What is bht in makeup

BHT stands for butylated hydroxytoluene, it is a preservative and antioxidant that is used in skincare and cosmetic formulations to stabilize the formulation and prevent oxidation.

BHT is a lipophilic or fat-soluble ingredient that is generally synthetically produced. While BHT is produced naturally by phytoplankton, green algae, and three different types of cyanobacteria, it is more sustainable and cost-effective to synthetically produce the ingredient.

BHT is used in several cosmetic and skincare products, particularly formulations containing oil and fats in a water base. As BHT is an antioxidant it is used to stabilize and protect the key ingredients from deterioration. Unlike many other natural antioxidants, BHT can resist high temperatures, making it useful in the manufacturing process of products as well. BHT also has applications as an antioxidant in foods that contain fats and oils, or in packaging material for fat-containing foods.

There have been some studies that have linked BHT with hormone disruption. However, this link has not been well established. Synergetic ingredients: Works well with most ingredients including most other antioxidants, helping to boost their effectiveness. As an antioxidant, BHT helps fight against the deterioration of cosmetic products caused by free radicals. Oxygen molecules are normally stable and unreactive because they have an even number of electrons.

However, when reactions occur that leave the oxygen molecule with an odd number of electrons, the molecule becomes unstable and highly reactive. Baur, A. Wada, H. Fact sheet for Butylhydroxyanisol. What can we help you find? References 1. Fiege, H. Voges, T. Hamamoto, S. Umemura, T. Iwata, H. Miki, Y. Fujita, H. Buysch, D. Garbe, and W. Lanigan and T. Verhagen, H. Beckers, P. Comuth, L. BHT applied to the skin, however, appears to remain in the skin or pass through only slowly and does not produce systemic exposures to BHT or its metabolites seen with oral exposures.

Although there were only limited studies that evaluated the effect of BHT on the skin, the available studies, along with the case literature, demonstrate no significant irritation, sensitization, or photosensitization.

Recognizing the low concentration at which this ingredient is currently used in cosmetic formulations, it was concluded that BHT is safe as used in cosmetic formulations. Abstract BHT is the recognized name in the cosmetics industry for butylated hydroxytoluene. Publication types Review.