Skip to content
be sonatural, Face masks, read from the back

1,2-Hexanediol

Well toleratedSolventsolventhumectantpreservative booster

No meaningful concern for most people; irritation is possible but rare.

Also written as: Hexane-1,2-diol · Hexanediol

What it is

1,2-Hexanediol is a short-chain diol that acts as a solvent and humectant while also lowering the water activity a formula offers to bacteria and fungi. Because its main declared purpose is not preservation, it sits outside the EU's Annex V preservative list, and it is popular in Korean sheet masks where a light, non-tacky feel matters.

What it does well

  • Lets a formula use less conventional preservative while feeling lighter

    It boosts the activity of phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol and simultaneously improves slip and hydration, which is why it is common in high-water sheet-mask essences.

    Moderate evidence

Worth knowing

  • Mild irritation at high concentrations

    Glycols used at several per cent can sting slightly on compromised skin. Reports of true allergy are rare.

    Matters most toPeople with a damaged or very reactive skin barrier.

Where the EU stands

No specific restriction

Not listed in Annex V and not otherwise restricted in EU cosmetics.

Masks that contain 1,2-Hexanediol