Di-propylene Glycol is a type of alcohol that is used in cosmetics and skin-care products to improve the texture and stability of the formulation. It is mainly used as a solvent, viscosity-decreasing agent, masking agent, and fragrance ingredient.
Simply put, ‘glycol’ is a term for any organic compound belonging to the alcohol family. This ingredient is safe with an “industry standard” notification of “low toxicity” which has earned it an unjustified warning on many sites. This misconception comes from its uses outside of the skincare industry. Dipropylene Glycol only contains negligible amounts of alcohol, unlike Propylene Glycol which is more likely to cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. Like many chemically altered products used in the cosmetics industry, the nasty ingredients that cause harm are removed. Glycols are a broad class of chemicals and they are not created equal.
While some of the glycols may be undesirable in personal care products, Di-Propylene Glycol is considered to be safe and effective. But as always, you need to make that decision for yourself, what your body can tolerate or what you prefer to use.
