What Is Benzyl butyl phthalate?

Learn about the plasticizer characteristics of Benzyl butyl phthalate and its usage in personal care products.

What Is Benzyl butyl phthalate? Brandon Jones / IngredientReviewer

Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Written by Brandon Jones

What Is Benzyl butyl phthalate?

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Benzyl butyl phthalate is a chemical that is added to cosmetics to make them more pliable. It comes in the form of a clear, odorless, oily liquid or pellets/crystals. This chemical can be found naturally in certain plants like Mangifera indica and Festuca rubra. However, it has been linked to reproductive and developmental toxicity, meaning it can harm the development of babies and cause problems with fertility. Another name for benzyl butyl phthalate is butyl benzyl phthalate.

What is the purpose of Benzyl butyl phthalate in personal care products? It is used for its plasticizer characteristics. Benzyl butyl phthalate makes materials softer and flexible.

Names and identifiers that we found for this substance include: Benzyl butyl phthalate, Benzyl butyl benzene-1,2-dicarboxylate, and "1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, butyl phenylmethyl ester".

What Are Plasticizer Ingredients?

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Benzyl butyl phthalate 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.

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.