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Propylene glycol (along with other glycols and glycerol)
is a humectant or humidifying and delivery ingredient
used in cosmetics. You can find Web sites and spam emails
stating that propylene glycol is really industrial antifreeze
and the major ingredient in brake and hydraulic fluids.
These sites also state that tests show it to be a strong
skin irritant. They further point out that the Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on propylene glycol warns users
to avoid skin contact because systemically (in the body)
it can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.
As ominous as this sounds, it is so far from the reality
of cosmetic formulations that almost none of it holds
any water or poses real concern. It is important to realize
that the MSDS sheets are talking about 100% concentrations
of a substance. Even water and salt have frightening comments
regarding their safety according to the MSDS. It is true
that propylene glycol in 100% concentration is used as
antifreeze, but—and this is a very big but—in cosmetics
it is used in only the smallest amounts to keep products
from melting in high heat or freezing when it is cold.
It also helps active ingredients penetrate the skin. In
the minute amounts used in cosmetics, propylene glycol
is not a concern in the least. Women are not suffering
from liver problems because of propylene glycol in cosmetics.
And finally, according to the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, within the Public Health Services
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, "studies
have not shown these chemicals [propylene or the other
glycols as used in cosmetics] to be carcinogens"
(Source: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov).
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is another ingredient "natural"
Web sites have attempted to make notorious. They gain
a great deal of attention by attributing horror stories
to PEG. For example, several Web sites state the following:
"Because of their effectiveness, PEGs are often used
in caustic spray-on oven cleaners, yet are also found
in many personal care products. Not only are they potentially
carcinogenic, but they contribute to stripping the skin's
Natural Moisture Factor, leaving the immune system vulnerable."
There is no research substantiating any of this. Quite
the contrary: PEGs have no known skin toxicity. The only
negative research results for this ingredient group indicate
that large quantities given orally to rats can cause tumors.
How that got related to skin-care products is a mystery
to me.
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