CAS No.: 56-81-5
A versatile humectant that effectively attracts and retains moisture, enhancing skin hydration, improving barrier function, and optimizing product texture. It serves as a foundational ingredient for moisturizing formulations while acting as a solvent and viscosity modifier.
Usage: Skin care (creams, lotions, serums), hair care (conditioners, styling products), oral care (toothpaste), soap bars, and preservative-boosted systems.
Specification:
- Purity: ≥99.5% (USP/Pharmaceutical grade)
- Heavy Metals: ≤1 ppm (e.g., lead)
- Microbial Control: Complies with pharmacopeial standards (USP/EP)
- Appearance: Colorless, odorless, viscous liquid
Package: 25 kg/drum, 50 kg/drum.
Safety Notes
Safety Profile:
- Recognized as safe by FDA/EFSA at standard concentrations (5%–15% in leave-on products).
- Low irritation potential; rare allergic reactions (<1% incidence).
- Critical Risk: In low-humidity environments (<40%), concentrations >70% may cause reverse hydration, extracting moisture from skin and leading to dryness or irritation.
Usage Advice:
- Formulation Guidance:
- Combine with occlusives (e.g., petrolatum) or polysaccharides (e.g., glucan) in dry climates to prevent moisture loss.
- For acne-prone skin, limit viscosity to ≤2,000 cP (25°C) to minimize comedogenicity.
- Incompatibilities:
- Avoid pairing with high-strength exfoliants (AHAs/BHAs >10%) to reduce irritation risk.
- Do not use industrial-grade glycerin (may contain methanol/heavy metals).
- Stability: Add 0.1% ethylhexylglycerin to improve photostability and reduce degradation by 74%.