Bht. May Contain: Mica

TL;DR. This ingredient is a synthetic antioxidant used to slow rancidity and color or odor changes in oils, butters, fragrances, and finished formulas. It helps protect oxidation-prone ingredients rather than preserving against microbes.

What does Bht. May Contain: Mica do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is a synthetic antioxidant used to slow rancidity and color or odor changes in oils, butters, fragrances, and finished formulas. It helps protect oxidation-prone ingredients rather than preserving against microbes.

Is Bht. May Contain: Mica clean?

From a clean-beauty perspective, it has significant restricted-list friction because some retailers and standards flag it for endocrine-activity questions and impurity concerns, even though skin irritation rates are generally low at cosmetic levels. It is more controversial than many plant-derived antioxidant options.

Is Bht. May Contain: Mica sustainable?

This material is typically petrochemical-derived and is not a strong fit for renewable-sourcing goals. It has environmental persistence concerns compared with readily biodegradable antioxidants, and the noted mineral colorant, if present, adds separate traceability and responsible-sourcing considerations.

Is Bht. May Contain: Mica COSMOS-approved?

It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards as a standard cosmetic antioxidant. Its petroleum origin, limited biodegradability profile, and clean-standard restrictions make it a poor Green Chemistry match.

How does Bht. May Contain: Mica work chemically?

The molecule is a hindered phenolic antioxidant that donates hydrogen to lipid radicals, interrupting oxidation chain reactions in oil phases and fragrance systems. Typical cosmetic use is very low, often around 0.01% to 0.1%, and it is oil-soluble, heat-stable in normal processing, and commonly paired with chelators or other antioxidants for broader oxidation control.

Last updated 2026-05-15