Butylene
AKA “n-Butylene, Butene, all isomers, HSDB 5127, EINECS 246-689-3, UN1012, EC 246-689-3, BUTENES (1-BUTENE/2-BUTENE-CIS/TRANS)”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Butylene
AKA: N-Butylene, Butene, All isomers, HSDB 5127, EINECS 246-689-3, UN1012, EC 246-689-3, BUTENES (1-BUTENE/2-BUTENE-CIS/TRANS)
Synthetic · Humectant · EWG: 5
Synthetic
Humectant
Solvent
Skin Conditioner
Synthetic
Clean
A synthetic fragrance component that gives products their pleasant scent. Helps create appealing aromas in beauty formulations.
Solubility In water, 222-263 mg/L at 25 °C /derived from constituent components of butene, But-1-ene (106-98-9) and 2-methylpropene (115-11-7)/
Formula
C8H16
Mol. Weight
112.21
CAS #
4437-85-8
State
Butylene appears as an easily liquefied colorless gas boiling from 20.7 to 38 °F. Insoluble in water. Contact with the unconfined liquid can cause frostbite by evaporative cooling. Any leak can be eit
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.
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Provides scent
Traditional Use
Modern synthetic polymer technology developed in the 20th century; used in cosmetics to create film-forming, water-resistant, and long-lasting product formulations.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Final report of the cosmetic ingredient review expert panel on the safety assessment of Polyisobutene and Hydrogenated Polyisobutene as used in cosmet
International journal of toxicology, 2008
Final report of the cosmetic ingredient review expert panel on the safety assessment of Polyisobutene and Hydrogenated Polyisobutene as used in cosmet
International journal of toxicology, 2008
Final Report of the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel on the on the safety assessment of Polyisobutene and Hydrogenated Polyisobutene as used in cosmetics
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
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Polybutene
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Butene/Propylene Copolymer
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)
Butylene/Ethylene Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Butylene/Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Decene/Butene Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydrogenated Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydrogenated Polybutene
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Isobutylene/Isoprene Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Isobutylene/Styrene Copolymer
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
PEG-15 Butylene Glycol Diisostearate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Polybutene
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Polybutylene Terephthalate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Polyisobutene
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Skin moisturization by hydrogenated polyisobutene--quantitative and visual evaluation.
Dayan N, Sivalenka R, Chase J
Journal of cosmetic science, 2009
Butylene
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
Butylene/ Ethylene/ Styrene Copolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Butylene/Ethylene/Propylene Copolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Hydrogenated Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Hydrogenated Polybutene
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Polybutene
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Polybutylene Terephthalate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Polyisobutene
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-3-butene-2-one
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
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
Drug release and adhesive properties of crospovidone-containing matrix patches based on polyisobutene and acrylic adhesives.
Schulz M, Fussnegger B, Bodmeier R
European journal of pharmaceutical sciences : official journal of the European Federation for Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2010
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR