PPG-12-Buteth-16
AKA “Polypropylene Glycol Surfactant”
Skin Conditioning
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Ingredient Facts
PPG-12-Buteth-16
AKA: Polypropylene Glycol Surfactant
Skin Conditioning · Hair Conditioning · EWG: 3
Synthetic
Solvent
Skin Conditioner
Hair Care
Not Clean
Oxirane, methyl-, polymer with oxirane, monobutyl ether
CAS #
9038-95-3
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Hair Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Solvent
Dissolves other ingredients so they distribute evenly in the formula. Often the invisible "base" everything else is mixed into.
Locks in moisture
Traditional Use
A synthetic surfactant developed for the cosmetics industry in the latter half of the 20th century. Designed to improve texture and stability in skincare and beauty products with no traditional equivalent.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Dryness
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of PPG-12-Buteth-16, PPG-9-Buteth-12, PPG-26-Buteth-26 and PPG-28-Buteth-35
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
PPG-12-Buteth-16
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
PPG-12-Buteth-16
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR