What it is
The register’s chemical name for it: “Propan-2-ol, isopropanol.”
- EU register name (INCI)
- ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL
- CAS number
- 67-63-0
- EC number
- 200-661-7
What the register lists it for
These are the uses the European Commission’s CosIng register lists for Isopropyl Alcohol in any cosmetic, hair roles first. They say why a maker might add it, not what it does in one formula, and they aren’t a safety rating.
- Solvent
-
Dissolves other ingredients. Water is the most common; some alcohols and glycols carry this role too.
Register definition: “Dissolving other components of cosmetics. Solvents are usually liquids (aqueous and nonaqueous).”
- Viscosity controlling
-
Makes a product thicker or thinner, so a gel holds its shape or a shampoo pours. Gums, cellulose and some salts carry this role.
Register definition: “Increasing or decreasing the viscosity (thickness) of cosmetics.”
- Perfuming
-
Used as a perfume or scent material. Essential oils and their scent compounds, such as linalool and limonene, carry this role.
Register definition: “Used for perfume and aromatic raw materials.”
- Antifoaming
-
Keeps foam down while the product is made or used.
Register definition: “Suppressing foam during manufacturing or reducing the tendency of finished products to generate foam.”
Where it sits on each label
US labels list ingredients from most to least, except that those at 1% or less may follow in any order. A name near the top is a large part of the formula. A label doesn’t mark where the 1% point falls, so further down, the order says little about how much is in it.
- Shampoos 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Shampoos without it
- Clarifying shampoos 1 label First five names: 0 of 1 Clarifying shampoos without it
- Rinse-out conditioners 5 labels First five names: 0 of 5 Rinse-out conditioners without it
- Deep conditioners 5 labels First five names: 0 of 5 Deep conditioners without it
- Leave-in conditioners 3 labels First five names: 0 of 3 Leave-in conditioners without it
Every label, product by product (15)
- DevaCurl No-Poo Original Shampoo 11th of 22 names
- Camille Rose Clean Rinse Clarifying Shampoo Clarifying shampoo 33rd of 34 names
- DevaCurl One Condition Original Rinse-out conditioner 12th of 22 names
- PATTERN Medium Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 24th of 38 names
- Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 20th of 29 names
- tgin Triple Moisture Replenishing Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 23rd of 33 names
- Curlsmith Essential Moisture Conditioner Rinse-out conditioner 26th of 33 names
- DevaCurl Melt Into Moisture Deep conditioner 14th of 41 names
- Kristin Ess Strand Strengthening Reconstructive Moisture Mask Deep conditioner 25th of 50 names
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Deep Hydration Mask Deep conditioner 16th of 30 names
- Curlsmith Double Cream Deep Quencher Deep conditioner 23rd of 36 names
- PATTERN Intensive Conditioner Deep conditioner 23rd of 26 names
- DevaCurl Leave-In Decadence Leave-in conditioner 15th of 39 names
- Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream Leave-in conditioner 17th of 33 names
- Curlsmith Fragrance-Free Leave-In Leave-in conditioner 15th of 25 names
Each line runs from the first name on a label to the last; a dot is where this ingredient sits. Makers change formulas now and then; if the list on your bottle differs, go by your bottle.
Your next step
Other solvent ingredients on these labels
- Water (Aqua/Eau) 166 labels
- Limonene 75 labels
- Propanediol 27 labels
- Pentylene Glycol 12 labels
- 1,2-Hexanediol 3 labels
- C13-14 Isoalkane 2 labels
Updated · The name, numbers and uses come from the European Commission’s CosIng entry (CC BY 4.0); we write the uses in US spelling and put the hair ones first. The labels are each maker’s own. The order rule is the FDA’s Cosmetics Labeling Guide. All our sources are on the Sources page.