Is Propylene Glycol safe in cosmetics?
Propylene Glycol has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 10 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Propylene Glycol
Also known as: alpha-Propylene glycol, (+/-) 1,2-Propanediol, (RS)-1,2-Propanediol, dl-Propylene glycol, 3-01-00-02142 (+15 more)
INCI: PROPYLENE GLYCOL
Propylene Glycol (CAS 57-55-6) is a cosmetic humectant functioning as Diol humectant, solvent, and penetration enhancer. Attracts water from dermis. Reported NOAEL 730 mg/kg bw/day in rat (COSMOS DB); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data.
Function
Diol humectant, solvent, and penetration enhancer. Attracts water from dermis and environment into epidermis. Also functions as preservative booster and freeze-point depressant.
Editorial assessment
GOOD
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR reviewed; considered safe. FDA GRAS for food use. Higher irritation profile at concentrations above 10-15%, particularly on compromised skin. Neither comedogenic nor occlusive at standard use levels.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Propylene Glycol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
10 study endpoints found for Propylene Glycol. 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 | 730 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 735 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Special Toxicology Study | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 1230 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rabbit | Developmental | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 1350 mg/kg bw/day | oral | cat | Short Term Toxicity | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 1550 mg/kg bw/day | oral | hamster | Developmental | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 1600 mg/kg bw/day | oral | mouse | Developmental | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 2000 mg/kg bw/day | oral | dog | Chronic | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 2100 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Subchronic | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 2450 mg/kg bw/day | oral | rat | Chronic | COSMOS DB |
| NOAEL | 2750 mg/kg bw/day | oral | cat | Subchronic | COSMOS DB |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Hazard Statements
No hazard classification according to GHS criteria
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is mildly irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. Ingestion of large amounts could cause metabolic acidosis.
Sensitization Profile
Contact sensitization data for Propylene Glycol based on clinical patch test studies and IFRA standards.
Sensitization Rate
moderate
Allergen Class
botanical
EU Allergen Listed
no
Patch Test Positive Rate
2.0%
Cross-reactivity Group
glycol-group
Reaction Type
contact-dermatitis
Source: IVDK; ESSCA; NACDG
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Propylene Glycol, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
15-30%
Penetration Level
epidermis
Penetration Depth
epidermis
Molecular Weight
76.1 Da
Log P
-0.92
Systemic Absorption
yes
Topical Bioavailability
10-25%
Safety Margin Factor
high
Source: SCCS Opinion
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
10 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOEL | =2500 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | EFSA |
| NOEL | =2500 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | EFSA |
| LEL | =80919.4 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | DOE Protective Action Criteria |
| NOEL | =2500 mg/kg-day | Rat | oral | chronic | EFSA |
| ADI | <=25 mg/kg | Human | oral | - | WHO/JECFA |
| MRL | =0.0280106 mg/m3 | Human | inhalation | - | ATSDR MRLs |
| NOEL | =5 % | Mouse | oral | chronic | ECOTOX |
| NOEL | =10000 mg/kg-day | Mouse | oral | short-term (developmental) | ECOTOX |
| LC50 | >317042 mg/m3 | Rabbit | inhalation | - | ECHA |
| LC50 | >44900 mg/m3 | Rat | inhalation | - | ECHA |
Sensitization AOP Dashboard
Adverse Outcome Pathway data across 5 assays (DPRA, KeratinoSens, hCLAT, LLNA, NESIL) aggregated from public sources.
DPRA Cys %
0%
DPRA Lys %
0.6%
KeratinoSens IC50
2000 µM
hCLAT CV75
916.65 µg/mL
LLNA EC3
100%
NESIL
9300 µg/cm²
LLNA: NC (non-sensitizer)
GHS: not classified
Human: positive
Source: LLNA: Gerberick et al. (2005); DPRA: Urbisch et al. 2015 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.12.008] | Bauch et al. 2012 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2012.05.013]; KS: Emter et al. 2010 [DOI:10.1016/j.taap.2010.03.009] | Bauch et al. 2012 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2012.05.013]; hCLAT: Bauch et al. 2012 [DOI:10.1016/j.yrtph.2012.05.013] | Ashikaga et al. 2010 [DOI:10.1177/026119291003800403]; HPPT: [27] Kligman AM (1966): https://doi.org/10.1038/jid.1966.160
HRIPT Human Patch Test Studies
4 human repeat insult patch tests aggregated from dermatological literature.
| Test Type | N | Sensitized | Dose µg/cm² | NESIL µg/cm² | Potency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMT | - | 0 | 15517.24 | - | - |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 9300.02 | - | - |
| HRIPT | - | 0 | 41850.08 | - | - |
| OECD_DA_Human | - | 0 | - | - | Non-sensitizer |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
100,000 - 1,000,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE; GROUP
SVHC Candidate
No
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Cream | 2–5 | 20 | CIR Safety Assessment |
| Body Lotion | 2–5 | 20 | CIR Safety Assessment |
| Shampoo | 1–3 | 7 | CIR Safety Assessment |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Anti-caking agent
Anti-freeze agent
Antioxidant
Biocide
Chemical reaction regulator
Cleaning agent
Coalescing agent
Defoamer
Degradant/impurity
Deodorizer
Regulatory List Membership (6)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
EU Restricted for Children (Cosmetics)
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Consumer Product Chemical
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Propylene Glycol — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
penetration-enhancer
irritant-at-high-concentration
endocrine_disruptor
eu_children_restricted
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Propylene Glycol by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
20
Lowest NOAEL
443 mg/kg bw/day
Highest NOAEL
1.320e+4 mg/kg bw/day
ECHA
COSMOS DB
Known Synonyms
alpha-Propylene glycol
(+/-) 1,2-Propanediol
(RS)-1,2-Propanediol
dl-Propylene glycol
3-01-00-02142
BRN 1340498
Caswell No. 713
EINECS 200-338-0
EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 068603
FEMA No. 2940
(+-)-1,2-Propanediol
(+-)-Propylene glycol
UNII-6DC9Q167V3
General lube
All purpose lubricant
1,2-Propylenglykol
Aliphatic alcohol
CH3CH(OH)CH2OH
Chilisa FE
DL-1,2-Propanediol
Chemical Function
Solvent
Stabilizing agent
Regulatory Lists
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Vehicle - car interior - auto air freshener
detected; Europe; Vehicle - car interior
detected; Europe; Personal care - liniment
detected; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
Europe; Personal care - liniment
SCIL (9/2019)
artificial_saliva; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
consumer_product
Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment - laundry detergent; Europe
Cleaning products and household care - shoes; Europe
Cleaning products and household care - shoes; Europe
fracking; water
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Toys and children's products
Cleaning products and household care - laundry and fabric treatment - laundry stain remover; detected; Europe
active_ingredient; Pesticides
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
Compound
PROPYLENE GLYCOL
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL286398
Max Phase
3
Adverse Event Associations
67
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
Propylene glycol
ADI
25 mg/kg bw
Food Category
preservative
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Propylene Glycol allowed in the EU?
Propylene Glycol EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Propylene Glycol do in cosmetics?
Propylene Glycol functions as: Diol humectant, solvent, and penetration enhancer. Attracts water from dermis and environment into epidermis. Also functions as preservative booster and freeze-point depressant.. It is classified as a Humectant in our database. CAS number: 57-55-6.
What is the NOAEL for Propylene Glycol?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Propylene Glycol is 730 mg/kg bw/day based on a Short Term Toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 10 study endpoints are available. Source: COSMOS DB.
Is Propylene Glycol used outside cosmetics?
Propylene Glycol also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Propylene Glycol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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Substance Compliance
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
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