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BHA in skincare
Butylated Hydroxyanisole; lipid antioxidant preservative in oils and waxes; potential endocrine disruptor and carcinogen at high doses.
Used in AM and PM products primarily in oil-based or anhydrous formulations (lip products, sunscreens, body oils) to prevent rancidity. Not a primary skin-active ingredient. Its role is formula preservation. At cosmetic concentrations, time-of-day use is irrelevant to its antioxidant preservative function.
What it is
BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole) is a lipid-soluble synthetic phenolic antioxidant used as a preservative to prevent oxidative rancidity in oils, waxes, and lipid-rich cosmetic formulations (lip balms, lipsticks, sunscreens, body oils). Primary safety concerns: (1) IARC classifies BHA as a Group 2B possible carcinogen (based on rodent forestomach cancer at very high oral doses. Not demonstrated in humans or via dermal route); (2) Exhibits weak estrogenic activity. Endocrine disruption concerns at high systemic exposure levels. EU Cosmetics Regulation: permitted up to 0.5% as a preservative. FDA: GRAS for food use at very low concentrations. National Toxicology Program lists BHA as 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen' at high oral doses. Cosmetic concentrations (typically 0.01–0.1%) are far below the doses causing concerns in animal studies. EWG and 'clean beauty' brands avoid it; mainstream regulators consider it safe at permitted concentrations.
The facts
| Category | Synthetic Antioxidant Preservative |
| Typical use | Morning and evening |
| Concentration YARAI treats as a full dose | 0.5% |
| EU and US differ | FDA classifies BHA as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) as a food antioxidant; no restriction in cosmetics. EU has more product-type-specific restrictions. |
Why the amount matters, not just the presence
Most ingredient checkers tell you whether something is in the bottle. That is a smaller question than it sounds. BHA at 0.5% and bha at a trace level are not the same ingredient in any way that affects your skin.
An ingredient list is ordered by quantity, so position carries real information. YARAI reads that position and scores accordingly, which is why the same ingredient can land differently in two different products.
The honest limit: a list gives order, not percentages. Estimating concentration from position is an estimate. It is a better estimate than ignoring position, and it is still an estimate. We would rather tell you that than let a number look more certain than it is.
Regulatory status
EU restricts BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) in certain leave-on body products and lip products; concentrations vary by application type (0.001–0.5%). SCCS opinion notes endocrine-disruption potential.
Common questions
What does bha do in a skincare product?
Butylated Hydroxyanisole; lipid antioxidant preservative in oils and waxes; potential endocrine disruptor and carcinogen at high doses.
How much bha should a product contain?
YARAI treats 0.5% as a full dose for this ingredient. Below that, the ingredient is present but is scored as contributing less. An ingredient list gives you the order of ingredients, not their percentages, so this is an estimate read from position rather than a measurement.
When should I use bha?
Used in AM and PM products primarily in oil-based or anhydrous formulations (lip products, sunscreens, body oils) to prevent rancidity. Not a primary skin-active ingredient. Its role is formula preservation. At cosmetic concentrations, time-of-day use is irrelevant to its antioxidant preservative function.
Check your own products
Point your camera at a product. YARAI identifies it from the label, finds that product's full ingredient list from published sources, and scores it. No barcode and no box needed, which is how it handles imported and small-brand products.
Concern level, category and thresholds on this page are read directly from the same data the YARAI app scores with, so this page and the app cannot disagree. EU figures cite Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Last built 2026-09-09. Nothing here is medical advice.