A clear, colorless liquid humectant that draws moisture to the skin. The humectancy of butylene glycol, owed to its two hydroxyl groups, is quite considerable, although not as powerful as glycerin, which contains three hydroxyl groups.
Moisturizing
Humectant
Moisturizing (Humectant)
Humectants are moisturizing ingredients that draw moisture to the skin, either from deeper layers or from the environment (when it's humid).
Humectant
Moisturizing (Humectant)
Humectants are moisturizing ingredients that draw moisture to the skin, either from deeper layers or from the environment (when it's humid).
Other functions
Fragrance,
Fragrance
Fragrance ingredients add scent to a product or hide ('mask') the undesired aroma of other ingredients.
Fragrance,
Fragrance
Fragrance ingredients add scent to a product or hide ('mask') the undesired aroma of other ingredients.
Solvent,
Solvent
Solvent – a liquid that dissolves other ingredients.
Solvent,
Solvent
Solvent – a liquid that dissolves other ingredients.
Viscosity Controlling
Viscosity Controlling
Viscosity controlling – changes the thickness of a product.
Viscosity Controlling
Viscosity Controlling
Viscosity controlling – changes the thickness of a product.
Origin
Botanical,
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Botanical,
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Synthetic,
Synthetic
All kinds of ingredients formulated or produced by a chemical process, or those that have a chemical modification in their structure.
Synthetic,
Synthetic
All kinds of ingredients formulated or produced by a chemical process, or those that have a chemical modification in their structure.
Petroleum
Petroleum
Ingredients derived from petroleum, also called crude oil. Crude oil deposits were obtained from the remains of ancient organisms, such as plants, algae, and bacteria.
Petroleum
Petroleum
Ingredients derived from petroleum, also called crude oil. Crude oil deposits were obtained from the remains of ancient organisms, such as plants, algae, and bacteria.
Overview
Butylene glycol is a glycol molecule consisting of a straight chain of four carbons with two hydroxyl (-OH) groups attached.
This chemistry is important for two reasons: first, the two hydroxyl groups allow this ingredient to function as a humectant, and second, the straight chain of carbons permits this ingredient to work as an excellent solvent.
The humectancy of butylene glycol, owed to its two hydroxyl groups, is quite considerable. Although it is not as powerful of a humectant as glycerin, which contains three hydroxyl groups, it is the second-best option. This behavior functions based on the hydroxyl groups being attracted to water.
Therefore, when butylene glycol is applied to the skin through a lotion, cream, or serum, it draws moisture to the skin from the environment or from deeper layers of the skin.
In addition to working as a humectant, butylene glycol can also serve as an excellent solvent. Due to its water-loving nature and its oil-loving carbon backbone, it can help dissolve both water-based and oil-based ingredients that normally would not be compatible with each other.
Finally, this clear, colorless liquid can also control viscosity, in that it lowers the viscosity of products when it is added.
Humectant
