What function does PROPYLENE GLYCOL serve in cosmetics?

According to the EU CosIng inventory, PROPYLENE GLYCOL carries the following function designation(s): HUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING.

What other records share CAS 57-55-6?

CAS 57-55-6 may appear across multiple EU annex records. The CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

How do I check if my formula contains PROPYLENE GLYCOL?

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or use the substance market comparison to review this identity across all supported market datasets.

InventoryRef 3726915/10/2010

PROPYLENE GLYCOL

Propane-1,2-diol

PROPYLENE GLYCOL is listed in the EU CosIng inventory, but no direct annex records are linked on this page yet.

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Regulatory evidence by market

No rule for this ingredient has been imported for any of the 13 markets tracked here.

That describes this inventory, not the law. No imported rule is not evidence that an ingredient is permitted: a rule may exist under another name or identifier, or in a dataset not yet imported here.

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Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 57-55-6

CAS 57-55-6PubChem CID 1030

Propylene Glycol

Propane-1,2-diol is the simplest member of the class of propane-1,2-diols, consisting of propane in which a hydrogen at position 1 and a hydrogen at position 2 are substituted by hydroxy groups. A colourless, viscous, hygroscopic, low-melting (59C) and high-boiling (188C) liquid with low toxicity, it is used as a solvent, emulsifying agent, and antifreeze. It has a role as a protic solvent, an allergen, a mouse metabolite and a human xenobiotic metabolite. It is a glycol and a member of propane-1,2-diols. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: propane-1,2-diol

Molecular formula: C3H8O2
Molecular weight: 76.09 g/mol
Exact mass: 76.052429494 Da
XLogP3: -0.9
Topological polar surface area: 40.5 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 2
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 2
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 0

Also known as

1,2-propanediol1,2-Propylene glycol1,2-dihydroxypropane2-HydroxypropanolIsopropylene glycolDowfrostSirleneMethylethyl glycol

16 more reported names

Methylethylene glycolMonopropylene glycolTrimethyl glycolPropylene Glycol USPSolar Winter BANSolargard Palpha-Propyleneglycoldl-Propylene glycolDL-1,2-PropanediolMethyl glycolUcar 35Sentry Propylene Glycol(RS)-1,2-PropanediolFEMA No. 2940(+-)-Propylene glycol1,2-Propylenglykol

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:16997
ChEMBL:CHEMBL286398
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID0021206
PubMed:22967518
PubMed:22768248
PubMed:22743316
PubMed:22639725
PubMed:22629197
PubMed:22619589
PubMed:22595912
PubMed:22590342
PubMed:22550473
PubMed:22545445
PubMed:22470890
PubMed:22457606

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Inventory details for PROPYLENE GLYCOL

INCI name

PROPYLENE GLYCOL

INN name

propylene glycol

Ph. Eur. name

propylenglycolum

Description

Propane-1,2-diol

Record provenance

Inventory reference: 37269
Imported identity: PROPYLENE GLYCOL
Source update: 15/10/2010

European Commission CosIng source notes

Annex records for PROPYLENE GLYCOL

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Key data

CAS

57-55-6

200-338-0

Restriction

—

Function

HUMECTANT: Retaining and/or preserving the moisture in a product during use.
SKIN CONDITIONING: Maintaining the skin in good condition.
SOLVENT: Dissolving other components of cosmetics. Solvents are usually liquids (aqueous and nonaqueous).
VISCOSITY CONTROLLING: Increasing or decreasing the viscosity (thickness) of cosmetics.

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.

#23303 · PROPYLENE GLYCOL

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

PROPYL TRIMETHICONEHUMECTANT, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT

PROPYL TRISILOXANEHAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SOLVENT

PROPYLALSOLVENT

PROPYLENE CARBONATESOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING

PROPYLENE GLYCOL BUTYL ETHERHUMECTANT, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING

PROPYLENE GLYCOL DIHEPTANOATEANTICAKING, FILM FORMING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING - EMOLLIENT, SOLVENT, VISCOSITY CONT…

PROPYLENE GLYCOL PROPYL ETHERSOLVENT

PROPYLENE GLYCOL T-BUTYL ETHERSOLVENT

Additional official and scientific sources

11 external databases to check this identity in

Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight

ECHA CHEM / Information on chemicals PubChem PUG REST EU Safety Gate cosmetic product alerts ECHA CHEM US EPA CompTox Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessments FDA Global Substance Registration System ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards Japan NITE-CHRIP NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards OECD eChemPortal

How PROPYLENE GLYCOL appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists PROPYLENE GLYCOL as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 0 annex records. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex records show where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.

PROPYLENE GLYCOL is also tagged with 4 cosmetic functions in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.

Frequently asked questions

PROPYLENE GLYCOL is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Absence of an annex link does not guarantee unrestricted use — always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

According to the EU CosIng inventory, PROPYLENE GLYCOL carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 57-55-6 may appear across multiple EU annex records. Viewing the CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, which is useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

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Source note for PROPYLENE GLYCOL

This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for PROPYLENE GLYCOL from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials and shows linked identifiers even when no direct annex match is currently attached.

Use this inventory page to research PROPYLENE GLYCOL and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.

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Tools & next steps

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