Propanediol

Topical propanediol draws lasting moisture into the skin while gently calming excess oil and blemishes. It suits both dry and oily skin types particularly well when applied in lightweight serums. Because this ingredient layers easily, it fits smoothly into any daily skincare routine.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Molecules, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
This page shows propanediol products with a Lovi page. For every product, and a routine built for your skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular propanediol products
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The Ordinary
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
£5.92
-
Good Molecules
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£6.00
- EPICUTIS lipid serum
-
The Ordinary
Argireline Solution 10%
£7.36
-
Tatcha
The Essence
£99.99
-
Good Molecules
Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel
£10.00
-
The Ordinary
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
£14.10
-
The INKEY List
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£11.69
Other propanediol products
-
Good Molecules
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£6.00
- EPICUTIS lipid serum
-
The INKEY List
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£11.69
- Trader Joe's Nourish Hyaluronic Moisture Boost Serum
-
The Ordinary
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
£5.92
-
The Ordinary
Argireline Solution 10%
£7.36
-
The Ordinary
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
£14.10
- AMOREPACIFIC Vintage Single Extract Essence
-
Tatcha
The Essence
£99.99
-
The INKEY List
Glycolic Acid Toner
£10.50
-
Haruharu Wonder
Black Bamboo Mist
£13.99
- Mamonde Chamomile Pure Toner
What reviewers say about popular propanediol products
The highlight reviewers mention most for each popular propanediol product on Lovi.
The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA Gentle exfoliant ★4.6 · 1.5k+ reviews
- Improves acne
- Oily residue
- “gentle enough for sensitive skin yet noticeably improves texture”
Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum Great price ★4.7 · 4.3k+ reviews
- Hydrates and plumps
- Non-sticky texture
- “best value for money”
The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10% Softens dynamic lines ★4.3 · 2.5k+ reviews
- Affordable price point
- Lightweight watery texture
- “Softened my deep forehead lines”
Tatcha The Essence Hydrates and plumps ★4.6 · 800+ reviews
Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel Gentle & non-stripping ★4.7 · 500+ reviews
- Great value
- Effective lather
- “leaves my face feeling clean without the drying”
Propanediol for dry skin
-
The Ordinary
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
£5.92
- EPICUTIS lipid serum
-
Good Molecules
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£6.00
-
Tatcha
The Essence
£99.99
- AMOREPACIFIC Vintage Single Extract Essence
-
Good Molecules
Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel
£10.00
-
Haruharu Wonder
Black Bamboo Mist
£13.99
- Mamonde Chamomile Pure Toner
-
The Ordinary
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
£14.10
- Trader Joe's Nourish Hyaluronic Moisture Boost Serum
-
The INKEY List
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£11.69
-
The INKEY List
Glycolic Acid Toner
£10.50
Propanediol for oily skin
-
The Ordinary
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
£5.92
-
Haruharu Wonder
Black Bamboo Mist
£13.99
-
Good Molecules
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£6.00
-
The INKEY List
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£11.69
-
The INKEY List
Glycolic Acid Toner
£10.50
- EPICUTIS lipid serum
- Mamonde Chamomile Pure Toner
- AMOREPACIFIC Vintage Single Extract Essence
- Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist
-
Tatcha
The Essence
£99.99
-
Good Molecules
Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel
£10.00
-
The Ordinary
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
£14.10
Propanediol for combination skin
-
The Ordinary
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
£5.92
-
Haruharu Wonder
Black Bamboo Mist
£13.99
-
Good Molecules
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£6.00
-
The INKEY List
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£11.69
-
The INKEY List
Glycolic Acid Toner
£10.50
- Mamonde Chamomile Pure Toner
- EPICUTIS lipid serum
- AMOREPACIFIC Vintage Single Extract Essence
-
Good Molecules
Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel
£10.00
-
Tatcha
The Essence
£99.99
- Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist
-
The Ordinary
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
£14.10
Propanediol for sensitive skin
-
The Ordinary
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
£5.92
- AMOREPACIFIC Vintage Single Extract Essence
-
Haruharu Wonder
Black Bamboo Mist
£13.99
- Mamonde Chamomile Pure Toner
-
Good Molecules
Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel
£10.00
-
Good Molecules
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£6.00
-
The INKEY List
Glycolic Acid Toner
£10.50
-
The INKEY List
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£11.69
- EPICUTIS lipid serum
-
Tatcha
The Essence
£99.99
-
The Ordinary
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
£14.10
- Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist
Propanediol for acne-prone skin
-
The Ordinary
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
£5.92
- Mamonde Chamomile Pure Toner
-
Good Molecules
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£6.00
- EPICUTIS lipid serum
-
The INKEY List
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£11.69
- AMOREPACIFIC Vintage Single Extract Essence
-
Haruharu Wonder
Black Bamboo Mist
£13.99
-
Tatcha
The Essence
£99.99
-
Good Molecules
Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel
£10.00
- Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist
-
The Ordinary
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
£14.10
-
The INKEY List
Glycolic Acid Toner
£10.50
Propanediol for mature skin
-
The Ordinary
Mandelic Acid 10% + HA
£5.92
- Mamonde Chamomile Pure Toner
-
Good Molecules
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£6.00
-
Haruharu Wonder
Black Bamboo Mist
£13.99
-
Good Molecules
Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel
£10.00
- AMOREPACIFIC Vintage Single Extract Essence
-
Tatcha
The Essence
£99.99
-
The INKEY List
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
£11.69
-
The INKEY List
Glycolic Acid Toner
£10.50
- Garnier SkinActive Soothing Facial Mist
- EPICUTIS lipid serum
- Trader Joe's Nourish Hyaluronic Moisture Boost Serum
Questions and answers
What does propanediol do for the skin?
Propanediol helps increase skin hydration and reduces moisture loss, while combinations with ingredients like glycerol, xylitol, and caprylic acid may also decrease skin oiliness and reduce acne lesions.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Molecules, 2021
How do you use propanediol?
Propanediol is applied topically to increase skin hydration and reduce water loss, and it may be used alone or combined with ingredients like glycerol for enhanced moisture.
Should you use propanediol in the morning or at night?
Propanediol can be used both morning and night because it helps increase skin hydration and reduce water loss.
Can you use propanediol every day?
Yes, you can use propanediol every day as it helps increase skin hydration and supports skin barrier function. Topical application is well-tolerated and provides continuous moisture benefits over time.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
Does propanediol cause purging or irritation?
Propanediol is unlikely to cause purging. It helps increase skin hydration and is generally well tolerated.
Which skin types is propanediol best for?
Propanediol helps all skin types, with superior fits for dry skin in EPICUTIS lipid serum and The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA, and for dry sensitive skin in EPICUTIS lipid serum. Topical application increases skin hydration and helps reduce water loss.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Molecules, 2021
Research on propanediol
Behind this ingredient guide
Lovi checks every ingredient with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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