Ingredient glossary
Dipropylene Glycol
On your shelf ✓What Dipropylene Glycol does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Dipropylene Glycol
In short: Dipropylene Glycol delivers solvation and humectant support, plays a broad, supporting role, and the evidence behind it is strong.
- What it does
- Solvation, humectant support
- Best for
- A broad, supporting role
- Evidence
- Strong
The Glow take
The carrier, not the treatment.
Dipropylene Glycol is the base that carries the real ingredients, not something that treats skin on its own. Judge the formula by what sits further up the list.
— Maya
What it does
- solvation
- humectant support
strong evidenceIn 503 eczema patients patch tested at 1 to 10 percent, exactly one reacted, and the CIR family review covering dipropylene glycol found it safe as used. Mild irritation only appears at 25 to 50 percent solutions under occlusion, far above product levels. Its ether bridge and near double weight are the likely reason it sensitizes less than propylene glycol.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
No specific skin type. It is a broadly used ingredient.
Approach with care
- rare allergy
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DryNeutral
- CombinationNeutral
- OilyNeutral
- SensitiveNeutral
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: rare allergy.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- solvents
Dipropylene Glycol, answered
Is Dipropylene Glycol safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Dipropylene Glycol is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Dipropylene Glycol?
Approach Dipropylene Glycol with care if any of these apply to you: rare allergy.
What concentration of Dipropylene Glycol actually works?
Its concentration is rarely printed on the label, so use the ingredient list as your clue: near the top third it is likely doing real work, near the bottom it is more of a sprinkle.
This, for every label you own
One ingredient is easy. A full label is where it gets confusing. The Ingredient Decoder reads any product and tells you the honest truth, ingredient by ingredient.
Sources & how we reviewed this
- PMID 8565478abstract only, the full text is paywalled
- CIR safety review Butylene glycol family incl dipropylene glycol 1985summary page only, the document itself was not read