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Quick answer: Both score equally on our risk model. Butylene Glycol is allowed in the EU and allowed in the US; Hyaluronic Acid is allowed in the EU and allowed in the US.
| Property | Butylene Glycol | Hyaluronic Acid |
|---|---|---|
| EU status | Allowed | Allowed |
| US status | Allowed | Allowed |
| Risk level | low | low |
| Banned in | — | — |
| Restricted in | — | — |
| Category | humectant | humectant |
| Where it hides | COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, Laneige Water Sleeping Mask | Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, L'Oreal Paris Revitalift 1.5% Pure HA Serum |
Butylene glycol (1,3-butanediol) is a small diol used in cosmetics as a humectant, solvent, and skin-conditioning agent. It is closely related to propylene glycol but has a slightly larger molecular structure, often making it even better tolerated.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring polysaccharide (glycosaminoglycan) found abundantly in human skin, connective tissue, and eyes. It can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. In cosmetics, HA is typically produced via bacterial fermentation of Streptococcus equi.
Butylene Glycol: Butylene glycol has a good safety profile and is better tolerated by sensitive skin than propylene glycol at equivalent concentrations. The CIR has confirmed it safe for cosmetic use. It is non-carcinogenic, non-mutagenic, and not an endocrine disruptor. Contact sensitization is rare. It is widely used in Korean beauty (K-beauty) formulations as a preferred humectant.
Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic acid is among the safest cosmetic active ingredients available. As an endogenous molecule in the human body, it is exceptionally biocompatible and essentially non-allergenic in topical form. The CIR has confirmed its cosmetic safety. No carcinogenicity, endocrine disruption, or significant adverse effects are documented. Rare reports of pore congestion exist with certain high-MW HA in oily skin, but these are minimal.
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