Ingredient

BHA

Name / description

BHA; Butylhydroxyanisol; Tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenol; in food: E 320

Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

ANTIOXIDANT

Inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and deterioration of ingredients

FRAGRANCE

Enhances the smell of a product and / or perfumes the skin

FRAGRANCE FUNCTIONAL

Functional ingredient (excipient) of perfume oils and / or flavours

Origin

synthetic

Occurrence in cosmetics

Creams, ointments, lotions, lipsticks, eye shadows

Occurrence in other products

Medicinal products and medical devices for external application or in the form of dragées and suppositories; colourants and plastics; foodstuffs (such as sauce powders or dry soups), confectionery (such as almond paste or ice cream)

Background information on use in cosmetics

Use as antioxidant for the protection of the product.

Why are we talking about it?

BHA is a possible carcinogen. It is also suspected of being an endocrine disruptor and toxic to reproduction. The facts: BHA has been classified as a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, the studies which led to this classification were carried out on a model that cannot be extrapolated to humans (1). There is therefore no evidence that it is carcinogenic in humans. Moreover, the concentrations used in cosmetic products are very low (less than 0.04 %), which ensures a sufficient safety margin (2). Available data on BHA are not sufficient to confirm that it may cause toxicity to reproduction. They are also insufficient to confirm an alleged endocrine disrupting potential. Further studies are underway. BHA is also authorised as a food additive. Key points to take away: BHA is rarely used in cosmetics. The data suggesting that BHA could be carcinogenic are difficult to transpose to humans. Its use at very low concentrations in cosmetic products provides a satisfactory safety margin. Sources: (1) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) vol 40 p123 - 1986: http://publications.iarc.fr/_publications/media/download/1588/b44fc9b27cd20fc2ded878cba92708e1a68d2165.pdf (2) French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM/ ex-AFSSAPS): Minutes of the cosmetology commission of 28 January 2011: https://archiveansm.integra.fr/var/ansm_site/storage/original/application/719c38e1d2ea8f96da8efb571eacae73.pdf

Further information

For the clarification of a suspicion of a contact allergy this substance can be routinely tested in the epicutaneous test at the dermatologist.

Belongs to the following substance groups

Antioxidants

Perfume / Fragrances

Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.

Understanding your cosmetics

How are cosmetics kept safe in Europe?

Strict laws make sure that cosmetics and personal care products sold in the European Union are safe for people to use. Companies, national and European regulatory authorities share the responsibility of keeping cosmetic products safe.

What should I know about endocrine disruptors?

Some ingredients used in cosmetic products have been claimed to be ‘endocrine disruptors’ because they have the potential to mimic some of the properties of our hormones. Just because something has the potential to mimic a hormone does not mean it will disrupt our endocrine system. Many substances, including natural ones, mimic hormones but very few, and these are mostly potent medicines, have ever been shown to cause disruption of the endocrine system. The rigorous product safety assessments by qualified, scientific experts that companies are legally obliged to carry out cover all potential risks, including potential endocrine disruption.

Are cosmetics tested on animals? No!

In the European Union, testing cosmetics on animals has been fully banned since 2013. Over the last 30 years, long before a ban was in place, the cosmetics and personal care industry has invested in research and development to pioneer alternatives to animal testing tools to assess the safety of cosmetics ingredients and products.

What about allergens in cosmetics?

Many substances, natural or man-made, have the potential to cause an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to substances that are harmless to most people. A substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen. Cosmetics and personal care products may contain ingredients that can be allergenic for some people. This does not mean that the product is not safe for others to use.

Database

Cosmetics matter to people and play an important role in our everyday life. On average European consumers use over seven different cosmetics daily. You too? It’s only natural that you want to know more about the ingredients in those products.

In the digital world we live in, there’s a deluge of information on cosmetics. However, it can be difficult to know which sources are reliable. COSMILE Europe is a European cosmetic ingredient database that offers reliable, verified and scientifically supported information on almost 30,000 ingredients used in cosmetics.

This database will help you understand why certain ingredients are in your cosmetic products; which properties they have and much more. The database is currently available in fourteen languages with more to come.

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