What Is Dibutyloctyl Malate?

Learn about the plasticizer, skin conditioning, skin conditioning emollient, and solvent characteristics of Dibutyloctyl Malate and its usage in personal care products.

What Is Dibutyloctyl Malate? Brandon Jones / IngredientReviewer

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Written by Brandon Jones

What Is Dibutyloctyl Malate?

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4-[(5-Butyldodecan-5-YL)oxy]-3-hydroxy-4-oxobutanoate is a chemical compound that serves various purposes in cosmetics. It acts as a plasticizer, which means it softens and improves the flexibility of certain materials. Additionally, it functions as skin conditioning agent and emollient, which helps to keep skin moisturized and smooth. Lastly, it can also act as a solvent, meaning that it helps dissolve other substances in cosmetic products.

What is the purpose of Dibutyloctyl Malate in personal care products? It is used for its plasticizer, skin conditioning, skin conditioning emollient, and solvent characteristics. Dibutyloctyl Malate makes materials softer and flexible, moisturizes and strengthens skin, hydrates skin to prevent dryness, and dissolves other ingredients to improve mixing.

Names and identifiers that we found for this substance include: Dibutyloctyl Malate and 4-[(5-Butyldodecan-5-YL)oxy]-3-hydroxy-4-oxobutanoate.

What Are Plasticizer Ingredients?

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Dibutyloctyl Malate has plasticizer characteristics.

Polymers are materials made up of many smaller units called monomers, and they can be found in many products we use every day, including cosmetics. However, some polymers can be stiff and difficult to work with, and that's where plasticizers come in. Plasticizers are ingredients used in cosmetic products to soften and make synthetic polymers more flexible.

Plasticizers make the polymers more supple, making it easier to spread, deform, or work with the product. Without plasticizers, some synthetic polymers would be too rigid to be used in cosmetic products, as they would not be able to spread evenly over the skin or be easily applied to the desired area. Therefore, plasticizers are an essential ingredient in many cosmetic products, helping to make them more user-friendly and effective.

Plasticizers are commonly used in products beyond cosmetics, including plastics, coatings, adhesives, etc. In these applications, plasticizers serve a similar purpose of improving the flexibility and workability of synthetic polymers.

What Are Skin Conditioning Ingredients?

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Dibutyloctyl Malate has skin conditioning characteristics.

Skin conditioning ingredients improve the texture, feel, and overall appearance of the skin, helping to avoid harmful effects from external factors. Skin conditioning ingredients moisturize the skin and strengthen its natural barrier function to help protect it from damage caused by harsh weather and sunlight. Some skin conditioning ingredients are anti-inflammatory and can help reduce redness and irritated skin.

What Are Skin Conditioning Emollient Ingredients?

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Dibutyloctyl Malate has skin conditioning emollient characteristics.

Skin conditioning emollients help improve the skin's texture and appearance while providing it with the necessary hydration to prevent dryness and flakiness. Emollients are lubricants that create a barrier on the skin's surface to trap moisture, which helps prevent dryness and dehydration.

Skin conditioning emollients are commonly found in cosmetics such as moisturizers and lotions, which significantly help maintain healthy and youthful-looking skin. Emollients are typically made from natural oils, such as coconut or jojoba, and can also contain humectants that draw moisture to the skin's surface.

What Are Solvent Ingredients?

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Dibutyloctyl Malate has solvent characteristics.

Solvents are usually liquid and can be either aqueous (water-based) or non-aqueous (oil-based). One of the main functions of solvents is to dissolve other ingredients of cosmetics, which means that they can help mix different ingredients to create a stable product.

For instance, solvents can dissolve pigments, allowing for even distribution of color in makeup products. They can also dissolve fragrances and essential oils, giving cosmetics a pleasant scent. Moreover, solvents can help improve cosmetics' texture by dissolving thickening agents, making them easier to spread and apply.

Solvent Ingredients in Other Products

Solvents are also widely used in other industries, such as pharmaceuticals, cleaning products, and paint manufacturing. Solvents are versatile substances that can dissolve or dilute other materials and make them easier to handle, apply, or mix.

In pharmaceuticals, solvents dissolve active ingredients to make them easier to administer or improve their bioavailability. In cleaning products, solvents help dissolve and remove dirt, grease, and other surface impurities. In paint manufacturing, solvents dissolve pigments and binders to create paint that can be easily applied and dries quickly. Solvents also play a vital role in the production of electronic devices, where they are used to clean and remove contaminants from surfaces.

Safety

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Remember, always read and follow the instructions provided on product labels carefully. If you have any questions or concerns about using a product containing various ingredients, consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before use.