Is DEGEE, or Éthoxydiglycol, a glycol ether, safe when used in spray? Can its maximum use concentration be increased from 1.5% to 2.6% in all cosmetics products? These questions were asked to the SCCS. An opinion is waited for soon.
The Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DEGEE or Ethoxydiglycol – CAS: 111-90-0) was already evaluated several times by European experts.
In its last Opinion on this ingredient, in 2011, SCCS concluded:
"The SCCP previously concluded in its opinion of 16.12.08 that the use of diethylene glycol monoethyl ether (DEGEE) as a solvent in an on-head concentration of up to 7.0% in oxidative hair dye formulations and in an on-head concentration of up to 5.0% in non-oxidative hair dye formulations in addition to the use of DEGEE at concentrations up to 1.5% in all cosmetic products, except products for oral hygiene and eye products, does not pose a risk to the health of the consumer, provided that the level of ethylene glycol in DEGEE used is < 0.2%.
Based on the new information submitted, SCCS is of the opinion that:
1. the use of DEGEE as a solvent in cosmetic products in a concentration up to 10% in rinse-off products does not pose a risk to the health of the consumer;
2. the use of DEGEE as a solvent in cosmetic products in a concentration up to 5.5% in leave-on products does pose a risk to the health of the consumer.
3. …
