Butylated PVP ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a synthetic film-former used to improve hold, water resistance, adhesion, and wear in hair styling, sunscreen, mascara, and long-wear color products.
What does Butylated PVP do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a synthetic film-former used to improve hold, water resistance, adhesion, and wear in hair styling, sunscreen, mascara, and long-wear color products.
Is Butylated PVP clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it has more friction for being a synthetic persistent polymer than for routine skin irritation. It is generally not a classic allergen or sensitizer, but it may be screened out by standards that limit non-biodegradable synthetic film-formers.
Is Butylated PVP sustainable?
This material is typically petrochemical-derived and is not readily biodegradable. In rinse-off use, its main sustainability concern is persistence in wastewater and aquatic environments rather than acute skin compatibility.
Is Butylated PVP COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS organic or COSMOS natural standards because it is a synthetic polymer outside the allowed natural-origin ingredient framework. Its Green Chemistry fit is weak due to fossil feedstocks, limited biodegradability, and end-of-life persistence.
How does Butylated PVP work chemically?
The molecule is a hydrophobically modified vinyl-lactam polymer, with butyl substitution increasing film flexibility, adhesion, and water resistance. It is commonly used at low single-digit percentages, is broadly pH-stable in finished formulas, and is often paired with plasticizers, waxes, solvents, or other film-formers to tune feel and wear.
Last updated 2026-05-13