Is Glycol Bad For Skin

Practise a quick Internet search on propylene glycol, and your results will exist inundated with red flags like, "carcinogenic," "toxic," and "antifreeze"—not exactly what you desire to read about an ingredient commonly found in your skincare products. (Information technology's also found in food and other products, but for the involvement of this article, we'll stick to skincare). So once again, the internet is a lawless country total of misinformation and conflicting opinions, so how much can nosotros actually believe to exist true? For some, even questionable ingredients are out of the question, merely others might need a lilliputian more than convincing near an ingredient's harm earlier they toss out their beloved beauty products.

To clear up some very serious claims, we turned to ii board-certified dermatologists to detect out the possible pros and cons of propylene glycol.

Meet the Expert

• Jennifer Herrmann, Doc, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in Beverly Hills.
• Joshua Zeichner, Dr., is a board-certified dermatologist and the director of corrective research in dermatology at Mountain Sinai Medical Eye.

Keep reading so you can make your own informed conclusion most whether to continue using products containing this skincare ingredient or not.

Propylene Glycol

Blazon of ingredient: Humectant, solvent, emollient, and preservative.

Chief benefits: Attracts water and locks information technology into the skin.

Who should use it: In general, anyone who is looking for extra hydration and smoothness of the skin.

How often tin can you use it: Propylene glycol is a safe ingredient to utilize regularly, provided that you do not have an allergy to it.

Works well with: Because information technology has so many functions, there isn't a specific list of ingredients that it works well with.

Don't employ with: Propylene glycol works well with most, if not all, ingredients.

What Is Propylene Glycol?

Propylene glycol is a colorless, odorless liquid that is completely water-soluble. According to Herrmann, it is synthetic and produced by adding water to propylene oxide, which is derived from petroleum products. Propylene glycol is used as a humectant, a preservative, a solvent, or an emollient in a broad variety of formulas, such equally creams, lotions, serums, shampoos, and many other types of personal care products.

Benefits of Propylene Glycol for Peel

Propylene glycol has many functions and is used in a multitude of skincare products for its versatility. Here are its chief functions:

• Attracts water: Zeichner says at low concentrations, propylene glycol acts like a humectant, which ways information technology binds water and pulls in hydration to the outer skin layer. When used in cosmetic products, it helps give the peel a hydrated, dewy appearance.
• Boosts other ingredients: Because of its binding properties, propylene glycol can enhance the delivery of other agile ingredients into the pare.
• Lightly moisturizes: Herrmann adds that as a humectant, information technology also offers moisturizing benefits and smoothes the peel with a light, not-sticky feel.
• Addresses visible signs of crumbling: The humectant property also makes it a useful ingredient for dry or aged skin. "As we historic period, our peel loses a component called Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF) and later on dries out, which emphasizes wrinkles and contributes to flaking and roughness," Herrmann says. "Propylene glycol helps bind water from the environs, helping to counter the h2o loss that accompanies aging."
• Enhances penetration: Zeichner says information technology helps the active ingredients of cosmetics penetrate through the skin, which in turn makes them more effective.
• Prevents h2o loss: Equally an emollient, propylene glycol forms a protective film on the peel that prevents water loss and helps to smooth and soften pare, according to Herrmann.
• Is prophylactic for acne-prone skin: Considering information technology'due south non oily, Herrmann says information technology'southward as well ideal for those with acne.
• Helps lessen the appearance of spots over time: Due to its moisturizing properties, propylene glycol nourishes the skin, helping to lessen the advent of marks and acne spots.

Propylene Glycol vs. Ethylene Glycol

Though commonly dislocated for each other, propylene glycol and ethylene glycol are structurally different, and information technology'due south of import to distinguish the two. According to Herrmann, ethylene glycol (an ingredient used in antifreeze) is considered to be toxic and harmful, while propylene glycol is not.

Side Effects of Propylene Glycol

While propylene glycol really should be avoided for some people, it'due south non for the scary reasons yous might have read about online. Considering propylene glycol is derived from petroleum, many accept concerns that information technology is carcinogenic and tin can be toxic when used in skincare. Simply according to Zeichner, cosmetic-grade petrolatum is different than commercial petroleum and is not carcinogenic, and similarly, neither is propylene glycol. Herrmann adds, "Many safe products and chemicals can be derived from toxic parents, merely what matters for safe is the final chemical structure form. She continues, "Unless contamination is an issue, being derived from petroleum doesn't make it unsafe. Its concluding form is considered non-carcinogenic and is found in many topical cosmetic products."

While at that place'south no truth to these more serious claims, propylene glycol isn't totally innocuous either. As Herrmann points out, it was the American Contact Dermatitis Order's Allergen of the Year in 2018. "If you are developing a cherry, itchy rash where you're applying your product, you lot may have an allergy to one of its ingredients," Zeichner says. "Propylene glycol is often the culprit." Herrmann adds that those with eczema might exist more than likely to be sensitive to the ingredient, and for those patients, she ever suggests patch tests or trying new products on a small expanse of the skin on the inner wrist earlier applying them more broadly.

In general, however, products containing propylene glycol are fine to use for most people. "Based on what we know today and based on years of use in cosmetic products, propylene glycol is a rubber ingredient to use, provided that y'all do non have an allergy to it," Zeichner says.

How to Use Information technology

Every bit Herrmann explains information technology, because propylene glycol is in so many products, there isn't one fashion to use it. Instead, she recommends using products containing the ingredient as directed by your dermatologist or as instructed by the manufacturers. Equally far as how often y'all should use it or how much should exist used, Herrmann says propylene glycol is considered safe, even when consumed in relatively large quantities.

The Best Products With Propylene Glycol

Paula's Selection Articulate Actress Strength Pare Clearing Treatment with 5% Benzoyl Peroxide $19.00

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Paula's Choice is known for its effective products and no-BS arroyo to skincare, then it should come as no surprise that this acne handling is ane of Herrmann's top picks. "Propylene glycol helps increase hydration without being oily and helps the benzoyl peroxide penetrate pores more deeply and effectively," Herrmann says.

Credentials Glycolic Cleanser $33.00

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Some other favorite of Herrmann's, this oil-free cleanser contains viii.5 per centum glycolic acid to exfoliate and brighten pare, while camellia and licorice extracts save any redness and inflammation. "Propylene glycol keeps it light and ideal for blemish-prone pare," she adds.

SkinCeuticals C + AHA $136.00

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Dermatologists, dazzler editors, and skinfluencers swoon over SkinCeuticals' products, and Herrmann highly suggests giving this serum from the line a try if yous oasis't yet. "It's packed with antioxidants to assistance keep skin's DNA healthy and boost collagen production," Herrmann says. "It also contains lite alpha-hydroxy acids that lightly exfoliate and maximize radiance." Did we mention information technology contains propylene glycol to boost its penetration?

Peter Thomas Roth H2o Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream $52.00

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Another favorite of dermatologists and beauty editors akin, this moisturizer uses a combination of ceramides, sodium hyaluronate, and propylene glycol to replenish the skin's moisture levels and seal that hydration for healthy, supple skin.

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic + Retinol Triple Correction Heart Serum $55.00

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You can count on the combination of ferulic acid, retinol, and licorice root extract in this product (which made Byrdie's list of the best heart serums) to stop the damage caused by extrinsic crumbling that can outcome in wrinkles and discoloration. And with propylene glycol, these ingredients can better penetrate the skin and work more finer.

Shani Darden Retinol Reform $88.00

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This serum makes nigh every retinol production roundup for good reason: It works without destroying your skin. Milder than most retinol serums, this formula relies on retinyl palmitate to gently boost cellular turnover and is a great alternative for those with sensitive skin. The soothing properties of aloe vera and the hydration of the propylene glycol also work to annul the dryness and irritation often caused by retinoids. It even made 1 retinol-opposed Byrdie editor a believer.

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo $6.00

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It might not be a skincare production, simply this formula is one of Herrmann's top product recommendations and deserves a mention on this list anyhow. Much like it does for your peel, propylene glycol works to hydrate the pilus sans sticky feel. "Propylene glycol helps this shampoo hydrate pilus by binding h2o and prevents its evaporation," Herrmann says. "Because it'south light, it also doesn't crusade buildup like some oil-containing shampoos."

FAQ

• Is propylene glycol benign for those with dry peel?

  Yeah. Because information technology helps bind water to the skin, it can be actress beneficial for those who struggle to retain moisture.

• Can those who suffer from breakouts use products containing propylene glycol?

  Because it'southward non an oily ingredient, information technology's also beneficial for those with acne-prone skin.

• What types of products typically comprise propylene glycol?

  Propylene glycol is most normally used in creams, lotions, and serums.

Source: https://www.byrdie.com/propylene-glycol-for-skin-4768190

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