Hexylene Glycol
Hexylene Glycol is a cosmetic ingredient used as a surfactant - emulsifying, skin conditioning agent. It appears in about 2% of cosmetic products in our 90,000+ product dataset. It is regulated in the EU (listed in a Cosmetics Regulation annex). PubMed carries 16 studies of its skin or topical use.
| INCI name | HEXYLENE GLYCOL |
| Function | SURFACTANT - EMULSIFYING, SKIN CONDITIONING, SOLVENT, SURFACTANT - CLEANSING |
| CAS number | 107-41-5 |
| EC number | 203-489-0 |
| Prevalence | 1,608 products (1.73% of dataset) |
| Most used in | Skincare |
| EU status | Restricted (annex ) |
| Scientific studies | 16 on PubMed (skin/cosmetic/topical) |
| Monthly searches | 1,000 |
Used in
Face Cleansers 14.1%Shampoos 12.1%Makeup Removers 10.1%Serums 5.8%Setting Spray & Powders 4.4%Toners 4.2%
Frequently asked
- What does Hexylene Glycol do in skincare?
- Hexylene Glycol functions as a surfactant - emulsifying, skin conditioning agent in cosmetic formulas.
- Is Hexylene Glycol allowed in cosmetics?
- Yes, but it is regulated in the EU — it appears in a Cosmetics Regulation annex with usage conditions.
- What products contain Hexylene Glycol?
- It is most commonly found in Skincare products, especially face cleansers (14.1% of its uses).
Manufacturers with experience using Hexylene Glycol
Match with vetted US contract manufacturers that have hands-on experience formulating with this ingredient.