Is Ethoxydiglycol safe in cosmetics?
Ethoxydiglycol has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: restricted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Ethoxydiglycol
Also known as: Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, BRN 1736441, Carbitol cellosolve, Carbitol solvent, Diethyleneglycol monoethyl ether (+9 more)
INCI: ETHOXYDIGLYCOL
Ethoxydiglycol (CAS 111-90-0) is a cosmetic cosmetic ingredient functioning as Solvent, Humectant, Penetration Enhancer. NOAEL 400 mg/kg bw/day (PDF-verified against ToxValDB ECHA IUCLID); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: restricted, max Leave-on non-spray: 2.6%; rinse-off: 10%; oxidative hair dye: 7%; non-oxidative hair dye: 5%; spray products: 2.6%. Ethylene glycol impurity must be <=0.1%.. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data.
Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence
Ethoxydiglycol is classified GHS Danger (H227, H320, H372) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max Leave-on non-spray: 2.6%; rinse-off: 10%; oxidative hair dye: 7%; non-oxidative hair dye: 5%; spray products: 2.6%. Ethylene glycol impurity must be <=0.1%..
Source: Cosmetics: ingredients.eu status/eu max; Chemicals: ghs classifications.signal word/hazard statement code
Function
Solvent, Humectant, Penetration Enhancer
Editorial assessment
GOOD
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Chemistry & Identifiers
IUPAC Name
2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethanol
InChIKey
XXJWXESWEXIICW-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
restricted
EU Max Conc.
Leave-on non-spray: 2.6%; rinse-off: 10%; oxidative hair dye: 7%; non-oxidative hair dye: 5%; spray products: 2.6%. Ethylene glycol impurity must be <=0.1%.
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR (1985, reaffirmed 2004) concluded safe at 0.0004-80% depending on product type; no FDA concentration restrictions
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Ethoxydiglycol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Ethoxydiglycol. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =0.08 mg/kg bw | dermal | human | dermal absorption | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.08 mg/kg bw | dermal | human | dermal absorption | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.08 mg/kg bw | dermal | human | dermal absorption | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.08 mg/kg bw | dermal | human | dermal absorption | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.167 mg/kg bw/d | dermal | human | dermal absorption | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.167 mg/kg bw/d | dermal | human | dermal absorption | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.167 mg/kg bw/d | dermal | human | dermal absorption | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.167 mg/kg bw/d | dermal | human | dermal absorption | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.17 mg/kg bw | dermal | human | dermal absorption | SCCS Opinion |
| NOAEL | =0.17 mg/kg bw | dermal | human | dermal absorption | SCCS Opinion |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is mildly irritating to the eyes.
Long-term Exposure Effects
The substance defats the skin, which may cause dryness or cracking.
Pre-Calculated Safety Assessment
Conditional — safe only within SCCS limits: 2.6% all products incl. sprays; 10% rinse-off; 7% oxidative hair; 5% non-oxidative hair; no oral/eyes; ethylene glycol impurity <=0.1%
Pre-calculated NOAEL → SED → MoS audit trail for Ethoxydiglycol across SCCS product categories, with measured dermal absorption where available.
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
1 human repeat insult patch test aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMT | - | 0 | 12960 | - | - |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
10,000 - 100,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE
SVHC Candidate
No
Expanded Jurisdictional Detail
Additional regulatory detail beyond the 7-jurisdiction summary: Saudi SFDA, Korea MFDS, ASEAN ACD, Japan/Korea, Brazil/India, and cross-jurisdictional restriction entries.
SA Saudi SFDA (III - Restricted)
Product type: (a) Oxidative hair day products (b) Non-oxidative hair dye products (c) Rinse-off products other than hair dye products (d) Other non-spray cosmetic products (e) The following spray products: fine fragrances, hair sprays, antiperspirant and deodorant. Max: (a) 7% (b) 5% (c) 10% (d) 2,6% (e)2,6%.
BRIN Brazil/India Cosmetics
India: Restricted · max (a) 7% (b) 5% (c) 10% (d) 2,6% (e)2,6%
Expanded Dermal Absorption Data
Cross-database dermal penetration: EPA Dryad physics-based, Roberts Mendeley permeation, and SCCS-aggregated measured values.
Aggregated DA Values (2 records across 5 sources)
| Type | DA % | Method | Skin Model | SCCS Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| measured_sccs_opinion | 50.4% | - | - | SCCS/1507/13 |
| measured_sccs_opinion | 50.4% | - | - | SCCS/1507/13 |
PubChem Annotations
Safety and regulatory annotations from PubChem (NCBI) aggregated sources.
Safety (2)
ICSC Safety Card
0039
Source: WHO/JECFA
Skin Eye Respiratory Irritation
The liquid is moderately irritating to the eye ...
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Regulatory (1)
JECFA Evaluation
DIETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOETHYL ETHER | 1995 | NO ADI ALLOCATED | TRS 859-JECFA 44/9 | FAS 35-JECFA 44/183 (1992)
Source: WHO/JECFA
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Adhesion/cohesion promoter
Astringent
Emulsifier
Film former
Fragrance
Humectant
Processing aids not otherwise specified
Solubility enhancer
Solvent
Viscosity modifier
Regulatory List Membership (4)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
FDA Indirect Food Contact Additives
Consumer Product Chemical
EU CosIng Cosmetics Ingredient Database
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Ethoxydiglycol — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
annex-iii-restricted
penetration-enhancer
high-dermal-absorption
impurity-control-required
not-for-eye-products
not-for-oral-hygiene
ifra_fragrance
eu_cosing_listed
jecfa_concern
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Ethoxydiglycol by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
286
Lowest NOAEL
0.08
Highest NOAEL
5360
Units vary across source rows: mg/kg bw, mg/kg bw/d, mg/kg
SCCS Opinion
ECHA
Dermal Absorption
View details ->| Absorption % | Method | Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 50.4% | SCCS opinion extraction | - |
| 50.4% | SCCS opinion extraction | - |
Known Synonyms
Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether
BRN 1736441
Carbitol cellosolve
Carbitol solvent
Diethyleneglycol monoethyl ether
EINECS 203-919-7
Ethyl diethylene glycol
Losungsmittel APV
Monoethyl ether of diethylene glycol
3,6-Dioxa-1-oktanol
Aethyldiaethylenglycol
Karbitol
UNII-A1A1I8X02B
Ethoxy diglycol
Chemical Function
Solvent
Humectant
Fragrance
Viscosity modifier
Regulatory Lists
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Furniture and Furnishings
Europe; Vehicle - car interior
detected; Europe; Vehicle - car interior
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Vehicle - car interior
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Vehicle - car interior
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Vehicle - car interior
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - home office - pens and markers; detected
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
Cleaning products and household care - shoes; Europe
Cleaning products and household care - shoes; Europe
air; Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe
air; Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe
Europe; Specialty occupational products
Europe; Personal care; restricted
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
active_ingredient; Pesticides
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
DIETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOETHYL ETHER
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL1230841
Max Phase
-1
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ethoxydiglycol allowed in the EU?
Ethoxydiglycol EU regulatory status: restricted. Maximum allowed concentration: Leave-on non-spray: 2.6%; rinse-off: 10%; oxidative hair dye: 7%; non-oxidative hair dye: 5%; spray products: 2.6%. Ethylene glycol impurity must be <=0.1%.. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Ethoxydiglycol do in cosmetics?
Ethoxydiglycol functions as: Solvent, Humectant, Penetration Enhancer. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 111-90-0.
What is the NOAEL for Ethoxydiglycol?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Ethoxydiglycol is =0.08 mg/kg bw based on a dermal absorption study via dermal route in human. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: SCCS Opinion.
Is Ethoxydiglycol used outside cosmetics?
Ethoxydiglycol also appears in industrial chemical safety and pharmaceutical data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Does Ethoxydiglycol have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?
Ethoxydiglycol is classified GHS Danger (H227, H320, H372) in the chemicals database but is restricted in EU cosmetics at max Leave-on non-spray: 2.6%; rinse-off: 10%; oxidative hair dye: 7%; non-oxidative hair dye: 5%; spray products: 2.6%. Ethylene glycol impurity must be <=0.1%..
Compliance Tools
Check Ethoxydiglycol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
Paste a full ingredient list for instant analysis
82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions
Related Ingredients
C7-8 Isoparaffin
EXCELLENT
Same category
solvent, viscosity controlling
ACRYLOYLOXY PROPYLTRIMETHOXYLANE
GOOD
Same category
Solvent
ALCOHOL DENAT. SD ALCOHOL 23-F
GOOD
Same category
Solvent
Alcohol
GOOD
Same category
Solvent, antimicrobial agent, astring...
Ammonium Xylenesulfonate
GOOD
Same category
Solvent, Hydrotrope, Surfactant, Visc...
Aqua Vitae
GOOD
Same category
Solvent, skin conditioning, toning
(AGARICUS BLAZEI FERMENT + GANODERMA LUCIDUM FERMENT + GANODERMA MULTIPILEUM FERMENT) EXTRACT
GOOD
Similar safety
Anti-sebum, Antioxidant, Skin Protecting
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA) ROOT/CNIDIUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME EXTRACT
GOOD
Similar safety
Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning ...
(ANGELICA ACUTILOBA/PAEONIA LACTIFLORA/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS) ROOT/(CNIDIUM OFFICINALE/COPTIS CHINENSIS) RHIZOME/GARDENIA JASMINOIDES FRUIT/PHELLODENDRON CHINENSE BARK EXTRACT
GOOD
Similar safety
(ANGELICA GIGAS/GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS/REHMANNIA GLUTINOSA ROOT)/ANGELICA GIGAS STEM/CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS FLOWER/(CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS/PRUNUS PERSICA SEED)PORIA COCOS WATER
GOOD
Similar safety
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Pr...
(ANGELICA KEISKEI/CHRYSANTHEMUM ZAWADSKII) LEAF/STEM/CINNAMOMUM CASSIA BARK/TRICHOSANTES KIRILOWII FRUIT/ULMUS DAVIDIANA BARK/ROOT/(PAEONIA JAPONICA/BUPLEURUM FALCATUM/POLYGALA TENUIFOLIA ROOT)/VISCUS ALBUM STEM EXTRACT
GOOD
Similar safety
Anti-seborrheic, Anti-sebum, Antioxid...
(APPLE/CITRUS JUNOS/LENTIL/PEAR/PUMPKIN/STRAWBERRY/TOMATO FRUIT)/CORN KERNEL/(ARCTIUM LAPPA/BRASSICA OLERACEA ACEPHALA/CABBAGE/CAMELLIA SINENSIS/MORINGA OLEIFERA/RADISH/SPINACH LEAF)/(SORGHUM BICOLOR LEAF/STEM)/OAT MEAL/POTATO PULP/(CARROT/NELUMBO NUCIFERA/RADISH/WILD YAM ROOT)/(AMARANTHUS HYPOCHONDRIACUS/CASHEW/CICER ARIETINUM/COIX LACRYMA-JOBI MA-YUEN /MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA/PHASEOLUS ANGULARIS/PISTACIA VERA/RHYNCHOSIA NULUBILIS/RICE/SESAME/SETARIA ITALICA/SOYBEAN/SWEET ALMOND/WHEAT SEED)/HORDEUM VULGARE SPROUT/CYPERUS ESCULENTUS TUBER/ARTEMISIA PRINCEPS/BROCCOLI/CHENOPODIUM QUINOA/ENTEROMORPHA COMPRESSA/HORDEUM VULGARE/IPOMOEA BATATAS/LAMINARIA JAPONICA/LENTINUS EDODES/PLEUROTUS OSTREATUS/PORPHYRA TENERA/UNDARIA PINNATIFIDA EXTRACT
GOOD
Similar safety
Antioxidant
1,5-Pentanediol
GOOD
Chemical family
Solvent
2,4-Hexadienol
GOOD
Chemical family
Fragrance
Aminoethylethanolamine
MODERATE
Chemical family
Buffering
Is Ethoxydiglycol in Your Products?
Scan any product label with Piro — our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.
Try Piro Free →Analyze Your Full Ingredient List
Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Ethoxydiglycol in your formulation.