Polybutene

INCI: POLYBUTENE

CAS Number
9003-28-5
Function
Viscosity increasing (non-aqueous), film forming, skin conditioning
Safety Rating
EXCELLENT

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status permitted
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status permitted
US Notes CIR reviewed โ€” safe as used (1982, reaffirmed 2015 in Polyenes group report)

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
negligible
Sensitization
none

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Non-biodegradable with environmental considerations; safe for cosmetic use up to 4% in skincare and up to 82% in lip products, with no UV chromophores present.

โš ๏ธ
Concern Level: None

Regulatory Flags

epa_safer_alternative ifra_fragrance

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Polybutene safe in cosmetics?

Non-biodegradable with environmental considerations; safe for cosmetic use up to 4% in skincare and up to 82% in lip products, with no UV chromophores present. The EU classifies Polybutene as "permitted". Safety rating: EXCELLENT.

Is Polybutene allowed in the EU?

Polybutene EU regulatory status: permitted. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Polybutene do in cosmetics?

Polybutene functions as: Viscosity increasing (non-aqueous), film forming, skin conditioning. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 9003-28-5.

What is the Margin of Safety for Polybutene?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

๐Ÿ“ฑ

Is Polybutene in Your Products?

Scan any product label with Piro โ€” our free ingredient scanner. Point your camera at the ingredients list and get instant safety scores for every ingredient.

Try Piro Free โ†’

Analyze Your Full Ingredient List

Paste any INCI list into the Decoder for instant safety analysis, or calculate the Margin of Safety for Polybutene in your formulation.