3 Propanediol ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily used as a humectant and solvent, helping formulas hold water while dissolving actives, botanical extracts, and preservatives. It can also improve skin feel by reducing tackiness compared with some heavier humectants.
What does 3 Propanediol do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily used as a humectant and solvent, helping formulas hold water while dissolving actives, botanical extracts, and preservatives. It can also improve skin feel by reducing tackiness compared with some heavier humectants.
Is 3 Propanediol clean?
Clean-beauty frameworks generally view it as well-tolerated and low-friction, especially when made by fermentation from plant sugars. It has a low sensitization record and no major restricted-list standing in common retailer standards.
Is 3 Propanediol sustainable?
This material is commonly produced by fermentation of plant sugars, often corn, though petrochemical routes also exist. It is readily biodegradable and is not known for environmental persistence or bioaccumulation.
Is 3 Propanediol COSMOS-approved?
It can be permitted under COSMOS-natural and COSMOS-organic standards when sourced and processed through accepted natural-origin routes. From a Green Chemistry perspective, the strongest profile comes from renewable feedstock, fermentation-based production, good biodegradability, and broad utility as a benign solvent.
How does 3 Propanediol work chemically?
The molecule is a small, water-miscible humectant with two hydroxyl groups, which lets it bind water and lower water activity. Typical use levels are about 1 to 10% as a humectant or solvent, and it is stable across common cosmetic pH ranges while often supporting preservative performance through improved solubility and reduced available water.
Last updated 2026-05-13