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Data: Fair

Hexylene Glycol

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)

SYNONYMS

● 1,1,3-TRIMETHYLTRIMETHYLENEDIOL
● 2,4-DIHYDROXY-2-METHYLPENTANE
● 2,4-PENTANEDIOL, 2-METHYL-
● 2,4PENTANEDIOL, 2METHYL
● 2-METHYL- 2,4-PENTANEDIOL
● 2-METHYL-2,4-PENTANDIOL
● 2-METHYL-2,4-PENTANEDIOL
● 2-METHYLPENTANE-2,4-DIOL
● HEXYLENE GLYCOL
● HEXYLENE GYCOL
● MPD

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation


Hexylene glycol is a small molecular weight surfactant.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

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eye shadow373 products
foundation343 products
lipstick194 products
shampoo181 products
blush139 products
facial moisturizer/treatment124 products
concealer120 products
bronzer/highlighter116 products
facial cleanser91 products
daily use with SPF91 products
lip gloss86 products
serums & essences81 products
moisturizer70 products
eye liner65 products
brow liner60 products
conditioner59 products
mask56 products
exfoliant/scrub48 products
setting powder/spray44 products
hair treatment/serum43 products
makeup remover39 products
hair color and bleaching39 products
facial powder39 products
sunless tanning39 products
body wash/cleanser33 products
hair styling aide32 products
around-eye cream30 products
makeup primer30 products
mascara28 products
toners/astringents26 products
lip plumper26 products
glitter25 products
body oil22 products
styling gel/lotion18 products
lip balm18 products
BB cream17 products
shaving cream13 products
recreational sunscreen11 products
hand cream11 products
eye makeup remover10 products
bubble bath10 products
body powder10 products
hair spray9 products
makeup removing wipes9 products
styling mousse/foam8 products
detangler8 products
lip liner8 products
beard cleanser8 products
anti-aging7 products
body spray6 products
liquid hand soap5 products
shaving cream (men's)5 products
body art5 products
body firming lotion4 products
after shave4 products
after sun product4 products
antiperspirant/deodorant3 products
hair-loss treatment3 products
bar soap3 products
skin fading/lightener2 products
2 products
depilatory1 products
hair relaxer1 products
other eye makeup1 products
foot moisturizer1 products
baby soap1 products
CC cream1 products
damaged skin treatment1 products
baby bubble bath1 products
baby lotion1 products
nail polish1 products
tanning oil1 products
beard care1 products
muscle/joint soreness1 products
baby oil1 products
hair removal waxes1 products
eyelash glue1 products
baby sunscreen1 products
facial cleansing wipes1 products

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as irritantCPS&Q - Classification & Labelling

Allergies/immunotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Limited evidence of immune system toxicity or allergiesNational Library of Medicine HazMap

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in productCosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments
2457 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemicalNLM PubMed

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List
Classified as a low human health priorityEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada Domestic Substance List

Neurotoxicity

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CONCERN REFERENCE
nervous system - weight of evidence unknown/unassessed/unreview: published lit review or major tox studyNational Library of Medicine HazMap
  • CPS&Q (Consumer Products Safety & Quality) formely known as ECB (European Chemicals Bureau). 2008. Classification and Labelling: Chemicals: Annex VI of Directive 67/548/EEC through the 31st ATP.
  • NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2006. HazMap — Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Agents.
  • CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
  • NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
  • EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG VERIFIED® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability

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