Dipropylene Glycol ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is used mainly as a solvent and carrier, especially for fragrance, extracts, and other low-water-solubility materials. It can also add light humectancy and help adjust texture or slip in water-based formulas.
What does Dipropylene Glycol do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is used mainly as a solvent and carrier, especially for fragrance, extracts, and other low-water-solubility materials. It can also add light humectancy and help adjust texture or slip in water-based formulas.
Is Dipropylene Glycol clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally well tolerated, with low sensitization concern at typical cosmetic levels. The main friction is that it is a synthetic glycol made through petrochemical processing rather than a naturally derived ingredient.
Is Dipropylene Glycol sustainable?
This material is typically fossil-derived, so its sourcing is the main sustainability limitation. It is water soluble and generally considered readily biodegradable, with low concern for environmental persistence or bioaccumulation.
Is Dipropylene Glycol COSMOS-approved?
It is generally not permitted in COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic formulas because it is a synthetic petrochemical solvent. Its Green Chemistry profile is mixed, with good biodegradability and low use-level efficiency, but nonrenewable feedstock and oxide-based manufacturing count against it.
How does Dipropylene Glycol work chemically?
The molecule is a small, water-miscible glycol ether mixture with two hydroxyl groups, which explains its solvent power, humectant behavior, low volatility, and compatibility with water and alcohol systems. It is typically used around 0.5% to 10% depending on the formula role, remains stable across normal cosmetic pH ranges, and is often used to pre-dissolve fragrance or actives before addition to the batch.
Last updated 2026-05-13