Safety Assessment of 1,2-Glycols as Used in Cosmetics

Abstract

Caprylyl glycol and related 1,2-glycols are used mostly as skin and hair conditioning agents and viscosity agents in cosmetic products, and caprylyl glycol and pentylene glycol also function as cosmetic preservatives. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel noted that, while these ingredients are dermally absorbed, modeling data predicted decreased skin penetration of longer chain 1,2-glycols. Because the negative oral toxicity data on shorter chain 1,2-glycols and genotoxicity data support the safety of the 1,2-glycols reviewed in this safety assessment, the Panel concluded that these ingredients are safe in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment.

Topical delivery of niacinamide: Influence of neat solvents

“…The solvent 1-2P is a short chain 1, 2-glycol that is used mainly as a skin conditioning and viscosity increasing agent in topical products (Johnson et al, 2012). There is only limited information in the literature regarding its action on the skin and its ability to act as a penetration enhancer has not been established.…”

Analysis of 1,2-diol diesters in vernix caseosa by high-performance liquid chromatography – atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry

“…Non-esterified 1,2-diols are frequently used as skin and hair conditioning agents, viscosity-and foam-increasing agents [28][29][30]. They have bacteriostatic activities against a broad range of strains, which makes them useful as a treatment of skin diseases caused by bacteria, such as acne [31][32][33], and they are also suggested as a prophylaxis and/or treatment of fungal skin infections [34].…”

Food-grade antimicrobials potentiate the antibacterial activity of 1,2-hexanediol

“…The safety of the preservative agent 1,2-hexanediol has been previously evaluated, and it has been shown not to cause significant skin irritation, sensitization or photosen-sitization (Johnson et al 2012). The MIC determination results showed that 1,2-hexanediol was active at concentrations of 0Á25-1% (v/v), with a bactericidal activity of approx.…”

“…As a preservative agent, 1,2‐hexanediol must meet safety requirements (Johnson et al . ; Levy et al . ).…”

“…1,2-Hexanediol has been used in the cosmetics industry as a chemical retardation (Li et al 2011) and preservation agent (Levy et al 2009). As a preservative agent, 1,2-hexanediol must meet safety requirements (Johnson et al 2012;Levy et al 2009). Clinical studies of 1,2-hexanediol demonstrated that this compound does not cause a delayed Type IV hypersensitivity reaction (Levy et al 2009).…”