A-Z of Cosmetic Ingredients and Terms
Propylene glycol has a long history of safe use. It is used as a humectant, to attract and retain moisture in the skin, and skin conditioning agent in a very wide range of cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. It is also used a food additive in items such as cakes, pastries, seasonings and alcoholic drinks.
It is sometimes quoted that this is an ingredient used in antifreeze. Propylene glycol may be used in anti-freeze because it decreases the temperature at which water freezes. This has no relevance to propylene glycol’s safe use in cosmetics; after all, water is also a component of antifreeze products. Similarly, the corrosive nature of acetic acid is not relevant in its use as the food 'vinegar'.
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