What does Propylene glycol do?

Used in cosmetics as a humectant, a solvent and a skin-conditioning agent. Propylene Glycol is the aliphatic alcohol.

Is Propylene glycol safe?

Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

beauty
cleaning
food
industrial

Propylene glycol

CAS 123120-98-9 · 40/100 · High conf.

Also registered as 5 other CAS numbers

4254-16-4 · 63625-56-9 · 190913-75-8 · 1194046-20-2 · 57-55-6

Concern score

40/100Moderate concern based on regulatory listings.

High confidence

Propylene glycol in plain language

What it is: Also known as Propylene glycol (solvent) · Propylene glycol dl-form · 1,2-DIHYDROXYPROPANE · 1,2-Propylene glycol · Methyl glycol · E-1520
Show all 40 names
Ins NO.1520 · INS-1520 · Isopropylene glycol · Propane-1,2-diol · (+/-) 1,2-Propanediol · (.+-.)-Propylene glycol · (2RS)-PROPANE-1,2-DIOL · (RS)-1,2-Propanediol · (±)-1,2-PROPANEDIOL · 1,2-(RS)-Propanediol · 2-Hydroxypropanol · DL-1,2-Propanediol · Dowfrost · Kilfrost abc-s · Kollisolv pg · Monopropylene glycol · Methylethyl glycol · Methylethylene glycol · Propanediol- · Propylene glycerol · Propylene Glycol USP · Sirlene · Solar Winter BAN · Solargard P · Trimethyl glycol · Ucar 35 · aliphatic alcohol · alpha-Propylene glycol · alpha-Propyleneglycol · dl-Propylene glycol · propylene glycol. vp:0.1 @ 68f. · propylene glycol. vp:0.2 @ 68f. · propylenglycolum · Corum 5117 component propylene glycol
What it does: Used in cosmetics as a humectant, a solvent and a skin-conditioning agent. Propylene Glycol is the aliphatic alcohol.
Humectant
Solvent
Skin conditioning
Viscosity controlling
Fragrance
Carrier solvent, glazing agent, humectant
Is it a concern?: Moderate concern: no hazard classifications on record. It is listed for cosmetic use in the EU.

Why it's flagged

EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 16177 composition records across product categories including Cleaning and safety, Construction and building materials, Raw materials.

The score describes this ingredient's chemical identity — its hazard profile from published classifications and regulatory status — not the safety of any product it appears in.

Regulation

No restrictions found. Propylene glycol appears in these published regulatory listings.

In marketed US drugs
Inactive ingredient in US drugs

Recorded in these product areas

Found in consumer products
Beauty
Cleaning
Industrial

USFDAinactive ingredient database82 entries — 15 administration routes
- Route: DENTAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 2 %w/wSource →
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION; Maximum daily exposure: 7459 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAMUSCULAR; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 4000 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION; Maximum daily exposure: 16624 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, POWDER, LYOPHILIZED, FOR SOLUTION; Potency: 63.4 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: INJECTION, SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 4000 mgSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 5 %w/vSource →
- Route: INTRAVENOUS; Dosage form: SOLUTION, CONCENTRATE; Potency: 50.33 %w/vSource →
- Route: NASAL; Dosage form: SPRAY; Maximum daily exposure: 5 mgSource →
- Route: NASAL; Dosage form: SPRAY, METERED; Maximum daily exposure: 240 mgSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: EMULSION; Potency: 1.5 %w/vSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: GEL; Potency: 0.44 %w/wSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Potency: 1 %w/vSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SOLUTION/ DROPS; Potency: 0.75 %w/vSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Potency: 0.6 %w/vSource →
- Route: OPHTHALMIC; Dosage form: SUSPENSION/ DROPS; Potency: 0.75 %w/vSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE; Maximum daily exposure: 1072 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, COATED; Potency: 25 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE; Potency: NASource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, DELAYED RELEASE; Potency: 1.7 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 8 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CAPSULE, LIQUID FILLED; Maximum daily exposure: 42 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: CONCENTRATE; Maximum daily exposure: 7000 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: DROPS; Potency: 200 mg/1mlSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: ELIXIR; Maximum daily exposure: 9306 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: LIQUID; Maximum daily exposure: 29008 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION; Maximum daily exposure: 22602 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SOLUTION, CONCENTRATE; Maximum daily exposure: 2590 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION; Maximum daily exposure: 27120 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SUSPENSION, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 1000 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: SYRUP; Maximum daily exposure: 5700 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET; Maximum daily exposure: 64 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, COATED; Maximum daily exposure: 16 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, DELAYED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 36 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, EXTENDED RELEASE; Potency: 9 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FILM COATED; Maximum daily exposure: 96 mgSource →
- Route: ORAL; Dosage form: TABLET, FILM COATED, EXTENDED RELEASE; Maximum daily exposure: 19 mgSource →
- Route: RECTAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL, FOAM; Maximum daily exposure: 1214 mgSource →
- Route: RECTAL; Dosage form: AEROSOL, METERED; Potency: NASource →
- Route: RECTAL; Dosage form: GEL; Maximum daily exposure: 3315 mgSource →
- + 42 more entries not shown
EUEFSAEFSA opinion4 entries
- Re-evaluation of propane-1,2-diol alginate (E 405) as a food additive (EFSA ANS)Source →
- Re-evaluation of propane-1,2-diol (E 1520) as a food additive (EFSA ANS)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of the substances currently on the list in the Annex to Commission Directive 96/3/EC as acceptable previous cargoes for edible fats and oils - Part I of III (EFSA CONTAM)Source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 92 (FGE.92): Consideration of aliphatic acyclic diols, triols, and related substances evaluated by JECFA (68th meeting) structurally related to aliphatic primary and secondary saturated and unsaturated alcohols, aldehydes, acetals, carboxylic acids and esters containing an additional oxygenated functional group and lactones evaluated by EFSA in FGE.10Rev1 (2009). EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) (EFSA CEF)Source →
EUCosIngActivePropylene Glycol is the aliphatic alcohol that conforms generally to the formula
- Propylene Glycol is the aliphatic alcohol that conforms generally to the formulaSource →
GLOBALJECFAEvaluatedJECFA evaluation record.
- JECFA evaluation record.Source →
GLOBALJECFA0-25 mg/kg bw (1973)JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw (1973). Functional class: carrier solvent, glazing agent, humectant.
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw (1973). Functional class: carrier solvent, glazing agent, humectant.Source →
USEPAcommercial use observedEPA CPDat observed this chemical in 16177 composition records across product categories including Cleaning and safety, Construction and building materials, Raw materials. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Solvent, Stabilizing agent, Humectant.
- EPA CPDat observed this chemical in 16177 composition records across product categories including Cleaning and safety, Construction and building materials, Raw materials. EPA CPDat classifies this chemical for functional uses including Solvent, Stabilizing agent, Humectant.Source →
USFDAmarketed drug occurrenceFDA NDC lists this ingredient in 97 active drug products and 114 total products.
- FDA NDC lists this ingredient in 97 active drug products and 114 total products.Source →
USFDAlisted in openFDA substanceopenFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.
- openFDA substance registry classifies this ingredient as chemical.Source →

Expert safety opinions

Independent scientific assessments cited by the records we hold, with the year and link where the record gives one.

SCCS
EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
No SCCS opinion on file.
CIR
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US expert panel)
No CIR safety assessment on file.
EFSA
European Food Safety Authority
- Re-evaluation of propane-1,2-diol alginate (E 405) as a food additive (EFSA ANS)
  2018 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Re-evaluation of propane-1,2-diol (E 1520) as a food additive (EFSA ANS)
  2018 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on the evaluation of the substances currently on the list in the Annex to Commission Directive 96/3/EC as acceptable previous cargoes for edible fats and oils - Part I of III (EFSA CONTAM)
  2011 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
- Scientific Opinion on Flavouring Group Evaluation 92 (FGE.92): Consideration of aliphatic acyclic diols, triols, and related substances evaluated by JECFA (68th meeting) structurally related to aliphatic primary and secondary saturated and unsaturated alcohols, aldehydes, acetals, carboxylic acids and esters containing an additional oxygenated functional group and lactones evaluated by EFSA in FGE.10Rev1 (2009). EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) (EFSA CEF)
  2010 · EU EFSA listing · Read the source →
JECFA
Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives
- JECFA evaluation record.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →
- JECFA evaluation lists ADI 0-25 mg/kg bw (1973). Functional class: carrier solvent, glazing agent, humectant.
  Year not recorded · GLOBAL JECFA listing · Read the source →

Evidence & sources

No graded research studies for Propylene glycol yet. This record is compiled from the published data sources below — registries and regulatory listings, not study findings.

10 data sources

Where this comes from

CosIng
regulatory · updated 2026-09-23
Open →
EFSA OpenFoodTox
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
EPA Chemical and Products Database
exposure · updated september-26-2014
Open →
EPA DSSTox Identifiers
chemistry · updated 2025-12-29
Open →
FDA Inactive Ingredient Database
regulatory · updated 2026-01-09
Open →
FDA National Drug Code Directory
regulatory · updated 2028-05-17
Open →
FDA GSRS UNII
registry · updated 2026-02-26
Open →
WHO JECFA Database
regulatory · updated 2026-10-04
Open →
openFDA Substance
registry · updated 2026-05-24
Open →
PubChem Live Enrichment
chemistry · updated 2026-05-17
Open →

Suitability

Context-specific fit derived from published classifications and the current ingredient evidence profile.

Food use

Food-use source coverage is present in the current record.

Good fit

The ingredient appears in food-oriented source coverage or allowed-use references, which makes food use easier to support than a context with no domain signal at all.

Fragrance avoidance

Not a strong fit for fragrance avoidance because it carries Fragrance.

Avoid

The ingredient itself is a fragrance-linked signal, so it is better treated as an avoid case when fragrance exposure is the main concern.

Where it has been recorded

How often EPA CPDat has listed Propylene glycol in a product composition. These are source records, not Greenveil catalog products.

Source records

16,177

Named organisations

Cleaning and safetyConstruction and building materialsRaw materialsFurniture and furnishingsCons. electronics, mech. appliances, and machineryHome maintenance

Typical roles

HumectantSolventSkin conditioningViscosity controllingFragranceCarrier solvent, glazing agent, humectant

See products using Propylene glycol →

Catalog

Found in these products

Their ingredient lists include Propylene glycol; each product's own rating depends on its whole formula, so it is shown on the product page, not here.

See all 1000+ →Find products without it →

Co-occurrence

Often appears with

Ingredients that frequently appear alongside Propylene glycol in the catalog.