Ppg-2-buteth-2 (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-2" has 2 propylene glycol molecular units.

Buteth(e) are polyoxyethylene ethers which can be formally derived from the structure of butyl alcohol (for comparison see: laurethe as polyoxyethylene ether of lauryl alcohol; steareth as polyoxyethylene ether of stearyl alcohol etc.). In the name of butethe, the numbering added means the average number of ethylene oxide units per mole. Buteth-2 is the INCI designation for a polyoxyethylene ether with 2 ethylene oxide units per mole. PPG-2-buteth-2 is used in cosmetic formulations. The mixture of substances acts as an emulsifier (surface-active substance which is used in cosmetic products as an additive to combine 2 immiscible liquids - e.g. oil and water - to form an emulsion).