Triple X: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is an occlusive emollient and texture modifier that gives slip, gloss, cushion, and water-resistant film formation in lip products, creams, balms, and makeup.
What does Triple X: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is an occlusive emollient and texture modifier that gives slip, gloss, cushion, and water-resistant film formation in lip products, creams, balms, and makeup.
Is Triple X: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, it is usually well tolerated on skin and is not a fragrance allergen or sensitizing preservative. The main friction is that it is a synthetic petrochemical polymer, so some clean standards and retailer lists limit or exclude it.
Is Triple X: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene sustainable?
This material is typically made from fossil feedstocks and is not readily biodegradable, with environmental concern tied to persistence rather than acute skin effects. It has no palm or agricultural land-use issue, but its circularity and renewable-feedstock profile are weak.
Is Triple X: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted in COSMOS natural or organic finished products because it is a synthetic petrochemical-derived polymer. In Green Chemistry terms, it scores poorly on renewable sourcing and end-of-life biodegradation, although it is stable and generally requires low-reactivity formulation conditions.
How does Triple X: Hydrogenated Polyisobutene work chemically?
The molecule is a fully saturated, branched hydrocarbon oligomer or polymer, which makes it highly oxidation-resistant and chemically inert across typical cosmetic pH ranges. Use levels vary widely by format, often around 1 to 10% for slip in emulsions and 10 to 80% in anhydrous glosses and balms, where it blends well with waxes, esters, oils, and pigments.
Last updated 2026-09-01