Isobutylparaben is a paraben-family cosmetic ingredient associated primarily with preservative applications in cosmetic and personal care formulations. It is chemically known as Isobutyl 4-Hydroxybenzoate, with the molecular formula C₁₁H₁₄O₃ and molecular weight 194.23 g/mol. Its CAS Number is 4247-02-3 and EC Number is 224-208-8.
Isobutylparaben is a 4-hydroxybenzoate ester and is identified in cosmetic ingredient references with a preservative function. The historical European cosmetic ingredient inventory lists Isobutylparaben under CAS 4247-02-3 and EC 224-208-8 with the function "preservative."
Isobutylparaben is the isobutyl ester of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. It belongs to the chemical family commonly known as parabens.
It may also be identified by the following names:
PubChem lists 2-methylpropyl 4-hydroxybenzoate as its IUPAC name and confirms its chemical structure and identifiers.
Isobutylparaben is associated with the preservative function in cosmetic ingredient databases. Preservative ingredients are incorporated into appropriate formulations to help control microbial growth and maintain the microbiological quality of finished cosmetic products.
The performance of a preservative depends on the complete formulation rather than the raw material alone. Important formulation factors can include:
Therefore, Isobutylparaben should be evaluated as part of the complete preservation system.
Subject to formulation requirements and applicable regulations, Isobutylparaben may be considered for selected personal care and cosmetic preservation systems, including:
The actual suitability and concentration should be established through formulation development and regulatory assessment for the intended market.
Isobutylparaben should be assessed as part of the complete preservative system.
Compatibility should be evaluated with:
Finished formulations should undergo appropriate microbiological and stability evaluation.
The solubility characteristics of Isobutylparaben should be considered during formulation development. As with other paraben esters, its incorporation into an aqueous formulation requires consideration of the formulation base and processing method.
For the SDP CMS, the solubility description should be based on the actual commercial material's specification or validated technical data rather than an unsupported generic number.
The final formulation pH should be evaluated as part of preservation-system development. The appropriate conditions depend on the entire formulation composition.
The manufacturing process should provide uniform distribution of Isobutylparaben throughout the finished formulation.
Relevant processing factors can include:
Compatibility should be evaluated with the formulation's complete ingredient system and packaging before commercial production.
Key chemical identity information includes:
These identity details are supported by PubChem.
For commercial Isobutylparaben Cosmetic Ingredient supply, the material should be controlled against a documented specification appropriate to the supplied grade.
Quality-control parameters may include:
The numerical acceptance limits should be taken directly from the actual SDP specification or COA.
This is particularly important for Isobutylparaben because values from laboratory suppliers, research-grade materials or other paraben specifications should not automatically be presented as SDP commercial specifications.
The EU Cosmetics Regulation lists Isobutylparaben under the entry for 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid and its salts and esters, together with methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isopropylparaben and other related substances. The regulation identifies Isobutylparaben by CAS 4247-02-3 and EC 224-208-8.
The same EU entry specifies 0.4% expressed as acid for a single ester and 0.8% expressed as acid for mixtures of esters under the relevant preservative provisions.
These figures are EU-specific regulatory information and should not be treated as a universal worldwide use limit. Finished cosmetic products must comply with the legislation applicable to their target market.
The European Commission also emphasizes that CosIng is an informative database and does not itself determine whether an ingredient is legally authorized for a particular cosmetic use; the applicable Cosmetics Regulation and its annexes establish the legal conditions.
Isobutylparaben should be stored in suitable, well-closed packaging that protects the material from contamination and unsuitable environmental conditions.
Storage considerations include protection from:
The actual storage requirements should follow the commercial product specification and Safety Data Sheet.
Isobutylparaben is a paraben-family cosmetic ingredient associated with preservative applications. It has CAS Number 4247-02-3, molecular formula C₁₁H₁₄O₃, molecular weight 194.23 g/mol, and EC Number 224-208-8.
Its chemical identity and preservative function make it relevant to selected cosmetic and personal care preservation systems. Finished products should be evaluated for microbiological performance, formulation compatibility, stability, concentration and the regulatory requirements applicable to the intended market.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White or colourless crystals / white powder |