Ethyl Hexanediol

What Is It?

Ethyl Hexanediol is a colorless, slightly viscous liquid. In cosmetics and personal care products, Ethyl Hexanediol is used in the formulation of hair tonics, dressings, and other hair grooming aids, and cleansing products.

Why Is It Used?

Ethyl Hexanediol is used to dissolve other substances, usually liquids, in cosmetics and personal care products.

Scientific Facts

Ethyl Hexanediol is often used in the production of other cosmetics and personal care product ingredients such as Quaternium-33 and Quaternium-60.

Safety Information

The safety of Ethyl Hexanediol has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel evaluated the scientific data and concluded that Ethyl Hexanediol was safe as a cosmetic ingredient.

CIR Safety Review: Data indicated that Ethyl Hexanediol was absorbed through the skin and was metabolized and eliminated in the urine. In subchronic oral studies, slight toxicity was manifested as reduced growth and increased liver weight. In a laboratory study, oral delivery of Ethyl Hexanediol showed evidence of developmental effects only at levels at which significant maternal toxicity was seen.

Dermal exposure also resulted in developmental changes, again at levels that also caused maternal effects. Chomosome damage was reported in vitro, but several other genotoxicity assays were negative. Dermal exposure resulted in no dose-related increases in tumor incidence. In clinical studies, undiluted Ethyl Hexanediol was a weak irritant and a weak sensitizer.

The concentration at which this ingredient is expected to be used in cosmetics and personal care products is no greater than 5%. The CIR Expert Panel concluded that at the use concentration, Ethyl Hexanediol was safe as an ingredient in cosmetics and personal care products. Ethyl Hexanediol may be used in cosmetics and personal care products marketed in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Regulation of the European Union.

Link to the EU Cosmetic Regulation:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/consumers/product_labelling_and_p…

More Scientific Information

Ethyl Hexanediol is an aliphatic alcohol that functions as a solvent in cosmetics and personal care products.