MSD Emolene Propylene Glycol Cream — Efficacy 3.2/5.0, Safety 4.3/5.0 | DemythSkin
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[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
MSD Emolene Propylene Glycol Cream
MSD

MSD Emolene Propylene Glycol Cream

MoisturizerBarrier Repair
Efficacy
Basic
3.2 / 5.0
Safety
Safe
4.3 / 5.0
System Verdict
This is a bare-bones barrier cream with solid emollients but zero modern actives and a couple of formulation red flags. Efficacy is driven purely by classic emollients and humectants like glycerin, triglycerides, dimethicone, squalene, and fatty alcohols, which can support hydration and barrier function but offer no targeted anti-aging, brightening, or soothing actives; overall performance is adequate as an occlusive moisturizer but unremarkable. The base is functional, yet the inclusion of Toluene and older antioxidant preservatives makes the safety profile less elegant than contemporary options, keeping this squarely in utilitarian, not high-performance, territory.
Active Ingredients Detected
A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results
GlycerinSqualene
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
Capric Acid TriglyceridePolyoxyl 40 StearateGlycol StearateC-10-30 Carboxylic Acid Sterol EsterButylated Hydroxy AnisoleToluene
D Tier: Potential IrritantsBe Cautious
Myristyl Myristate
What Each Ingredient Does
Lecithin
Emulsifier and skin-conditioning agent
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
Thickener and stabilizer
Carbomer 934
Gel-forming thickener
Glycerin
Humectant for hydration
Sodium Hydroxide
pH adjuster
Capric Acid Triglyceride
Emollient lipid base
Dimethicone
Silicone skin protectant
Squalene
Emollient and occlusive lipid
Polyoxyl 40 Stearate
Nonionic emulsifier
Stearic Acid
Fatty acid, thickener, emulsifier
Glycol Stearate
Emollient and opacifier
Glyceryl Stearate
Emulsifier and emollient
Cetyl Alcohol
Fatty alcohol emollient
Myristyl Myristate
Emollient, texture enhancer
C-10-30 Carboxylic Acid Sterol Ester
Emulsifying and stabilizing ester
Butylated Hydroxy Anisole
Antioxidant preservative
Toluene
Solvent in trace amounts
Water
Solvent base
EDTA
Chelating agent preservative booster
Full Ingredient List (INCI)

Lecithin , Magnesium Aluminum Silicate , Carbomer 934 , Glycerin , Sodium Hydroxide , Capric Acid Triglyceride , Dimethicone , Squalene , Polyoxyl 40 Stearate , Stearic Acid , Glycol Stearate , Glyceryl Stearate , Cetyl Alcohol , Myristyl Myristate , C-10-30 Carboxylic Acid Sterol Ester , Butylated Hydroxy Anisole , Toluene , Water , EDTA

Frequently Asked

Is MSD Emolene Propylene Glycol Cream worth it?

MSD Emolene Propylene Glycol Cream scores 3.2 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Basic) and 4.3 out of 5.0 for safety (Safe) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. This is a bare-bones barrier cream with solid emollients but zero modern actives and a couple of formulation red flags. Efficacy is driven purely by classic emollients and humectants like glycerin, triglycerides, dimethi

What are the key active ingredients in MSD Emolene Propylene Glycol Cream?

MSD Emolene Propylene Glycol Cream contains no gold-standard actives — its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.

Does MSD Emolene Propylene Glycol Cream contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin flags these ingredients in MSD Emolene Propylene Glycol Cream as potential irritants: Myristyl Myristate.

How is MSD Emolene Propylene Glycol Cream scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent axes: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are classified S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. No brand pays for a score.

Analyze on DemythSkin →

Analysis last updated: 2026-08-24. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.