2-Methoxyethanol
AKA “109-86-4, Methyl cellosolve, Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, Ethanol, 2-methoxy-, Methyl oxitol, 2-Methoxy-1-ethanol, Dowanol EM, Methylglykol, EGME”
Ingredient
Ingredient Facts
2-Methoxyethanol
AKA: 109-86-4, Methyl cellosolve, Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 2-methoxy-, Methyl oxitol, 2-Methoxy-1-ethanol, Dowanol EM, Methylglykol, EGME
Ingredient · Solvent · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Solvent
Not Clean
Methyl cellosolve, is a clear and colorless liquid at room temperature mainly used as a solvent. It is used for many purposes including varnishes, dyes, resins, printing, finishing textile, and semiconductor manufacturing. It is a central nervous system toxicant and has been shown to damage the lungs and kidneys in animal testing.
Solubility greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 70 °F (NTP, 1992)
Formula
C3H8O2
Mol. Weight
76.09
CAS #
109-86-4
Form
Liquid
State
Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether appears as a clear colorless liquid. Flash point of 110 °F. Less dense than water. Vapors are heavier than air.
See origin →
Functions
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Dissolves Ingredients
Controls Viscosity
Dissolves other ingredients
Controls product thickness
Traditional Use
A synthetic solvent developed in the early 20th century for industrial and cosmetic applications. Used in cosmetics to dissolve and stabilize other ingredients, particularly in hair dyes and color cosmetics.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
No
Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by coconut fatty acids diethanolamide.
Aalto-Korte K, Pesonen M, Kuuliala O, Suuronen K
Contact dermatitis, 2014
Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by coconut fatty acids diethanolamide.
Aalto-Korte K, Pesonen M, Kuuliala O, Suuronen K
Contact dermatitis, 2014
Occupational allergic contact dermatitis caused by coconut fatty acids diethanolamide.
Aalto-Korte K, Pesonen M, Kuuliala O, Suuronen K
Contact dermatitis, 2014
Final report on the safety assessment of 3-methylamino-4-nitrophenoxyethanol as used in hair dyes.
Becker LC, Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International journal of toxicology, 2008
Allergic contact dermatitis from trideceth-2-carboxamide monoethanolamine (MEA) in a hair dye.
Bowling JC, Scarisbrick J, Warin AP, Downs AM
Contact dermatitis, 2002
Allergic contact dermatitis from trideceth-2-carboxamide monoethanolamine (MEA) in a hair dye.
Bowling JC, Scarisbrick J, Warin AP, Downs AM
Contact dermatitis, 2002
Explaining skin permeation of 2-butoxyethanol from neat and aqueous solutions.
Bunge AL, Persichetti JM, Payan JP
International journal of pharmaceutics, 2012
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl
Burnett CL, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Klaassen CD, Marks JG Jr et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2009
Effects of ethanol and diclofenac on the organization of hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine bilayer vesicles and their ability as skin carriers.
Castangia I, Manca ML, Matricardi P, Catalán-Latorre A, Nácher A et al.
Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine, 2015
Screening of yeasts for the production of 2-phenylethanol (rose aroma) in organic waste-based media.
Chreptowicz K, Sternicka MK, Kowalska PD, Mierzejewska J
Letters in applied microbiology, 2018
Final Amended Report on the Safety Assessment of 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl and 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Sulfate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Amended Report on the Safety Assessment of Ammonium Thioglycolate, Butyl Thioglycolate, Calcium Thioglycolate, Ethanolamine Thioglycolate, Ethyl Thioglycolate, Glyceryl Thioglycolate, Isooctyl T
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Dihydrochloride
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of 3-Methylamino-4-Nitrophenoxyethanol as Used in Hair Dyes
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Butoxyethanol
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Ethoxyethanol and Ethoxyethanol Acetate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Phenoxyethanol
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Potassium-Coco-Hydrolyzed Animal Protein and Triethanolamine-Coco-Hydrolyzed Animal Protein
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Triethanolamine, Diethanolamine, and Monoethanolamine
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report: Amended Safety Assessment of 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl and 2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Sulfate as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamides as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Ethanolamides as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Ethanolamine and Ethanolamine Salts as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Triethanolamine and Triethanolamine-Containing Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Tentative Report: Amended Safety Assessment of Butoxyethanol as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Sulfate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
3-Methylamino-4-Nitrophenoxyethanol
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Butoxyethanol
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Ethanolamine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Ethanolamine HCl
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Ethanolamine Thioglycolate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Lysophosphatidylethanolamine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Phenoxyethanol
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Triethanolamine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Phenoxyethanol Safety Assessment
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Safety review of phenoxyethanol when used as a preservative in cosmetics.
Dréno B, Zuberbier T, Gelmetti C, Gontijo G, Marinovich M
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 2019
Safety review of phenoxyethanol when used as a preservati...
B Dréno, T Zuberbier, C Gelmetti, G Gontijo, M Marinovich
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV, 2019
Chemical characterization and antimicrobial activities of Citrus aurantifolia peel oils and Ocimum sanctum ethanolic extract.
Duangsombat P, Waranuch N, Pitaksuteepong T
PloS one, 2025
Chemical characterization and antimicrobial activities of Citrus aurantifolia peel oils and Ocimum sanctum ethanolic extract.
Duangsombat P, Waranuch N, Pitaksuteepong T
PloS one, 2025
2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol HCl
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
2,4-Diaminophenoxyethanol Sulfate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Butoxyethanol
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Diethanolamine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
ethanol
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Ethanolamine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Ethoxyethanol
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Phenoxyethanol
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Triethanolamine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used...
Monice M Fiume, Bart Heldreth, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used...
Monice M Fiume, Bart Heldreth, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
Safety Assessment of Diethanolamine and Its Salts as Used...
Monice M Fiume, Bart Heldreth, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen + 6 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
Safety assessment of triethanolamine and triethanolamine-containing ingredients as used in cosmetics.
Fiume MM, Heldreth B, Bergfeld WF, Belsito DV, Hill RA et al.
International journal of toxicology, 2013
Detection of fatty acid ethyl esters in skin surface lipids as biomarkers of ethanol consumption in alcoholics, social drinkers, light drinkers, and t
González-Illán F, Ojeda-Torres G, Díaz-Vázquez LM, Rosario O
Journal of analytical toxicology, 2011
2-Amino-1,2-bis(4-methoxyphenol) ethanol and its salts
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
2,4-Diaminophenylethanol and its salts
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Butoxyethanol
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Ethoxyethanol
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Ethoxyethanol acetate
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Methoxyethanol
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Methoxyethanol acetate
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Tribromoethanol
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Final report on the safety assessment of ethoxyethanol and ethoxyethanol acetate.
Johnson W Jr, Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert panel
International journal of toxicology, 2002
Final report on the safety assessment of ethoxyethanol and ethoxyethanol acetate.
Johnson W Jr, Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert panel
International journal of toxicology, 2002
In vivo and in vitro inhibitory activity of an ethanolic extract of Sargassum fulvellum and its component grasshopper ketone on atopic dermatitis.
Kang BK, Kim MJ, Kim KB, Ahn DH
International immunopharmacology, 2016
Direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methanol and carbon dioxide over CeO2(X)-ZnO(1-X) nano-catalysts.
Kang KH, Joe W, Lee CH, Kim M, Kim DB et al.
Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology, 2013
Formation and inhibition of N-nitrosodiethanolamine in cosmetics under pH, temperature, and fluorescent, ultraviolet, and visual light.
Lim DS, Lim SK, Kim MK, Kwon YC, Roh TH et al.
Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A, 2018
Can 1% chlorhexidine diacetate and ethanol stabilize resin-dentin bonds?
Manso AP, Grande RH, Bedran-Russo AK, Reis A, Loguercio AD et al.
Dental materials : official publication of the Academy of Dental Materials, 2014
Allergic contact dermatitis caused by cocamide diethanolamine.
Mertens S, Gilissen L, Goossens A
Contact dermatitis, 2016
Anti-senescence and anti-apoptotic effects of immature Citrus unshiu peel ethanol extract on ultraviolet B-irradiated skin keratinocytes.
Piao MJ, Kang KA, Fernando PDSM, Herath HMUL, Senavirathna HMMM et al.
Toxicological research, 2025
Antioxidant screening and phenolic content of ethanol extracts of selected Baja California Peninsula macroalgae.
Tenorio-Rodriguez PA, Murillo-Álvarez JI, Campa-Cordova ÁI, Angulo C
Journal of food science and technology, 2017
Skin-permeable gold nanoparticles with modifications azelamide monoethanolamine ameliorate inflammatory skin diseases.
Zhao H, Zhao H, Tang Y, Li M, Cai Y et al.
Biomarker research, 2024
Skin-permeable gold nanoparticles with modifications azelamide monoethanolamine ameliorate inflammatory skin diseases.
Zhao H, Zhao H, Tang Y, Li M, Cai Y et al.
Biomarker research, 2024
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR