Butylene Glycol — Allergy Risk & Safety Profile
INCI: BUTYLENE GLYCOL
Also known as: 1,3-Butanediol
Key Facts
- CAS Number
- 107-88-0
- Category
- humectant
- Risk Level
- low
- Common Allergen
- No
- Found In
- serum, moisturizer, toner
Is Butylene Glycol safe in cosmetics?
Butylene Glycol is rated low risk in cosmetic products. It is not classified as a common allergen and is generally well-tolerated by most skin types. Safer alternatives include Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Vera. Commonly found in serum, moisturizer, toner.
What is Butylene Glycol?
Butylene Glycol is a humectant commonly used in cosmetic and personal care products. It is generally considered safe for use in cosmetics at recommended concentrations.
Allergy & Safety Information
Butylene Glycol is considered safe for cosmetic use. No significant safety concerns have been identified at typical use concentrations. As with any cosmetic ingredient, discontinue use if irritation occurs.
This ingredient is considered low risk from an allergenicity perspective. Reactions are uncommon at typical cosmetic use concentrations. However, no ingredient is universally safe — if you notice redness, itching, or irritation after using a product containing this ingredient, discontinue use and monitor whether symptoms resolve.
About Humectant Ingredients
Humectants attract water molecules from the environment and from deeper skin layers, drawing moisture into the stratum corneum. They are among the safest cosmetic ingredients — molecules like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and panthenol have extremely low sensitisation rates and are well-tolerated by almost all skin types.
Relevance for Butylene Glycol: In very low humidity environments, humectants can draw moisture out of the skin rather than into it. This is particularly relevant for high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid applied to dry skin without an occlusive layer to seal moisture in.
How to Identify Butylene Glycol in Products
Cosmetic ingredients are listed by their INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) name in descending order of concentration. To check whether a product contains Butylene Glycol, scan the ingredient list for its INCI name exactly as it appears above. Ingredients present at 1% or less may appear in any order after the 1% threshold.
Product types to prioritise checking: Serum, Moisturizer, Toner. These product categories are the most common sources of Butylene Glycol exposure based on formulation data.
Not sure if your products contain Butylene Glycol? Paste the ingredient list into the free ingredient checker to scan for Butylene Glycol and other allergens automatically.
Safer Alternatives
These ingredients serve a similar function with lower allergy risk:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Butylene Glycol safe for sensitive skin?
Butylene Glycol is generally well-tolerated, even by sensitive skin types.
What products contain Butylene Glycol?
Butylene Glycol is commonly found in serum, moisturizer, toner.
What does Butylene Glycol do in cosmetics?
Butylene Glycol functions as a humectant in formulations.
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Is Butylene Glycol causing YOUR skin reactions?
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