Common Name(s): Polyol alcohol,humectant co-solvent,skin conditioning diol
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides skin hydration from hydroxyl group water-binding, co-solvent dissolution of actives, and emollient conditioning.
Why It's Used: Polyols provide versatile multi-function — humectancy, solubilisation, and penetration enhancement — from a single ingredient type.
How It Works: Oh groups form h-bonds with water molecules providing hygroscopic moisture retention. alkyl chain length and branching determines lipophilicity and skin feel — short chain polyols (glycerol, bg) → humectant; long chain (c12+) → emollient.
Typically Found In: All formulations
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient – humectant
Secondary Functions: Tewl reduction,skin plumping
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 1%–20%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes - standard ethanol routes are non-animal; confirm denaturant origin
Halal Status: Conditional - ethanol production route and residual concentration; jurisdiction-dependent, refer to certifier stance
Source Notes: Synthetic or naturally derived. excellent aqueous solubility. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: ethanol pathway; determination depends on route, on whether the plant also produces beverage alcohol, and on residual concentration. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; suitable for all skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Ceramides,emollients,occlusives,glycerin,hyaluronic acid
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Polyol selection based on mw and logp — low mw (<200 da), high hydrophilicity: surface humectant; medium chain glycols: co-solvent + penetration enhancer; long chain fatty alcohols: emollient.
Last Verified: 2026-03-12
Primary Sources: Cosing database,pentadecyl alcohol polyol review