Polybutylene Terephthalate

Polybutylene Terephthalate 1
AKA: Polyester resin
Synthetic
Occlusive
Clean
1,4-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, polymer with 1,4-butanediol
CAS #
26062-94-2
Form
Powder
Functions
Film Forming
Creates a physical seal on skin to lock moisture in and keep irritants out. The "slugging" ingredient — barrier protection.
Viscosity Controlling
Creates Protective Barrier
Controls Viscosity
Reduces Inflammation
Wound Healing
Fights Bacteria
Creates protective layer
Controls product thickness
Traditional Use
Synthesized in the mid-20th century as a polyester plastic. Adopted by cosmetics manufacturers as a microplastic ingredient in exfoliating and texturizing formulations before microplastic restrictions were implemented.
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not an Irritant
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️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