2,3-Butanediol

2,3-Butanediol

AKA “513-85-9, Butane-2, 3-diol, 2, 3-butylene glycol, 3-Dihydroxybutane, Dimethylethylene glycol, Pseudobutylene glycol, Sym-dimethylethylene glycol, DTXSID8041321, DTXCID6021321”

Humectant

Ingredient Facts

2,3-Butanediol

AKA: 513-85-9, Butane-2, 3-diol, 3-butylene glycol, 3-Dihydroxybutane, Dimethylethylene glycol, Pseudobutylene glycol, Sym-dimethylethylene glycol, DTXSID8041321, DTXCID6021321

Humectant · Humectant · EWG: 1

Synthetic

Humectant

Solvent

Skin Conditioner

Clean

The Panel also concluded that the available data are insufficient to make a determination that ... 2,3-Butanediol ... is safe under the intended conditions of use in cosmetic formulations.

Solubility In water, miscible at 20 °C

Formula

C4H10O2

Mol. Weight

90.12

CAS #

513-85-9, 5341-95-7, 24347-58-8

Form

Liquid

State

Liquid

See origin →

Functions

Humectant

A moisture magnet. Pulls water from the air and deeper skin layers up to the surface to keep skin plump and hydrated.

Skin Conditioning

A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.

Solvent

Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.

Locks In Moisture

Traditional Use

A synthetic humectant developed in the mid-20th century for use in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. It was created to provide moisture-binding properties similar to glycerin but with different viscosity characteristics.