Final Report of the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel On the Safety Assessment of 1,2-Glycols as Used in Cosmetics June 28, 2011

Caprylyl glycol and related 1,2-glycols are used mostly as skin and hair conditioning agents and viscosity agents in cosmetic products, and caprylyl glycol and pentylene glycol also function as cosmetic preservatives. The Expert Panel noted that these ingredients are dermally absorbed and that modeling data predict decreased skin penetration of longerchain 1,2-glycols. The Panel concluded that negative oral toxicity data on shorter-chain 1,2-glycols and genotoxicity data support the safety of all of the 1,2-glycols reviewed in this safety assessment. Thus, it was concluded that these ingredients are safe in the present practices of use and concentration described in this safety assessment.