With the shift to natural products, many people have been questioning ingredient names, especially those they can’t pronounce. And while it is good to question the ingredients that are in the products you use, just because you can’t say the name doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad for you.
Ethylhexylgylcerin is a prime example of this. Here is what you need to know about this ingredient:
What is Ethylhexylglycerin?
Ethylhexylgylcerin is a synthetic ingredient derived from glycerin, an organic compound that is also known as glycerol. It is commonly found in animal fat and vegetable oil. Being a vegan friendly product, the ethylhexylgylcerin used in Nature’s Aid products comes solely from vegetable oil glycerin.
Why is it used?
A safe and effective alternative to parabens, ethylhexylgylcerin inhibits the growth and multiplication of odour-causing bacteria, yeasts and mould fungi, and works to improve the efficacy of other preservatives. It also acts as an antimicrobial stabilizer in combination with other ingredients.
Further, it has shown to be effective as a skin conditioning agent as well as a deodorizer.
How safe is it?
With an EWG score of 1 and a rating of GOOD from Paula’s Choice, ethylhexylgylcerin is deemed to be very safe and a non-irritant. That said, there have been a few studies that found ethylhexylgylcerin can be irritating to the skin. However, the irritations were minor and rare.
In Conclusion:
Ethylhexylgylcerin is a preservative that is derived from natural sources. It is an effective preservative that is used as a safe alternative to parabens, and it offers additional benefits such as skin conditioning and deodorizing properties. Although some people may develop a skin irritation from this ingredient, this is very rare and overall this ingredient is deemed highly safe. If you have used products with this ingredient and have not had any issues, there is nothing else to worry about!
