Hydrogenated Polybutene ●
TL;DR. It is a nonvolatile emollient and film-forming gloss agent used to give lip products, balms, and creams a cushiony feel, shine, and water-resistant slip. It can also help suspend pigments and thicken oil phases.
What does Hydrogenated Polybutene do in a cosmetic formula?
It is a nonvolatile emollient and film-forming gloss agent used to give lip products, balms, and creams a cushiony feel, shine, and water-resistant slip. It can also help suspend pigments and thicken oil phases.
Is Hydrogenated Polybutene clean?
From a clean beauty perspective, it is usually low-irritation and non-sensitizing, but it has friction in stricter standards because it is a petroleum-derived synthetic polymer. It may be flagged under policies limiting non-biodegradable synthetic film formers or certain petrochemical ingredients.
Is Hydrogenated Polybutene sustainable?
This material is made from fossil-derived C4 feedstocks rather than renewable raw materials. It is not readily biodegradable and can persist in the environment, although its high molecular weight and low water solubility limit mobility.
Is Hydrogenated Polybutene COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted under COSMOS natural or organic standards because it is a synthetic petrochemical polymer. Its Green Chemistry profile is weak on renewable sourcing and biodegradability, though it is chemically stable and typically used without reactive solvents in finished formulas.
How does Hydrogenated Polybutene work chemically?
This compound is a saturated, branched hydrocarbon oligomer produced by polymerizing C4 olefins and then hydrogenating residual unsaturation, which improves color and oxidation stability. It is pH-independent, oil-soluble, water-insoluble, and commonly appears from low single digits in creams to 20% to 80% in high-gloss lip and balm bases.
Last updated 2026-05-16