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PROPYLENE GLYCOL
Score:
Data: Fair
- Other Concerns
- Functions
- About the Chemical
- Synonyms
-
Enhanced skin absorption, Use restrictions (low), Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate), and Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
Cancer 
Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity
Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
| foundation | 245 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 150 products |
| concealer | 149 products |
| shampoo | 132 products |
| mascara | 102 products |
| mask | 96 products |
| conditioner | 88 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 81 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 78 products |
| beach & sport sunscreen | 77 products |
| serums & essences | 58 products |
| moisturizer | 57 products |
| eye liner | 51 products |
| lip balm | 46 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 45 products |
| hair styling aide | 44 products |
| moisturizer with SPF | 43 products |
| facial cleanser | 43 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 41 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 30 products |
| mouthwash | 29 products |
| liquid hand soap | 28 products |
| makeup primer | 28 products |
| lipstick | 27 products |
| eye shadow | 23 products |
| makeup remover | 23 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 22 products |
| body spray | 22 products |
| bar soap | 21 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 21 products |
| hand sanitizer | 18 products |
| eyelash glue | 18 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 17 products |
| body firming lotion | 16 products |
| brow liner | 16 products |
| toners/astringents | 16 products |
| lip gloss | 15 products |
| hair spray | 15 products |
| detangler | 15 products |
| sunless tanning | 14 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 14 products |
| fragrance for women | 14 products |
| foot moisturizer | 12 products |
| shaving cream | 12 products |
| toothpaste | 12 products |
| fragrance for men | 12 products |
| BB cream | 11 products |
| around-eye cream | 10 products |
| CC cream | 9 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 8 products |
| anti-aging | 7 products |
| baby wipes | 7 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 6 products |
| after shave | 5 products |
| tooth whitening | 5 products |
| after sun product | 5 products |
| nail treatment | 5 products |
| hair relaxer | 5 products |
| polish remover | 5 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 4 products |
| bubble bath | 3 products |
| foot cleansing | 3 products |
| other eye makeup | 3 products |
| baby sunscreen | 3 products |
| hand cream | 3 products |
| eye makeup remover | 3 products |
| baby bubble bath | 2 products |
| facial powder | 2 products |
| 2 products | |
| depilatory | 1 products |
| baby lotion | 1 products |
| lip plumper | 1 products |
| body oil | 1 products |
| baby soap | 1 products |
| vapor rubs | 1 products |
| baby oil | 1 products |
| tanning oil | 1 products |
| makeup with SPF | 1 products |
| glitter | 1 products |
| baby toothpaste | 1 products |
| nail glue | 1 products |
| body powder | 1 products |
| pore strips | 1 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 1 products |
Enhanced skin absorption
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Penetration enhancer | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Classified as skin irritant | National Library of Medicine HazMap |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Propylene glycol was found to provoke allergic reactions in patients with eczema and other skin allergies. | CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review) 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC. |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Use restrictions
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Determined safe for use in cosmetics, subject to concentration or use limitations - Safe for use in cosmetics with some qualifications | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Data gaps
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Safety assessment was based on related chemical | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| 5589 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not likely to be a any toxicant in humans | NTP 2005 (Jahnke et al) |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
Informational
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - Determined safe for use in cosmetics up to a specified concentration limit | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Data Sources
- 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). 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.
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
- NTP 2005 (Jahnke et al)
- FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006.
- FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
ABOUT THE SKIN DEEP® RATINGS
EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
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