Clear glass Erlenmeyer flask with a small amount of water against a pale gray background

The Beauty & Personal Care Brand Builder Series

Ingredient Deep Dive

1,2-Hexanediol

The Beauty & Personal Care Brand Builder Series

Ingredient Deep Dive

1,2-Hexanediol

A Multifunctional Humectant & Preservative Booster

1,2-Hexanediol is a multifunctional glycol, supplied as a clear liquid, used as a humectant and a preservative booster.

It hydrates, improves texture, and enhances the efficacy of preservatives — often letting brands reduce traditional preservative levels while adding a light, non-tacky feel.

Quick Insights

Ingredient Rating:

GOOD

Type of Ingredient:

Hydrator and Preservative

Intended Function:

A multifunctional glycol used as a humectant and preservative booster with mild antimicrobial activity.

Common Applications:

Used across moisturizers, serums, toners and cleansers.

Target Audience:

Brands wanting a hydrating multitasker that strengthens a preservative system.

Also Known As:

1,2-Hexanediol, Hexanediol

Benefits of 1,2-Hexanediol

A dependable functional ingredient that does its job elegantly.

Humectant Hydration: Binds water for a hydrated, smooth feel.
Preservative Boosting: Enhances antimicrobial protection, supporting gentler preservative systems.
Deodorant / Antimicrobial: Has mild antimicrobial activity of its own.
Light Sensory: Improves feel with a non-tacky finish.
Solubilizing Aid: Helps dissolve some actives and fragrances.

How It Works

As a diol with amphiphilic character, 1,2-Hexanediol both binds water (humectancy) and disrupts microbial membranes, which boosts the performance of a preservative system while adding hydration and slip. It is not, on its own, a complete preservative.

Formulating with 1,2-Hexanediol

Water phase; typical 0.3–2%. Pair with preservatives (e.g. phenoxyethanol or organic acids) to build a robust, efficacy-tested system.

Safety Analysis

1,2-Hexanediol is widely used and well tolerated. It is a preservative booster, not a standalone preservative, so use it within a complete, efficacy-tested system. Substantiate the finished product (patch / HRIPT) per MoCRA.

References

https://incidecoder.com/ingredients/hexanediol

https://cosmetics.specialchem.com/inci-ingredients/hexanediol

https://cosmeticanalysis.com/cosmetic-ingredients/hexanediol

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