Hexylene Glycol

Hexylene Glycol Description

Hexylene glycol is famous for its excellent solvency among a wide variety of materials and is popular in skin care formulas due to its ability to improve the texture. It has viscosity-reducing properties that allow it to thin out heavy, thick formulations and produce smooth spreadability. Studies indicate it also exhibits antimicrobial properties.

In addition to skin care, hexylene glycol is used in other beauty products including hair care and makeup. It also goes by its chemical compound name: 2-Methyl-2,4-pentanediol. As a raw material, it is a clear liquid.

Hexylene glycol is often used in preservative blends that contain phenoxyethanol because it boosts the efficacy of this preservative, allowing lower amounts to be used, which reduces the risk skin will have a sensitized response.

Hexylene glycol has been backed as a safe ingredient for decades with reported concentrations up to 25% in personal care products (though most skin care formulas use much lower amounts than that, especially in preservative blends).