Products with 1,2-Hexanediol

1,2-Hexanediol does double duty as a humectant and a preservative booster, holding water in skin while making a formula less hospitable to microbes.

1,2-Hexanediol: Humectant and Preservative Booster

Formulators increasingly prefer ingredients that earn their place twice, and this glycol is a good example. 1,2-Hexanediol draws water into the upper layers of skin the way a humectant does, and simultaneously makes the formula less hospitable to microbial growth — which lets a brand keep its preservative load low without shortening shelf life. It also helps a serum spread evenly.

It turns up across quite a few lines here: SkinBetter Science Refining Foam Cleanser, Revision Skincare Papaya Enzyme Cleanser, Nutrafol Women's Hair Serum, SkinMedica HA5 Hydra Collagen Hydrator and CALECIM Professional Serum.

Is 1,2-hexanediol the same as hexylene glycol?

No — they are different molecules with different chain arrangements, though both act as solvents and humectants. 1,2-Hexanediol is the one more often chosen for its antimicrobial contribution.

How to shop at ELLEMES

Every brand in this collection is one we carry under an authorized professional account, so what you order is the current formulation.

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Featured Products with 1,2-Hexanediol Reviews

Obagi Lip Therapy PM AHA+PHA Smoothing Micro-Peel
Obagi Lip Therapy PM AHA+PHA Smoothing Micro-Peel
3.8 (4 reviews) 3.8 out of 5 stars based on 4 reviews
$55.00
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Read all Obagi Lip Therapy PM AHA+PHA Smoothing Micro-Peel reviews →
SkinMedica Even and Correct Advanced Brightening Treatment
SkinMedica Even & Correct Advanced Brightening Treatment
4.6 (8 reviews) 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 8 reviews
$178.00
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Featured review

“I used this product for about 3 weeks consistently and didn't see too much of a change. Its supposed to brighten and even out skin tone. Which I didn't see, it did give a Lil bit...”

— Jaclyn M.
Read all SkinMedica Even & Correct Advanced Brightening Treatment reviews →