Hydrogenated Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer

AKA: Hydrogenated Polymer, Styrenic Copolymer
Synthetic
Emollient
Skin Conditioner
Clean
Ethenylbenzene, polymer with butene and ethene, hydrogenated
Form
Liquid
State
Solid
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Emollient
Fills in the tiny cracks between skin cells to make everything feel smooth and soft. The "silky finish" ingredient.
Viscosity Controlling
Locks In Moisture
Traditional Use
A modern synthetic copolymer created for cosmetics in the late 20th century. Used as a thickener, texturizer, and film-former in skincare and makeup products.
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USApermitted
EUrestricted
JAPANrestricted
CANADArestricted
Skin Types
all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: CosIng · EWG · CIR