Butylene Glycol: Comedogenic Rating & Safety Profile
Also known as: 1,3-Butanediol
A gentler alternative to propylene glycol. Acts as a humectant, solvent and texture enhancer.
Quick facts about Butylene Glycol
Safe
0 = won't clog pores · 5 = highly pore-clogging
Low Risk
0 = inert · 5 = often irritating
Humectants
Generally considered safe
Typically yes
1,3-Butanediol
Quick verdict
Butylene Glycol is a humectant with a safe comedogenic profile (0/5) and low risk irritancy (1/5). A gentler alternative to propylene glycol. Acts as a humectant, solvent and texture enhancer.
What is Butylene Glycol?
Butylene glycol (1,3-butanediol) is a small humectant and solvent often used as a gentler alternative to propylene glycol. It carries water into the upper layers of the skin, helps actives penetrate and improves the texture of toners, essences and serums. It has a notably lower allergy rate than propylene glycol.
Comedogenic Rating: What 0/5 Means for Your Skin
Butylene glycol is rated 0–1/5 comedogenic.
Benefits for skin
- Lighter feel than PG
- Lower allergy rate
- Improves spreadability of formulas
Potential side effects & who should avoid it
Butylene glycol is well-tolerated. Allergy is rare.
Best for
- All skin types
- Sensitive
Avoid if
No widely reported groups need to avoid this ingredient. Patch-test if you have a history of sensitivities.
How to use Butylene Glycol safely
No special precautions. Use freely.
Commonly found in
Butylene glycol is in toners, essences, serums, sheet masks and many K-beauty products.
Found Butylene Glycol in your skincare?
Paste the full ingredient list into our INCI Analyser to see how this ingredient interacts with everything else in the formula.
Frequently asked questions
Is butylene glycol comedogenic?
Is butylene glycol safe for sensitive skin?
Can I use butylene glycol every day?
Is butylene glycol better than propylene glycol?
Other humectants to know
Hyaluronic Acid
A powerhouse humectant that draws moisture from the air into the skin, holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water.
Panthenol
Converts to Vitamin B5 in the skin. A humectant, soothing agent and barrier-repair active in one molecule.
Allantoin
A gentle keratolytic and soothing agent that calms irritation and softens roughness without exfoliating aggressively.
Sodium Hyaluronate
The salt form of hyaluronic acid. Smaller, more stable and faster to penetrate the upper layers of the skin.
Want the full picture on pore-clogging ingredients? Read our complete guide to comedogenic ingredients for the dermatology research behind the 0–5 scale and the full list of high-risk ingredients to avoid.
Written by ScanSkinAI Cosmetic Science Team · Last updated June 2026
This information is for educational purposes only. Always patch-test new products and consult a dermatologist if you have specific skin concerns.