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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

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

Expand content Collapse content
foundation418 products
eye shadow413 products
lipstick218 products
shampoo167 products
facial moisturizer/treatment151 products
concealer150 products
blush142 products
bronzer/highlighter136 products
lip gloss110 products
facial cleanser96 products
mask93 products
daily use with SPF92 products
serums & essences83 products
brow liner78 products
moisturizer77 products
eye liner71 products
setting powder/spray61 products
conditioner57 products
exfoliant/scrub54 products
hair treatment/serum47 products
makeup remover43 products
hair styling aide42 products
mascara36 products
makeup primer36 products
sunless tanning35 products
hair color and bleaching34 products
body wash/cleanser33 products
facial powder33 products
around-eye cream32 products
glitter29 products
toners/astringents28 products
lip balm25 products
body oil22 products
styling gel/lotion19 products
lip plumper19 products
lip liner19 products
BB cream17 products
shaving cream12 products
recreational sunscreen11 products
hand cream11 products
11 products
body powder10 products
eye makeup remover9 products
bubble bath9 products
detangler8 products
beard cleanser8 products
makeup removing wipes7 products
styling mousse/foam6 products
hair spray6 products
body spray6 products
anti-aging5 products
after shave5 products
liquid hand soap5 products
shaving cream (men's)5 products
antiperspirant/deodorant5 products
body art5 products
body firming lotion4 products
after sun product4 products
muscle/joint soreness3 products
skin fading/lightener2 products
oil controller2 products
hair-loss treatment2 products
beard care2 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
tanning oil1 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

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

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

Ecotoxicology

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

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
  • 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
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

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
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

Can’t find your product?

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