Preservative ingredient
Butylparaben
Butylparaben is a paraben-class ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid used as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics.
Also known as: butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, butyl paraben
preservativeantimicrobial
Benefits
- ✓Broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative effective against fungi and gram-positive bacteria
Watch for
- ⚠Weak estrogenic activity shown in vitro studies; CIR concluded safe at cosmetic use concentrations
- ⚠EU restricts combined paraben-ester use levels (max 0.14% as acid for esters combined, banned in leave-on products for children under 3 in some jurisdictions)
- ⚠Many brands reformulate away from parabens due to consumer preference, independent of the safety data
In depth
What it does
Butylparaben is a paraben-class ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid used as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics. As an preservative ingredient, it is particularly valued for broad-spectrum antimicrobial preservative effective against fungi and gram-positive bacteria.