Menu
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 | 382 products |
| shampoo | 351 products |
| conditioner | 305 products |
| concealer | 293 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 246 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 242 products |
| mask | 234 products |
| mascara | 217 products |
| moisturizer | 207 products |
| hair styling aide | 199 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 197 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 194 products |
| lip balm | 162 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 154 products |
| facial cleanser | 150 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 136 products |
| bar soap | 135 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 133 products |
| serums & essences | 125 products |
| hand sanitizer | 119 products |
| body spray | 108 products |
| liquid hand soap | 106 products |
| recreational sunscreen | 99 products |
| eye liner | 98 products |
| mouthwash | 94 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 89 products |
| brow liner | 75 products |
| makeup primer | 73 products |
| sunless tanning | 67 products |
| fragrance for women | 62 products |
| daily use with SPF | 61 products |
| setting powder/spray | 60 products |
| eye shadow | 56 products |
| eyelash glue | 49 products |
| hair spray | 47 products |
| makeup remover | 42 products |
| toothpaste | 40 products |
| shaving cream | 38 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 38 products |
| toners/astringents | 38 products |
| hair-loss treatment | 37 products |
| body firming lotion | 36 products |
| BB cream | 36 products |
| around-eye cream | 35 products |
| lipstick | 34 products |
| hand cream | 33 products |
| fragrance for men | 28 products |
| polish remover | 28 products |
| foot moisturizer | 26 products |
| anti-aging | 25 products |
| lip gloss | 25 products |
| detangler | 25 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 25 products |
| CC cream | 24 products |
| after sun product | 22 products |
| after shave | 20 products |
| baby wipes | 20 products |
| baby sunscreen | 20 products |
| nail treatment | 15 products |
| bubble bath | 14 products |
| tooth whitening | 13 products |
| foot cleansing | 13 products |
| blush | 13 products |
| glitter | 13 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 11 products |
| nail polish | 11 products |
| skin fading/lightener | 10 products |
| hair relaxer | 10 products |
| 10 products | |
| baby lotion | 8 products |
| body oil | 8 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 6 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 6 products |
| shaving cream (men's) | 5 products |
| eye makeup remover | 5 products |
| baby toothpaste | 5 products |
| pore strips | 5 products |
| other eye makeup | 4 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 4 products |
| beard care | 4 products |
| depilatory | 3 products |
| foot odor control | 3 products |
| cuticle treatment | 3 products |
| diaper cream | 2 products |
| baby soap | 2 products |
| baby shampoo | 2 products |
| baby oil | 2 products |
| lip plumper | 1 products |
| tanning oil | 1 products |
| facial powder | 1 products |
| nail glue | 1 products |
| beard cleanser | 1 products |
| other men's products | 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 |
|---|---|
| Limited evidence of skin and immune system toxicity or allergies | Open scientific literature |
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 - Risks to Human Reproduction |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status |
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.
- Open scientific/peer reviewed literature
- 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 (National Toxicology Program). 2006. NTP Center for the Evaluation fo Risks to Human Reproduction (CERHR). NTP-CERHR Reports and Monographs.
- 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.
- 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.
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
ABOUT EWG VERIFIED™
Beyond providing Skin Deep® as an educational tool for consumers, EWG offers its EWG VERIFIED™ mark as a quick and easily identifiable way of conveying personal care products that meet EWG's strict health criteria. Before a company can use EWG VERIFIED™ on such products, the company must show that it fully discloses the products' ingredients on their labels or packaging, they do not contain EWG ingredients of concern, and are made with good manufacturing practices, among other criteria. Note that EWG receives licensing fees from all EWG VERIFIED™ member companies that help to support the important work we do. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
