Propylene Glycol
A small humectant and solvent molecule that helps other ingredients dissolve and helps skin hold water. It is one of the most studied cosmetic ingredients and is considered safe at the concentrations used in personal care products.
The myth is that propylene glycol is "industrial antifreeze" that soaks into skin and poisons the body. Antifreeze uses ethylene glycol, a different and more toxic molecule; propylene glycol is a different compound that CIR and FDA consider safe in cosmetics, and it is also used as a carrier in foods and oral medications. Rare contact dermatitis has been reported in people with an existing sensitivity, which is why very sensitive skin may want to patch test, but this does not make it a hazardous ingredient for the general population.
Products with Propylene Glycol
References
Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. Concern is graded on cited evidence, never on hazard-score lists. See how we score.