Butylene Glycol
AKA “1, 3-BUTANEDIOL, Butane-1, 3-diol, 107-88-0, 3-Butylene glycol, 3-Dihydroxybutane, beta-Butylene glycol, Methyltrimethylene glycol, 1-Methyl-1, 3-propanediol, 3 Butylene glycol”
Humectant
Ingredient Facts
Butylene glycol
AKA: 1, 3-BUTANEDIOL, Butane-1, 3-diol, 107-88-0, 3-Butylene glycol, 3-Dihydroxybutane, Beta-Butylene glycol, Methyltrimethylene glycol, 1-Methyl-1, 3-propanediol, 3 Butylene glycol
Humectant · Conditioning Agent · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Humectant
Solvent
Skin Conditioner
Clean
Butylene glycol (1.3-Butanediol) is a small organic alcohol used as solvent and conditioning agent.
Formula
C4H10O2
Mol. Weight
90.12
CAS #
107-88-0, 6290-03-5
Form
Liquid
State
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Conditioning Agent
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
A synthetic humectant and preservative booster developed in the 20th century for cosmetic use. Created to enhance hydration and improve product stability without the greasiness of older glycerin-based formulations.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types, gentle
Best For
Acne
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
Restricted By
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
ewg-1
medical-approval
pregnancy-nursing-safe
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Agencies
Addendum to the Final Report on the Safety Assessment of 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol (JEPT 4(4) 47-61 1980)
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report of the Safety Assessment for 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Butylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, and Dipropylene Glycol
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Revised Tentative Report: Amended Safety Assessment of 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol as Used in Cosmetics
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
2,3-Butanediol
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Butylene Glycol
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Butylene Glycol Cocoate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Butylene Glycol Diisononanoate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
PEG-15 Butylene Glycol Diisostearate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
2,3-Butanediol
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Butylene Glycol
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Butylene Glycol Cocoate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Progress in 1,3-propanediol biosynthesis.
Li B, Gao W, Pan Y, Yao Y, Liu G
Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 2024
Prospects on bio-based 2,3-butanediol and acetoin production: Recent progress and advances.
Maina S, Prabhu AA, Vivek N, Vlysidis A, Koutinas A et al.
Biotechnology advances, 2022
Effects of 1,3-propanediol associated, or not, with butylene glycol and/or glycerol on skin hydration and skin barrier function.
Pinto JR, Monteiro E Silva SA, Leonardi GR
International journal of cosmetic science, 2024
Kitty Litter Dermatitis from-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol.
Sullenbarger JW, Hensley B, Travers JB
Skinmed, 2017
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR