Butylene Glycol
The moisture helper.
What it does
Draws water into skin and helps other ingredients dissolve evenly.
Good to know
A lab study found it slows the growth of some bacteria and fungi, which can help keep products fresh.
Often found in: Sunscreens, Hand creams, Shampoos
Around the world
- United States: No FDA limit. The FDA doesn't approve cosmetic ingredients before sale. Source
- EU and UK: No special limit in the EU or UK. Source
- Canada: Not on Health Canada's Hotlist of restricted ingredients. Source
- Australia: No limit in Australia's Poisons Standard. Source
Sources
- Antibacterial and antifungal properties of propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, and 1,3-butylene glycol (Acta Derm Venereol, 1991) (Independent)
- CIR: Safety Assessment of Alkane Diols as Used in Cosmetics (2024) (Industry-funded)
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