Propylene glycol

Propylene glycol is a colorless liquid with a mild odor.

Propylene glycol (propylene glycol) is widely used in cosmetics and personal care due to its versatile properties. It is used as:

1. Moisturizer (humectant):
It acts as a humectant, attracting water from the environment and retaining it in the skin or hair.
It helps prevent products from drying out.
Suitable for creams, lotions, hair balms, and lip care products.
2. Solvent:
It dissolves active ingredients and enables their even distribution.
Used in serums, tonics, masks, and other products with active ingredients.  Carrier of active substances: Helps dissolve ingredients that are otherwise insoluble in water or oils. Dissolves perfumes, colorants, and other active substances. Enables better absorption of active substances (e.g. vitamins, acids) into the skin.
3. Stabilizer:
Prevents crystallization of ingredients, improves texture, and extends the shelf life of products, and prevents the growth of microorganisms in combination with preservatives. By itself it is not a preservative, but it acts antimicrobially and supports the effectiveness of preservatives.
Common in hair gels, deodorants, and cosmetics.
4. Binder (emulsifier):
Enables mixing of water and oil components. Mixes well with water, alcohol, and some oils, allowing for even distribution of ingredients.
5. Viscosity:
Texture enhancer. Improves the feel and spreadability of the product. Can reduce stickiness or an excessively greasy feel.

Types of products containing propylene glycol:
-Skin care products:
Moisturizing creams, serums, lotions, masks.
-Hair care products:
Šamponi, conditioners, hair masks, styling products (gels, mousses).
-Cosmetics:
Liquid foundations, lipsticks, mascaras, eye shadows.
-Hygiene products:
Toothpastes, mouthwashes, deodorants, wet wipes, shaving gels
-Specialized products:
Pharmaceutical creams, skin treatment gels, products for atopic skin.

Usage percentages and safety:

The usage percentage depends on the purpose and type of product.

In products, the use of propylene glycol is recommended at somewhere between 1% - 20% of the weight of the final product:
0.1–3%: Humectant in daily skin and hair care.
5–10%: Intensive moisturizing or solvent in more concentrated products (serums, masks).
Up to 50%: Medical and specialized cosmetic products.

As a rule, its use is safe, but it can cause irritation on sensitive skin, so it is important to use it in recommended concentrations.

Irritation or redness (at high concentrations or prolonged exposure).
Individuals with allergies to propylene glycol should avoid it.

Example of making pour soap using propylene glycol: making homemade pour soap - You Tube