What is Propylene Glycol? Is it Safe to Use?
- Kavya Goswami
- 14 hours ago
- 4 min read
You must have heard of propylene glycol in the skincare world today, or the term called humectant! Why is this word suddenly gaining so much popularity on the internet, and why are people using it on their skin? How does it actually help your skin?
Most important of all, is this ingredient suitable for all skin types, and at what concentration of this ingredient is it safe for our skin?
There are too many questions, and it's time to find out some answers for the sudden love for propylene glycol creams in the market.
Check out La Peau's ultimate skincare guide where we explain some of the most talked about skincare actives in the market and simplify it for you. Explore what propylene glycol is and why to use it.
What is Propylene Glycol?
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic organic compound that belongs to the alcohol family. It is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid that is widely used across various industries because it is 'hygroscopic,' which means it attracts and holds onto water.
Propylene glycol is primarily classified as a humectant, though it possesses some secondary emollient-like properties. In the world of skincare science, these two terms describe how an ingredient manages moisture, and propylene glycol is a specialist in "attracting" rather than just "softening."
One key point to know about Propylene Glycol is that it is a helper ingredient. It works as an enhancer in skincare products, where it improves the effectiveness of other ingredients by helping in improving absorption. You will never see 100% of propylene glycol in any skincare product, because it is not recommended and many formulators call it unsafe to use at a concentration higher than 2%.
Humectant VS Emollient
To paint a bigger picture, the main difference between a humectant and an emollient is how they manage moisture. A humectant adds water to the skin, while an emollient smoothens and softens the surface. In a well-formulated product, they usually work together to keep skin healthy and hydrated.
Humectants
Humectants are substances that attract water. They pull moisture from the air or from the deeper layers of your skin (the dermis) into the top layer (the epidermis). It's best for dehydrated skin that feels tight or looks dull.
Some of the well-known skincare actives are Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Urea, and Propylene Glycol.
Emollient
Emollients are primarily oils and lipids. Their goal is to repair the skin barrier and make the surface feel soft and supple. It is best for dry, rough, or flaky skin. Some of the well-known skincare actives are Squalane, Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, and Shea Butter.
How to Use Propylene Glycol in Skincare?
Propylene Glycol is a penetration enhancer. It temporarily alters the skin barrier to allow other active ingredients to sink in deeper.
Apply products containing propylene glycol immediately after cleansing while your skin is still slightly damp. This preps the "skin" so that other serums can travel further into the epidermis. So, apply actives like Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Peptides, and more afterwards.
Which Skin Type Can Use Propylene Glycol?
As it is a humectant, it works best for Dry Skin by helping improve hydration and reduce that "tight" feeling in the skin.
If you have sensitive skin, be careful when using it, as it can irritate your skin with other actives, as it is an enhancer. It can affect your skin majorly in case of potential irritating skincare ingredients like Retinol, AHAs, and Vitamin C.
Top Propylene Glycol Face Creams in India
It was a challenge to find over-the-counter Propylene Glycol skincare ingredients in the Indian skincare market. These are the top two skincare products that I came across:
The Derma Co 5% Propylene Glycol Oil Free Moisturizer is a new product by Derma Co that I came across. This is the only over-the-counter Propylene Glycol moisturizer that I could find in India.
Skincare Actives:
Propylene Glycol
Hyaluronic Acid
Glycerin
Phoenix Dactylifera Extract
Hyphen Power Peptide Cocktail Serum is a peptide-based serum, but it contains Propylene Glycol as the second ingredient in the inci list, and as we know, Propylene Glycol is an enhancer, so it will help elevate the properties of Peptide in the skin and make it work better and moisturize your skin at the same time. Although I am a little worried this product might contain too high a concentration of Propylene Glycol, as it claims it has about 2% Copper Peptide in it, and it comes at a very low number in inci list while Propylene Glycol is the second ingredient. So, be careful while using it. If you have sensitive skin, you can avoid using this or do a patch test before.
Skincare Actives:
Propylene Glycol
Glycerin
Tripeptide-1
Hexapeptide-9
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Panax Ginseng Extract
Copper Tripeptide-1
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
There are a lot of viral skincare actives in the market today. But what's made for your skin type is hard to find; you cannot just use anything on your skin that's going viral. Educating yourself about the skincare ingredient and the product is recommended before buying it.
This is your ultimate skincare guide to Propylene Glycol where La Peau explains all your top skincare questions about this unique skincare active and how it is used.
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