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BHT in skincare
Butylated Hydroxytoluene; lipid antioxidant preservative; considered safer than BHA; mild controversy but broadly approved.
Used in both AM and PM oil-based formulas as an antioxidant preservative. No time-of-day restrictions for its preservative function. Generally considered safer than BHA by regulatory bodies.
What it is
BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol) is a lipid-soluble synthetic phenolic antioxidant used to prevent oxidative rancidity in cosmetic formulations containing oils and fats. Particularly in lip products, sunscreens, and creams. Generally considered safer than BHA by most regulatory bodies: EU permits up to 0.8% in cosmetics; FDA classifies as GRAS for food use. Unlike BHA, BHT is not classified as a carcinogen by IARC or the NTP (though some animal data at high oral doses showed mixed tumor-promoting results). Some in vitro data suggest weak estrogenic activity, but human exposure at cosmetic concentrations is far below any biologically relevant threshold. EWG rates it with moderate concern; mainstream dermatology and regulatory consensus treats it as safe at approved cosmetic concentrations (typically 0.01–0.1%). Preferred over BHA where antioxidant preservation of lipid systems is needed.
The facts
| Category | Synthetic Antioxidant Preservative |
| Typical use | Morning and evening |
| Concentration YARAI treats as a full dose | 0.8% |
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. BHT at 0.8% and bht 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.
Common questions
What does bht do in a skincare product?
Butylated Hydroxytoluene; lipid antioxidant preservative; considered safer than BHA; mild controversy but broadly approved.
How much bht should a product contain?
YARAI treats 0.8% 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 bht?
Used in both AM and PM oil-based formulas as an antioxidant preservative. No time-of-day restrictions for its preservative function. Generally considered safer than BHA by regulatory bodies.
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.