HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is a polymer made from isobutene and then subjected to hydrogenation. It is therefore not a plant oil: it is a family of manufactured hydrocarbons available in different chain sizes, which helps explain why different grades can have different consistencies in a formula.
HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE: what it is
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene is a polymer made from isobutene and then subjected to hydrogenation. It is therefore not a plant oil: it is a family of manufactured hydrocarbons available in different chain sizes, which helps explain why different grades can have different consistencies in a formula.
The word "hydrogenated" refers to that conversion step applied to polyisobutene. The resulting material is low-polarity and does not mix with water; in oil-textured products or emulsions, it belongs to the oil phase and can add body without providing fragrance on its own.
HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE: what it does in cosmetics
In cosmetics, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene acts as an emollient: it helps the product spread and can leave the skin feeling smoother and less rough after application. It can also build viscosity in water-free preparations, which is useful when a richer texture is wanted in products such as stick makeup, balms, and creamy formulas.
In a pilot study, an emulsion containing 8% hydrogenated polyisobutene increased measured skin moisture and reduced water loss for several hours. That finding belongs to the complete emulsion, which included other components, so it does not predict the same result from every product or establish a treatment effect from the ingredient by itself.
Products containing this ingredient
See which products include it and the name used in each composition.
