A glycol commonly used as a solvent and humectant in skincare.
Sources: 11,3-Butanediol
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Not assessed
Butylene Glycol
What it does
Helps dissolve ingredients and supports a moist product feel rather than acting as a stand-alone skin treatment.
Sources: 1Good for
- Hydrating formula textures
How to use it
Use the finished serum, cleanser or moisturizer as directed. This ingredient does not require a separate routine step.
Sources: 1Who should be careful
An individual formula can still cause irritation or contact allergy. Do not equate every glycol with propylene glycol.
Sources: 1Pairs well with
No supported pairings have been documented for this record.
Usage, safety and formulation details
Mechanism of action
Hydroxyl groups interact with water and compatible solutes.
Sources: 1Potential adverse effects
Stinging or contact reactions are possible in an individual product; many other formula components can also be responsible.
Sources: 1Formulation considerations
Confirm the material identity and grade; the cosmetic name commonly refers to 1,3-butanediol.
Sources: 1Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Not assessed
No pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific assessment has been completed for this record. A cosmetic safety review is not a pregnancy rating.
Safety tags
- Fragrance allergen
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Essential oil
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- Drying alcohol
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
- May irritate sensitive skin
- Not assessed
Not separately assessed in this draft.
What remains uncertain
- Exact concentration, final pH and the full composition of any unprovided finished product
Clinical evidence and research
Clinical evidence
Evidence for its main benefitNot assessed
The cited references support identity, formulation role or safety context. No standalone clinical efficacy rating has been completed for the main benefit in this draft.
Sources: 1Regulation and ingredient label names
Regulatory information
No jurisdiction-specific assessment is recorded. An inventory listing is not blanket approval.
Names on ingredient lists
butylene glycol
Chemical identity and molecular structure
Chemical information
Chemical structure
No single structure to show yet
A reviewed, unambiguous PubChem compound identifier is needed before a molecular diagram can be displayed.
| Detail | Value | Source |
|---|
Content updated 9 November 2026.
Sources (1)
Scientific sources
- CIR: Butylene glycol, hexylene glycol, ethoxydiglycol and dipropylene glycolsafety assessment · 1985
Keep exploring: ingredient library or build your skincare routine.
