active
Dibutyl Adipate
Synthetic ester emollient and solubiliser used in chemical sunscreen formulations. Improves spreading and sensory profile of UV filter systems.
Benefits
- Lightweight emollient
- Improves spreadability of sunscreen formulas
- Solubilises UV filter systems
- Low viscosity — reduces heavy sunscreen feel
- Film uniformity for SPF performance
Example uses
- Sunscreen serums
- Lightweight SPF moisturisers
- Dry-touch sunscreen formulas
- Chemical sunscreen bases
- Tinted SPF emulsions
Mechanism of action
Provides emolliency via passive lipid film deposition. As an ester solvent, reduces UV filter crystallisation and improves film uniformity — directly relevant to SPF performance.
Clinical evidence · High
Safety assessed by CIR and SCCS. Function as sunscreen emollient well-characterised.
Effective concentration range
1–10%
Formulation notes
Oil phase ingredient; low viscosity. Compatible with chemical UV filters including avobenzone.
Watchouts
Synthetic adipate ester — flagged in some strict clean-beauty frameworks. No established safety issue at cosmetic use levels.
Stacks with
Market positioning
Sold as dry-touch sunscreen emollient. Accurate functional description.
Comedogenicity
0 / 5
Sensitisation risk
Low
INCI & aliases
Dibutyl Adipate
hexanedioic acid dibutyl ester · adipic acid dibutyl ester
Clean beauty perception
Neutral to mildly negative in clean-beauty due to synthetic ester origin. No significant safety concern.
Graph relationships
Timeline