Butylated Hydroxyanisole

Butylated Hydroxyanisole molecular structure
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: BHA, 6-di-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol, Butylated methoxyphenol
Synthetic
Skin Conditioner
Not Clean
Butylated Hydroxyanisole is a cosmetic ingredient. Assessed as safe by the CIR.
Formula
C11H16O2
Mol. Weight
180.24
CAS #
25013-16-5
Form
Powder
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Antioxidant Protection
Locks In Moisture
Fights Bacteria
Traditional Use
Synthetic antioxidant developed in the early 20th century for cosmetic preservation. Designed to prevent oxidation and rancidity in cosmetic formulations containing oils and fats.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
No
CIR Safety Findings
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Mild Irritant
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU⚠ restricted
JAPAN⚠ restricted
CANADA⚠ restricted
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
No
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory0 listings
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR