Butylene Glycol ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is primarily used as a humectant and solvent, helping formulas hold water while dissolving extracts, preservatives, fragrance components, and other water-compatible materials. It can also improve slip and reduce a formula’s tacky feel.
What does Butylene Glycol do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is primarily used as a humectant and solvent, helping formulas hold water while dissolving extracts, preservatives, fragrance components, and other water-compatible materials. It can also improve slip and reduce a formula’s tacky feel.
Is Butylene Glycol clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is generally considered well tolerated, with low irritation potential at typical cosmetic use levels. The main friction is origin, since many grades are petrochemical-derived, while some standards and shoppers prefer bio-based inputs.
Is Butylene Glycol sustainable?
This material can be made from petroleum feedstocks or from renewable sugar-based fermentation routes, so its sustainability profile depends heavily on supplier sourcing. It is generally considered readily biodegradable and is not known for high environmental persistence.
Is Butylene Glycol COSMOS-approved?
It is generally not accepted in COSMOS-certified formulas when petrochemical-derived, while bio-based grades may be permitted if they meet origin, processing, and documentation requirements. Its Green Chemistry fit is stronger when made from renewable feedstocks, using efficient fermentation and a favorable biodegradation profile.
How does Butylene Glycol work chemically?
The molecule is a small four-carbon diol, which explains its water solubility, humectant behavior, and ability to help solubilize polar and semi-polar ingredients. It is commonly used around 1 to 10 percent, is stable across typical cosmetic pH ranges, and is often paired with preservatives because it can support preservation by lowering water activity.
Last updated 2026-05-13