We read ethylhexylglycerin as a major ingredient of cosmetics products. You can find this chemical in masks, moisturizers, foundations, lipsticks, concealers, mascaras, eyeliners, hair treatments, styling foams, shampoos, hair conditioners, body lotions, sunscreen lotions, soaps, deodorants, anti-aging creams, and other beauty products. Does this chemical have organic sources? Is ethylhexylglycerin safe to use?
What is ethylhexylglycerin’s composition?
The chemical ethylhexylglycerin is actually a type of preservative that companies add to skin care products to prepare and maintain them. It also serves as a conditioning agent for cosmetics. It is a glyceryl ether composed of ethylhexyl and propanediol. Other terms for ethylhexylglycerin are octoxyglycerin and ethylhexyl glycerin.
What are the functions of ethylhexylglycerin?
Preservative
Being a preservative, ethylhexylglycerin extends the life of cosmetics products. It maintains them so that the other ingredients are kept at their peak quality for longer periods of time. Ethylhexylglycerin also prevents the products from decaying or losing the properties to which they are intended.
Preservative enhancer
Aside from being a preservative, ethylhexylglycerin also enhances other preservatives in keeping skin care products safe to use. This occurs because of the chemical’s effects on the interfacial tension on the microorganisms, preserving the totality of the products from possible growth of bacteria, fungi, molds, or yeast.
Deodorizer
Ethylhexylglycerin acts as a deodorizing agent. This means that ethylhexylglycerin removes odor from the product. It is a particularly good chemical that eliminates the strong smell created by the combination of ingredients that make up the products.
Surfactant
Ethylhexylglycerin can also act as a surfactant or surface active agent. This means that ethylhexylglycerin keeps the hydrophobic part in the air and the hydrophilic part in the water. Ethylhexylglycerin is great at stirring the surface of the skin so that all the dirt is removed and does not go back to the skin. This makes ethylhexylglycerin helps skin care products effectively maintain the cleanliness of the surface of the skin.
Skin Conditioning Agent
As a skin conditioning agent, ethylhexylglycerin offers lubrication on the skin surface so that it becomes soft and smooth. It is a humectant and an emollient. Ethylhexylglycerin can increase the water on the surface of the skin by using the moisture from the environment.
Is ethylhexylglycerin safe to use?
The Environmental Working Group is an organization that sets the highest standards on various products so that companies in the cosmetics business will have a guide on which chemicals to use. Based on actual tests, ethylhexylglycerin has a score of 1 from EWG. This means that ethylhexylglycerin is definitely safe to use.
Can ethylhexylglycerin cause allergies?
Skin care companies have been using ethylhexylglycerin in their products because of its effectiveness in the maintenance of the skin. But it can also cause concern for those who have hypersensitivity to the skin. According to a study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, ethylhexylglycerin is a low-risk sensitizer in skin and hair care cosmetics. It may depend on the level of concentration of ethylhexylglycerin in the products.
For those who have sensitive skin, it is recommended to try a little portion of the product first and check if it can cause allergies to the skin.
Conclusion
All-in-all, ethylhexylglycerin is a chemical that removes odor, preserves, conditions, and cleans the skin. Knowing about this information gives skin care product users a better idea on the combination of ingredients in the products and how these individual chemicals react with the skin and the environment. Skin care companies use ethylhexylglycerin because of its several functions and benefits. It is deemed as hypoallergenic and generally safe to use but it is best to test it out first to determine how your body will react.