Butylene Glycol In Skin Care: Everything You Need To Know

The listing of popular ingredients in the skin intendance industry is constantly evolving. The previously pop and now controversial ingredient, propylene glycol, is being replaced by butylene glycol – a compound that is considered less harmful for the skin (1), (2). There are many benefits of butylene glycol for the skin. It is incredibly effective and yields extremely positive results within the get-go application. In improver, it has a light texture and provides splendid hydration to the skin. It is suitable for all pare types.

This commodity is for you if you accept whatsoever doubts most using products containing butylene glycol. We will go through the benefits, uses, advantages, disadvantages, concerns, and precautions for utilizing this component. Let's get started!

What Is Butylene Glycol?

Butylene glycol is a type of organic alcohol that is derived from petroleum, distilled corn, and sugarcane. This water-soluble ingredient works equally an excellent texture-enhancer and is similar to propylene glycol, with the exception being that it has a lighter texture. In terms of appearance, it is a clear, odorless, and sticky liquid. It is known to have a slightly sweetness taste and a biting after-taste.

In that location are 4 forms of butylene glycol that differ in composition and offer a wide host of peel care benefits depending on their formula and structure.

• 1,2-butanediol: It acts every bit a humectant and solvent. It is extremely constructive in decreasing the overall viscosity of a production and boosting the skin penetration abilities of other ingredients.
• one,3-butanediol: This is the most normally used course of butylene glycol. It doubles upwardly as an effective alternative to propylene glycol and glycerol because information technology has better solvency. It as well demonstrates humectant backdrop and reduces the viscosity of products while preventing them from drying out and crystallizing. It has been branded as non-toxic equally information technology does not cause skin irritation at a safety level of concentration.
• two,three-butanediol: Information technology is a strong viscosity reducer only is not widely used in pare intendance products. Since not much research has been washed to understand its toxic side effects, this form of butylene glycol has not been used in skin care products however.
• 1,iv-butanediol: Information technology is typically used as a solvent in cosmetic products. Yet, it offers express properties and is by and large used in eye products because it does not irritate the eyes.

Here are a few defining characteristics of butylene glycol:

• It is typically used for cosmetic purposes and is found in all kinds of pare intendance products – from cleansers and moisturizers to face masks and makeup products. Information technology helps to create a smoothen, thick product that can glide onto the peel and pilus effortlessly. In other words, it acts as an constructive solvent for other ingredients and as a penetration enhancer, helping the product seep into the peel faster and deeper.
• Depending on the product and peel intendance formulation, butylene glycol serves as a humectant, solvent, and emollient. These properties allow it to attract water into the skin and keep it hydrated for a longer catamenia of time. At the same time, it tin create a bulwark on the skin and forbid h2o loss. This leads to softer, conditioned skin.
• Information technology basically helps to stabilize skin intendance products. Plus, skin intendance products usually accept a thinner consistency equally thick creams tin feel uncomfortable and greasy.

Now that y'all understand what butylene glycol is, let us expect at the best style to use information technology.

The All-time Way To Utilise Butylene Glycol

Many pare care products contain butylene glycol – from shampoos and hydrating serums to sunscreen and cosmetics. Thus, there is no need to apply it separately. In virtually formulations, the strength of butylene glycol ranges from 0.001-50%.

If you want to know when to utilise the production, how often to use it, how much to use, and what other products to complement its use with, speak to your dermatologist.

Adjacent, let us dive into the benefits of butylene glycol for the pare.

Benefits Of Butylene Glycol For Skin

Butylene glycol is establish in a wide range of peel intendance products. Its benefits include:

1. Moisturizes And Smoothens The Skin

Butylene glycol works as an emollient and a humectant and helps retain skin wet past creating a barrier on the skin. This ultimately prevents water loss and weather the peel from within. Thus, it acts equally the perfect skin conditioning agent (3).

two. Works Every bit An Effective Solvent

Butylene glycol is difficult to dissolve and is often combined with non-water-soluble ingredients. Its solvent properties permit for hard-to-dissolve ingredients to suspension down hands without clumping upwardly, thus allowing like shooting fish in a barrel application and improved product penetration (4).

3. Hydrates The Skin

Due to its humectant backdrop, butylene glycol easily binds water and attracts water molecules to the outer layer of the skin (5). Thus, information technology adequately hydrates the skin.

iv. Treats Acne

Butylene glycol is often used in moisturizers that help care for acne. While this ingredient cannot treat acne directly, its moisturizing and solvent properties help in treating the associated symptoms of dry, acne-prone skin (6).

Note: Before using this ingredient, consult a dermatologist about your acne symptoms, the crusade of your acne, the level of skin sensitivity, etc., or else you hazard making your acne worse.

v. Acts Every bit A Viscosity-Reducing Agent

Butylene glycol ensures that the other ingredients in your pare care production exercise not stick to each other, thus offering a fluid and even consistency to the product.

At present that y'all accept understood the benefits of butylene glycol, permit u.s. address the elephant in the room.

Is Butylene Glycol Rubber For The Skin?

Though butylene glycol is used in antifreeze as information technology helps lower the freezing bespeak of h2o, it is not as toxic every bit ethylene glycol. However, in that location is still a lot of controversy surrounding this ingredient due to the following misconceptions:

• Its Manufacturing Process Is Not Sustainable: Since this ingredient is produced synthetically, at that place is a misconception in the beauty manufacture that it is toxic fifty-fifty though it is non. According to the Ecology Working Group, butylene glycol is rated 1 out of x (with x beingness the most chancy) on the "danger scale" (vii).
• Sensitivity Due To High Concentrations In The Manufacturing Procedure:Since the manufacturing process of peel intendance products involves using loftier concentrations of butylene glycol, there is concern that it might cause irritation and sensitivity. But with the right manufacturing condom guidelines in place, there is no demand to worry.
• It Dries Out The Peel: Butylene glycol does not dry out out your peel or make it irritable, despite being an alcohol.

Here'south the truth – equally long as you are non allergic to it and do not have very sensitive skin, yous can employ products containing butylene glycol every mean solar day. Information technology is considered safety for its approved applications in cosmetics and peel intendance.

Lastly, let'due south run through its side effects and precautionary measures to go on in mind.

Butylene Glycol – Side Furnishings And Precautions

While there is widespread concern near the safety of butylene glycol and more inquiry needs to exist washed to understand its risks and long-term impact on the torso, information technology is considered safe to use. Despite beingness derived from petroleum, this chemical is generally considered rubber for cosmetic use, demonstrating low levels of irritation and the rare occurrence of allergic contact dermatitis (ane).

That said, here are a few precautionary measures to keep in mind when using this ingredient:

• If you lot accept very sensitive peel, avoid using this ingredient as it tin can farther irritate your skin and cause rashes.
• If you accept a known allergy to butylene glycol, do not use products containing this ingredient.
• If yous accept acne-prone peel, use products containing butylene glycol with caution as it may clog your pores and crusade breakouts, blackheads, and whiteheads.
• Using information technology in loftier concentrations tin irritate your optics or nasal passage, especially if it comes in contact with them.
• Always do a patch test prior to using any product with this ingredient. If you experience irritation or an itchy rash, stop using information technology immediately and consult a dermatologist.
• If you are pregnant or lactating, avoid using butylene glycol because not much enquiry has been washed to bear witness its rubber during pregnancy.

Endmost Thoughts

Butylene glycol is a versatile ingredient that is power-packed with a host of peel care applications. It acts as a fragrance, skin-conditioning agent, solvent, viscosity-decreasing agent, and humectant (7). It works well with most products, making it a useful ingredient.

Given its widespread apply, it has emerged as a popular ingredient in cosmetics and skin care products. Information technology is generally considered safety to use and does not cause agin reactions unless you have sensitive skin.

That said, make sure to include this all-purpose ingredient in your skincare regimen only after speaking to a dermatologist.

Oft Asked Questions

Should y'all avoid butylene glycol during pregnancy?

Yep, you should avert this ingredient if y'all are pregnant or lactating because not a lot of inquiry has been washed to prove its safety for expecting/lactating mothers.

Is butylene glycol comedogenic?

Butylene glycol has a comedogenic rating of 1 (the highest rating), making it suitable for acne-prone pare. However, there have been reports that it can worsen acne.

Are propylene glycol and butylene glycol worth worrying about?

Propylene glycol is more of a peel-irritant than butylene glycol. Co-ordinate to the Corrective Ingredient Review, both propylene glycol and butylene glycol are safe to utilise in lower proportions – less than 20% for propylene glycol and less than l% for butylene glycol (8).

Is butylene glycol rubber for sensitive skin?

Butylene glycol is non considered safe to use for sensitive pare. Information technology is best that you consult a dermatologist and do a patch test earlier using information technology if you have sensitive skin.

Is butylene glycol a natural ingredient?

No, butylene glycol is synthesized in the lab. It is extracted from natural gas/petroleum.

What is another name for butylene glycol?

Other names of butylene glycol include 1,3-butylene glycol, butane-one,3-diol, and i,3-dihydroxybutane.

References:

Stylecraze has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using 3rd references. You can learn more nearly how we ensure our content is authentic and electric current by reading our editorial policy.

1. 1. Case of allergic contact dermatitis due to 1,3-butylene glycol
      https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1346-8138.12603
   2. Propylene Glycol
      https://journals.lww.com/dermatitis/Fulltext/2018/01000/Propylene_Glycol.2.aspx
   3. 8 Final Written report on the Prophylactic Assessment of Butylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, and Dipropylene Glycol
      https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3109/10915818509078692
   4. Modulation of Dihydroavenanthramide D release and skin penetration by 1,2-alkanediols
      https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S093964110800146X?via%3Dihub
   5. Moisturizers: The Glace Road
      https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303091758_Moisturizers_The_Slippery_Road
   6. Moisturizers for Acne
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4025519/
   7. Butylene Glycol
      https://world wide web.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/700861-butylene_glycol/#about_range
   8. Propylene Glycol
      https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/115_blue_propyl.pdf

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Arshiya Syeda is an editor at Stylecraze. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and... more

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