BHA and BHT

Never allowedReviewed September 18, 2026

Butylated Hydroxyanisole · Butylated Hydroxytoluene

Synthetic antioxidants that stop oils going rancid.

What it does: Actives & treatment
Our take: BHA is classified a possible human carcinogen by IARC and disrupts hormones in animal studies. BHT is the milder relative but accumulates in the body. Vitamin E does the same job and is in most of what we sell.

Instead try: Tocopherol and rosemary extract.

What we read

IARC Group 2B · reviewed Sep 2026

Every other ingredient, with the same treatment.

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ParabensPhthalatesFormaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservativesPEG compoundsPolysorbatesEthoxylated ingredientsDEA, TEA and MEA compoundsBHA and BHTPetrolatum, mineral oil and paraffinIsothiazolinone preservativesRetinol and retinyl estersHydroquinoneChemical UV filtersTalcCoal tar and synthetic dyesPFAS and fluorinated compoundsTriclosan and triclocarbanAntibacterials and antimicrobials we excludeSynthetic fragranceSynthetic musksSodium lauryl and laureth sulfateEDTA and synthetic chelatorsIndustrial solventsHeavy metalsPlastic microbeads and film-formersAerosol propellantsOther synthetic preservatives we excludeCyclic silicones

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