skin-care formulations.
Yes. Propylene Glycol can be incorporated into shampoos, conditioners, hair tonics and other hair-care formulations as a humectant, solvent and formulation-support ingredient.
Yes. Propylene Glycol is used in selected oral-care formulations including toothpaste and mouth-care products.
It should generally be stored tightly closed in a cool, dry and well-ventilated area and protected from contamination and excessive moisture exposure.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless to light-yellow liquid or oily liquid |