Butylene Glycol

Butylene Glycol also known as Butane-1,3-diol and 1,3-butanediol, is a glycol chemical that contains two hydroxyl groups at the 1st and 3rd carbon atoms of the butane backbone.
It is a colorless, syrupy liquid that is used extensively in cosmetic formulations due to its versatility. The primary function it plays is that of a solvent, enabling the effective dissolution and even distribution of other ingredients within a product. This role is especially important where the formulation has to be uniform, and active ingredients have to be fully effective. Besides its function as a solvent, BG works to enhance absorption and penetration of ingredients into the skin and, thus, is useful in skincare to improve the general efficacy.
BG is a humectant; it helps attract moisture from the environment into the skin and therefore keeps it hydrated. This makes BG significant in skin moisturizing balance and therefore finds its place in most hydrating products. It also acts as a slip agent in the product, improving spreadability onto the skin to enable smooth applications and even distributions, enhancing sensory feel upon use. It also finds its application in formulations such as creams, serums, and lotions because it gives a light feeling on the skin and does not leave a greasy layer.
Another significant characteristic of butylene glycol is its skin-care properties, making the skin soft and smooth. For this reason, BG is widely used in both traditional and organic cosmetics. BG also acts as an active masking agent in order to neutralize or reduce odors of certain active ingredients that may smell unpleasantly. It also works in viscosity control, which governs the thickness and flow of formulations toward best consistency and performance.
In other words, butylene glycol is an ontological multi-functional ingredient that acts as a humectant, solvent, skin conditioner, and viscosity controller; thus, it makes the formula stable, effective, and pleasant to the senses. Therefore, this ingredient has a big role in skincare formulation.