Ingredient Encyclopedia

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Discover what’s inside your skincare — from retinol to aloe vera — with clear guides on benefits, uses, and safety.

Ingredient Encyclopedia

Butylene Glycol – Benefits, Side Effects & Uses

by ThankMeNow Editors on Sep 10, 2025
Butylene Glycol is a versatile, water-soluble diol (humectant) that serves as the structural backbone of high-performance skincare. While it lacks the "marketing buzz" of fancy botanicals, it is essential for ingredient solubility—ensuring that actives like Niacinamide or Salicylic Acid are dissolved evenly throughout a formula rather than clumping. It provides a weightless, non-greasy "slip" that eliminates the tackiness found in cheaper glycerin-heavy products. By acting as a penetration enhancer, Butylene Glycol helps water-based actives bypass the skin’s oily surface layer, delivering hydration and treatment exactly where they are needed most.