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Ingredient register

Propylene Glycol

Note Skin irritant Both food and personal care E1520

Decode Label notes Propylene Glycol for information in both food and personal care (skin irritant). It appears in 12 of the 912 published products we have analysed (1.3%).

The concern

Humectant/solvent - occasional skin irritant at higher concentration

Propylene glycol is a widely used humectant and solvent considered safe at normal levels. It can irritate or sensitise a minority of people, mainly in leave-on products on damaged or eczema-prone skin.

Most relevant to

People with sensitive skin People with eczema

Cited authority

Cosmetic Ingredient Review; contact-dermatitis literature

How common it is in this catalogue

Measured across every product Decode Label has analysed — not estimated, and not taken from anyone else's dataset.

12 of 912 published products 1.3%

By category

Haircare 4
Bath & Body 4
Skincare 3
Shaving & Grooming 1

Identity

E number
E1520

Also appears on labels as

1,2-Propanediol Propane-1,2-diol

Questions

Is Propylene Glycol safe?

The concern is cited to Cosmetic Ingredient Review; contact-dermatitis literature. Why it is flagged: Humectant/solvent - occasional skin irritant at higher concentration. It appears in 12 of the 912 published products we have analysed (1.3%).

How common is Propylene Glycol in Indian packaged products?

Decode Label found Propylene Glycol in 12 of 912 published products (1.3%), most often in Haircare, Bath & Body, Skincare.

Who should be most careful with Propylene Glycol?

People with sensitive skin; People with eczema.

Products containing Propylene Glycol

12 published products, each with its own full analysis.

Absolute Detox Facial Cleanser Normal - Dry Arata Damage Defence Super Shampoo Dettol Fresh Shaving Cream Dove Serum Bar | with Nutrient Serum Dove Serum Bar | with Radiance Serum | Pink Radiance Dove Serum Bar | with Sandalwood Oil Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Anti Hair Fall Head & Shoulder Anti Dandruff Shampoo Cool Menthol Head & Shoulders 2-in-1 Smooth and Silky Anti Dandru... Moisturising Cream Dry to Normal, Sensitive Skin Refreshing Facial Wash Wild Stone Ultra Sensual Talcum Powder for Men

Related ingredients

Other entries in the register with the same kind of concern.

Methylisothiazolinone Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate Benzisothiazolinone Bronopol CI 47000 Diazolidinyl Urea

Method and limits

  • Prevalence counts published products whose decoded ingredient list matches this substance or one of its label synonyms, using the same matching the score itself uses. It describes our catalogue of 912 products, not the Indian market as a whole.
  • Presence is not dose. An ingredient list gives order, not quantity, unless the pack declares a percentage. Nothing here estimates how much of this substance any product contains.
  • A classification is not a verdict on a product. An agency classifies a substance under defined conditions of exposure; whether that matters in a given food or cosmetic depends on route, concentration and use.
  • No regulatory rows. This substance is not matched in our regulatory warehouse, so the concern above rests on the cited authority alone.
  • Last updated. This register entry was last changed on 3 November 2026.
  • Corrections. Every figure here is reproducible from the sources named. If something is wrong, tell us and we will correct it and say what changed.