Skip to content
antioxidant

BHT

Commonly feared, low concern·Strong evidence

A small-dose synthetic antioxidant that prevents oils and fragrance in a formula from oxidizing. Not shown to pose a toxicological risk at the levels used in cosmetics.

The myth vs the evidence

BHT sometimes gets lumped in with food-additive scare stories, but the trace amounts used in skincare to keep oils from going rancid are a different exposure picture. CIR reviewed BHT in 2002 and reaffirmed the safe-as-used conclusion again in 2023 after a fresh literature check.

Questions

Is BHT in skincare the same safety concern as BHT in food?
No. The food-additive scare stories are a different exposure picture than the trace amounts used in cosmetics to keep oils and fragrance from going rancid. CIR reviewed BHT in 2002 and reaffirmed the safe-as-used conclusion again in 2023 after checking newer literature.
Is BHT a hormone disruptor?
The published cosmetic safety assessments have not found evidence supporting that concern at the low levels used as a cosmetic antioxidant. Any claim beyond what CIR's reviewed data shows should be treated skeptically.

Products with BHT

References

Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. A verdict is a reading of the published evidence, never a guarantee for your skin: any ingredient can irritate someone, so patch test new products and see a professional if you react. Concern is graded on cited evidence, never on hazard-score lists. See how we score.