Ingredient glossary
Ethoxydiglycol
On your shelf ✓What Ethoxydiglycol does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Ethoxydiglycol · Also: Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether, DEGEE, Transcutol
In short: Ethoxydiglycol delivers solvation and penetration enhancement, plays a broad, supporting role, and the evidence behind it is strong.
- What it does
- Solvation, penetration enhancement
- Best for
- A broad, supporting role
- Evidence
- Strong
The molecule
The Glow take
The carrier, not the treatment.
Ethoxydiglycol 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
- penetration enhancement
strong evidenceSCCS opinion 1507/13 found diethylene glycol monoethyl ether safe within the Annex III limits later fixed by Regulation 2016/314 at 2.6 percent for non-spray leave-on products with ethylene glycol impurity held under 0.1 percent.
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
- eye area
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DryNeutral
- CombinationNeutral
- OilyNeutral
- SensitiveNeutral
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: eye area.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
- solvents
Ethoxydiglycol, answered
Is Ethoxydiglycol safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Ethoxydiglycol 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 Ethoxydiglycol?
Approach Ethoxydiglycol with care if any of these apply to you: eye area.
What concentration of Ethoxydiglycol 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
- SCCS opinion 1507/13summary page only, the document itself was not read
- EU Regulation 2016/314-AnnexIIIsummary page only, the document itself was not read