Ppg-12-buteth-12 (inci)

PPG is the acronym for "polypropylene glycol", the polymer of propylene glycol (1,2-propanediol), a dihydric alcohol. The number after "PPG" indicates the average number of propylene glycol molecular units, e.g. "PPG-12" has 12 propylene glycol molecular units.
Buteth(e) are polyoxyethylene ethers which can be formally derived from the structure of butane (for comparison see: laurethe as polyoxyethylene ether of lauryl alcohol; steareth as polyoxyethylene ether of stearyl alcohol etc.). In the name of Butethe, the added numbering means the average number of ethylene oxide units per mole. Buteth 12, for example, is the INCI designation for a polyoxyethylene ether with 12 ethylene oxide units per mole.

PPG-12-buteth-12 is used in cosmetic formulations. The substance mixture acts as hair conditioning agent (makes the hair easy to comb, smooth, soft and shiny and gives it volume) and as skin care product (keeps the skin in a good condition).