Products with Butylene Glycol

Butylene Glycol is a lightweight humectant and solvent. It attracts moisture, helps dissolve other ingredients so they distribute evenly, and gives formulas a smooth, non-greasy feel, making creams and serums more pleasant to apply.

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A small molecule doing three jobs at once

Butylene glycol is a short-chain glycol that works as humectant, solvent and texture modifier within the same formula. It dissolves ingredients that would not otherwise go into water, draws a little moisture toward the surface, and thins a base just enough to spread evenly. That combination is why it sits high on so many ingredient lists without ever being the headline active.

Ninety-six products here contain it, including SkinMedica Neck Correct, the SkinCeuticals Duo for Skin Discoloration, InterFuse Treatment Cream FACE & NECK and RevitaLash Volume Enhancing Foam.

Is butylene glycol drying the way alcohol is?

No. Despite the name it is not a drying alcohol. Glycols behave as humectants, holding water rather than evaporating it away, and butylene glycol is generally better tolerated than propylene glycol among people who have reacted to glycols before.

How to shop at ELLEMES

If glycol sensitivity is a known issue for you, bring it up with our team. There are enough formats across these brands that we can usually find a comparable formula built on a different humectant.

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Featured Products with Butylene Glycol Reviews

SkinCeuticals Epidermal Repair
SkinCeuticals Epidermal Repair
4.8 (87 reviews) 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 87 reviews
$90.00
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Featured review

“Epidermal Repair is the perfect product to calm redness, soothe irritated skin, and lightly moisturize treated areas.”

— Lauren
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Obagi360 Retinol 0.5%
Obagi360® Retinol 0.5%
5.0 (13 reviews) 5.0 out of 5 stars based on 13 reviews
$80.00
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Featured review

“This is my first time using retinol, and was instructed to start with a low concentration and move up if my skin tolerated the produce well. I have been using this product nightly for 2 months,...”

— Jayda P.
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EltaMD UV Clear Deep Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
EltaMD UV Clear Deep Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
4.6 (7 reviews) 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 7 reviews
$47.00
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Read all EltaMD UV Clear Deep Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 reviews →