1.2-Hexanediol ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily used as a humectant, solvent, and preservative booster. It helps dissolve fragrance and actives while improving the performance of antimicrobial systems in water-based formulas.
What does 1.2-Hexanediol do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily used as a humectant, solvent, and preservative booster. It helps dissolve fragrance and actives while improving the performance of antimicrobial systems in water-based formulas.
Is 1.2-Hexanediol clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally viewed as low-sensitization and low-irritation at normal cosmetic use levels. The main friction is that it often functions like part of the preservation system while not always being labeled as a preservative.
Is 1.2-Hexanediol sustainable?
This material is commonly made from petrochemical feedstocks, although bio-based routes exist. It is expected to biodegrade reasonably well and is not known for bioaccumulation, but its sourcing is less aligned with renewable-material standards when petroleum-derived.
Is 1.2-Hexanediol COSMOS-approved?
It is not generally permitted as a standard cosmetic ingredient under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic certification. From a Green Chemistry view, its profile is mixed, with useful low-dose multifunctionality and biodegradability offset by common fossil-based sourcing and limited natural-standard alignment.
How does 1.2-Hexanediol work chemically?
The molecule is a six-carbon vicinal diol, which gives it both water compatibility and enough lipophilic character to help solubilize less polar materials. It is typically used around 0.5% to 3%, is broadly pH-stable in cosmetic systems, and often improves preservation performance when paired with organic acids, glycols, or conventional preservative blends.
Last updated 2026-05-13