Database/Viscosity Controlling/Hydrogenated Polybutene
100% petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Hydrogenated Polybutene natural?

No. Polymer of petrochemical butene monomers from steam-cracker C4 streams; hydrogenation does not change origin.

INCI nameHydrogenated Polybutene
FunctionViscosity Controlling
FeedstockPolybutene is made by cationic polymerisation of butene/isobutylene…

How we scored it

Polybutene built from petrochemical butene/isobutylene; hydrogenation adds only H2, no natural building block. 0.0
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Polybutene is made by cationic polymerisation of butene/isobutylene from petroleum refinery or steam-cracker C4 streams, then hydrogenated for stability. No natural-origin building block is involved.

In plain English

A synthetic, silicone-like emollient oil used to smooth and condition skin and hair. Made from petroleum-derived gas byproducts, then chemically stabilised by adding hydrogen.

CosIng definition: Hydrogenated Polybutene is the end-product of the controlled hydrogenation of Polybutene

Natural alternatives with the same function

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 Algin 100% natural origin

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References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2HYDROGENATED POLYBUTENE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  3. 3HYDROGENATED POLYBUTENE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=HYDROGENATED%20POLYBUTENE