Ethyl Hexyl Glycerine

CAS No-70445-33-9

Ethylhexylglycerin is an ingredient that is found in many skincare and cosmetic formulations. Ethylhexylglycerin is utilized in these products for its natural preservative action and its use as a skin conditioner. It is thought that ethylhexylglycerin’s preservative characteristics come from its ability to also act as a surfactant. Surfactants are ingredients that reduce the surface tension, in the case of Ethylhexylglycerin, the disruption in surface tension and potentially damages the cell membranes of bacteria, preventing their growth. Due to ethylhexylglycerin’s antimicrobial action, it also makes a great deodorizing ingredient.

Ethylhexylglycerin is derived from glycerine, obtained mainly from plant-based sources such as soybean or palm. Ethylhexylglycerin was first introduced to the cosmetic market in 1992 as a skincare additive and deodorant active called Sensiva SC50. Ethylhexylglycerin is used in a wide variety of skincare, body, and cosmetic products. It can be found in bath products, body and hand products, cleansing products, deodorants, eye makeup, foundations, hair care products, and suntan products.
Preservative
As a preservative, ethylhexylglycerin works by reducing surface tension on the cellular walls of microorganisms or bacteria. This results in the destruction of the cell walls for the bacteria, preventing their growth. Ethylhexylglycerin may be an alternative to parabens in the formulation.

A study published in PLOS ONE investigated whether ethylhexylglycerin may enhance the function of other preservatives in a formulation, such as phenoxyethanol, methylisothiazolinone, or methylparaben. This research seemed to suggest that ethylhexylglycerin can support the role of other preservatives, making sure your product is safe and can last. Without preservatives, the natural compounds, essential oils, and ingredients in your beauty products would spoil more quickly, reducing their effectiveness and reducing their safety.

Surfactant
Ethylhexylglycerin also functions as a surfactant. Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension between two substances and work to mix the two substances. This action is particularly useful in skincare and cosmetic products to mix oil and water-based ingredients, allowing them to be used in moisturizers without separating and in washes without leaving residue on the skin. This is possible because while one end of the surfactant molecule is attracted to water, the other end is attracted to oil. Thus, surfactants attract the oil, dirt, and other impurities that have accumulated on your skin during the day and wash them away. Due to these properties, ethylhexylglycerin can be found in many different cleansers and body washes.

Deodorizing
Ethylhexylglycerin is used in many deodorants and deodorizing products. This is due to its antimicrobial action, it prevents the growth and multiplication of odor-causing bacteria, while at the same time not affecting the beneficial skin flora.