Is Butylene Glycol safe in cosmetics?
Butylene Glycol has a safety rating of "GOOD" in our database. EU status: permitted. US status: permitted. 4 toxicological study endpoint(s) are available in our database.
Butylene Glycol
Also known as: 1,3-Butylene glycol, 0-01-00-00477, BRN 1731276, Caswell No. 128GG, EINECS 203-529-7 (+8 more)
INCI: BUTYLENE GLYCOL
Butylene Glycol (CAS 107-88-0) is a cosmetic humectant functioning as Diol humectant and solvent. Attracts water into the stratum corneum. Lighter. Reported NOAEL =500 mg/kg in rat (CIR Safety Assessment); EU Regulation 1223/2009 status: permitted. Industrial safety data is also available in the chemical safety database. Same-CAS public records also appear in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data.
Function
Diol humectant and solvent. Attracts water into the stratum corneum. Lighter sensory profile and lower irritation potential than propylene glycol. Used in sensitive-skin formulations.
Editorial assessment
GOOD
Preliminary editorial note — not a computed safety verdict.
Regulatory Status
EU EU Status
permitted
US US Status
permitted
US Notes
CIR reviewed; considered safe. Preferred over propylene glycol in sensitive-skin formulations due to lower irritation profile. Not comedogenic at standard use levels.
For full compliance data across multiple jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.
Safety Data
Margin of Safety, dermal absorption, and sensitization profile summaries for Butylene Glycol.
Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.
Toxicological Studies
4 study endpoints found for Butylene Glycol. NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) values are used to calculate the Margin of Safety per SCCS methodology.
| Endpoint | Value | Route | Species | Study Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOAEL | =500 mg/kg | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
| NOAEL | =500 mg/kg | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
| NOAEL | =500 mg/kg | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
| NOAEL | =500 mg/kg | oral | rat | oral toxicity | CIR Safety Assessment |
GHS Hazard Classification
Globally Harmonized System classification per ECHA C&L inventory and ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards.
Short-term Exposure Effects
The substance is irritating to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract.
Routes of Exposure
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour.
Dermal Penetration Profile
Skin absorption and penetration characteristics of Butylene Glycol, relevant to systemic exposure and MoS calculations.
Absorption %
12-25%
Penetration Level
epidermis
Penetration Depth
epidermis
Molecular Weight
90.1 Da
Log P
-0.5
Systemic Absorption
yes
Topical Bioavailability
8-20%
Safety Margin Factor
moderate
Vehicle Dependent
Yes — absorption varies by formulation
Source: CIR Expert Panel
EPA ToxValDB — Toxicity Values
5 toxicity values from EPA ToxValDB (aggregated from CCTE, HPV, ToxRefDB, IRIS, and other regulatory dossiers).
| Endpoint | Value | Species | Route | Duration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADI | <=4 mg/kg | Human | oral | - | WHO/JECFA |
| LD50 | =11000 mg/kg | Guinea Pig | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | =12980 mg/kg | Mouse | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | >20000 mg/kg | Rabbit | dermal | - | ChemIDplus |
| LD50 | =18610 mg/kg | Rat | oral | - | ChemIDplus |
ECHA REACH Registration
European Chemicals Agency REACH dossier and Substances of Very High Concern listing.
Registration Type
Full
Tonnage Band
1,000 - 10,000 tonnes
Substance Type
SUBSTANCE; GROUP
SVHC Candidate
No
Typical Use Concentrations
Reported concentration ranges per product category from SCCS/CIR/industry sources.
| Product Category | Typical Range | Max Reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face Cream | 2–5 | 10 | CIR Safety Assessment |
| Serum | 3–8 | 15 | CIR Safety Assessment |
| Toner | 3–8 | 15 | CIR Safety Assessment |
Function Categories & List Membership
Cosmetic/Chemical Function Categories
Deodorizer
Flavouring and nutrient
Fragrance
Humectant
Preservative
Softener and conditioner
Solubility enhancer
Solvent
Viscosity modifier
Regulatory List Membership (4)
EU Regulated in Personal Care
IFRA Fragrance Transparency List
EPA Safer Chemical Ingredients List (SCIL)
FDA Substances Added to Food (EAFUS)
Editorial summary
Preliminary editorial summary for Butylene Glycol — not a computed safety verdict. See the sourced toxicological data above.
Regulatory Flags
epa_safer_alternative
ifra_fragrance
fda_food_additive
NOAEL Studies Summary
View details ->Public NOAEL study rows linked to Butylene Glycol by CAS number or substance name.
Studies
4
Lowest NOAEL
500 mg/kg
Highest NOAEL
500 mg/kg
CIR Safety Assessment
Known Synonyms
1,3-Butylene glycol
0-01-00-00477
BRN 1731276
Caswell No. 128GG
EINECS 203-529-7
(RS)-1,3-Butandiol
UNII-3XUS85K0RA
NSC-402145
1,3 Butylene glycol
1,3-Butandiol
1,3-Butylenglykol
Methyltrimethylene glycol
beta-Butylene glycol
Chemical Function
Solvent
Softener and conditioner
Humectant
Deodorizer
Viscosity modifier
Regulatory Lists
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other direct contact consumer goods
IFRA Transparency
SCIL (9/2019)
food_additive; Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS) (2/2019)
Europe
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
inert_ingredient; non_food_use; Pesticides
Arts and crafts/Office supplies - home office - pens and markers; detected; Europe
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
Europe; Personal care
Canada; pharmaceutical
Canada; pharmaceutical
Australian Status
AICIS status: listed
Cross-Vertical Safety Context
Same-CAS public records found in pharmaceutical and food safety data.
SOURCE
ChEMBL / DrugCentral / FAERS
DB_PHARMA CAS match
Pharmaceutical Data
Same-CAS rows from the pharmaceutical spoke database.
ChEMBL ID
CHEMBL3186475
SOURCE
EFSA / FDA GRAS
food_additives
Food Safety Data
Same-CAS food additive or FDA GRAS records from the core public database.
Food Name
1,3-BUTYLENE GLYCOL
Food Category
flavoring
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Butylene Glycol allowed in the EU?
Butylene Glycol EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.
What does Butylene Glycol do in cosmetics?
Butylene Glycol functions as: Diol humectant and solvent. Attracts water into the stratum corneum. Lighter sensory profile and lower irritation potential than propylene glycol. Used in sensitive-skin formulations.. It is classified as a Humectant in our database. CAS number: 107-88-0.
What is the NOAEL for Butylene Glycol?
The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) for Butylene Glycol is =500 mg/kg based on a oral toxicity study via oral route in rat. A total of 4 study endpoints are available. Source: CIR Safety Assessment.
Is Butylene Glycol used outside cosmetics?
Butylene Glycol also appears in industrial chemical safety, pharmaceutical, and food safety data. The cross-vertical cards on this page render same-CAS public rows from the matched databases.
Compliance Tools
Check Butylene Glycol compliance across multiple jurisdictions:
Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
Substance Compliance
Check compliance across multiple jurisdictions
MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
Heavy Metal Limits
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