METHYLENE GLYCOL (methanediol)
Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 16620
- Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II)
METHYLENE GLYCOL (methanediol): Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II, entry 1579), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Annexes of the Regulation consulted on 21 October 2026.
Who it concerns
This ingredient is prohibited in cosmetics in the European Union: what follows describes its hazards, not a permitted use.
What official classifications and rules say for each group. A classification describes the hazard of the pure substance, not the risk of a product that contains it, which depends on the dose and the exposure.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
No official classification covers reproduction, the unborn child's development or breastfeeding for this substance.
Babies and children
The Cosmetics Regulation sets no age-related condition for this ingredient.
Skin, eyes and allergies
No official classification for sensitisation, irritation or eye damage, and no obligation to label it as an allergen.
Environment
No official classification as hazardous to the aquatic environment and no assessment as an endocrine disruptor for the environment.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Nail conditioning: improves the cosmetic characteristics of the nail.
Nail sculpting.
What the rules say
It is prohibited to use it in a cosmetic product sold in the European Union, whatever the dose. If it appears on the ingredient list of a recent product, this needs checking: the record may be old or wrong, or the product intended for another market.
The text of the annexes
Prohibited in cosmetics
CosIng links the name METHYLENE GLYCOL to this Annex II entry.
- Entry
- Annex II, No 1579
- Substance
- Methanediol; methylene glycol
- CAS
- 463-57-0
- EC
- 207-339-5
Dates in the act (1)
- Entry into force on 12 June 2019
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 86678
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 463-57-0
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 207-339-5
- Declared functions
- Nail conditioning, Nail sculpting
- Wikidata
- Q2365760
- PubChem
- 79015
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.006.673
- InChIKey
- CKFGINPQOCXMAZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
EU product alerts (Safety Gate)
1 alert on cosmetic products cite this name in their hazard description. An alert targets a specific product, not the ingredient itself; each alert states the reason (prohibited substance, limit exceeded, missing labelling, and so on).
- 31 August 2018: Hair straightening product, Brazilian Blowout, Ireland (“Serious risk”) alert
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions, with no effect on sale in France. What is covered, and what is not yet.
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Prohibited in cosmetics (Annex II)
Same entries as in the European Union. Conditions (concentrations, warnings) may differ: they are not compared here.
Switzerland
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).
United States, federal rules
None of the integrated sections of the federal code (21 CFR 700.11 to 700.27 and 250.250) targets this name. The FDA does not publish a list of allowed ingredients.
Washington State (United States)
- Prohibited: Methylene glycol (CAS 463-57-0)
RCW 70A.560.020 (1)(d), from 1 January 2025. Prohibited when intentionally added to a cosmetic product.
South Korea
- Prohibited: 메칠렌글라이콜 (METHYLENE GLYCOL)
별표 1 (prohibited substances), entry 241, page 12.
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.