Butylene Glycol

Other names: 1,3 butylene glycol, 1,3 butanediol, Butane diol

Butylene Glycol, which is also known by the names 1,3 butylene glycol, 1,3 butanediol or butane diol, is an organic so-called diol chemical compound. It is a colourless liquid that is soluble in water and has a sweet taste. It can be made from petroleum products, or it can also be obtained from plant sources such as sugar beets. In the cosmetics industry, where it is most commonly used, butylene glycol is used for its solubility and moisture enhancing properties. This compound improves the texture of products and helps to keep particles dispersed in aqueous solutions. Because of this egense, it is commonly found in a variety of cosmetic products, including makeup, creams, skin cleansers, shampoos, hair care products and more.

Equally important to note, butylene glycol also acts as a moisturizing ingredient, offering the skin the hydration it needs, and as a delivery agent, helping other ingredients penetrate deep into the skin. This is why it is often found in facial serums, masks, moisturizers or eye gels. Outside the cosmetic and personal care industry, butylene glycol is also used in the food industry as an additive or in industry as a solvent, plasticizer, hygroscopic agent, cooling medium or component of printing inks. All these applications make butylene glycol a very diverse and widely applicable chemical.