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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
eye shadow398 products
foundation367 products
lipstick205 products
shampoo165 products
blush143 products
facial moisturizer/treatment139 products
concealer131 products
bronzer/highlighter127 products
facial cleanser96 products
lip gloss93 products
daily use with SPF92 products
mask89 products
serums & essences88 products
brow liner78 products
moisturizer76 products
eye liner69 products
conditioner54 products
exfoliant/scrub52 products
setting powder/spray50 products
makeup remover44 products
hair treatment/serum42 products
hair styling aide39 products
sunless tanning38 products
hair color and bleaching36 products
facial powder35 products
body wash/cleanser33 products
around-eye cream32 products
makeup primer31 products
mascara30 products
toners/astringents28 products
lip balm25 products
glitter25 products
body oil22 products
lip plumper20 products
styling gel/lotion19 products
lip liner18 products
BB cream17 products
shaving cream12 products
recreational sunscreen11 products
hand cream11 products
body powder10 products
eye makeup remover9 products
bubble bath9 products
detangler8 products
beard cleanser8 products
styling mousse/foam7 products
makeup removing wipes7 products
anti-aging6 products
hair spray6 products
body spray6 products
after shave5 products
shaving cream (men's)5 products
body art5 products
body firming lotion4 products
liquid hand soap4 products
antiperspirant/deodorant4 products
after sun product4 products
skin fading/lightener2 products
2 products
hair-loss treatment2 products
muscle/joint soreness2 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
beard care1 products
baby oil1 products
hair removal waxes1 products
eyelash glue1 products
baby sunscreen1 products
facial cleansing wipes1 products

Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)

Expand content Collapse content
CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as irritantCPS&Q - Classification & Labelling

Allergies/immunotoxicity

Expand content Collapse content
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

Expand content Collapse content
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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