Antioxidant
59 ingredients in this category
Ingredients that prevent oxidation, protecting both the product formulation and the skin from free radical damage.
Regulation Overview
EU
49 banned
3 allowed
US
52 allowed
JP
52 allowed
KR
1 restricted
0 allowed
UK
35 banned
17 restricted
0 allowed
83% of antioxidant ingredients are banned in the EU β the strictest region for this category.
Regulation Comparison Table
| Ingredient | EU | US | JP | KR | UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-FURANYLETHYL RESORCINOL | |||||
| Ξ±-Arbutin ALPHA-ARBUTIN | |||||
| Beta-Arbutin ARBUTIN | |||||
| Nonanedioic Acid AZELAIC ACID | |||||
| CANNABIDIOL - DERIVED FROM EXTRACT OR TINCTURE OR RESIN OF CANNABIS | |||||
| CANNABIDIOL - SYNTHETICALLY PRODUCED | |||||
| CANNABIS SATIVA EXTRACT | |||||
| CANNABIS SATIVA FLOWER/LEAF/STEM EXTRACT | |||||
| CANNABIS SATIVA FLOWER/LEAF/STEM OIL | |||||
| CAPRYLAMIDE MEA | |||||
| CITRUS LIMON SOMATIC EMBRYO EXTRACT | |||||
| CITRUS PARADISI JUICE EXTRACT | |||||
| CROTONALDEHYDE | |||||
| CURCUMIN | |||||
| DIPEPTIDE-20 HEXAPEPTIDE-40 OLIGOPEPTIDE-93 RH-POLYPEPTIDE-68 TETRAPEPTIDE-35 | |||||
| ETHYL CARBAZIDO HYALURONATE RH-POLYPEPTIDE-3 | |||||
| ETHYL CARBAZIDO HYALURONATE RH-POLYPEPTIDE-7 | |||||
| HUMAN EMBRYONIC INDUCED SKIN PLURIPOTENT CELL CONDITIONED MEDIA | |||||
| HUMAN FIBROBLAST INDUCED PLURIPOTENT CELL CULTURE CONDITIONED MEDIA | |||||
| HUMAN FIBROBLAST INDUCED PLURIPOTENT CELL EXTRACT | |||||
| HUMAN T CELL CONDITIONED MEDIA | |||||
| HUMAN UMBILICAL MESENCHYMAL STEM CELL CONDITIONED MEDIA EXTRACT | |||||
| HYDROLYZED SACCHAROMYCES/SODIUM SELENATE FERMENT EXTRACT | |||||
| HYDROXYLAMINE HCL | |||||
| HYDROXYLAMINE SULFATE | |||||
| 5-Hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-4-pyrone KOJIC ACID | |||||
| LYCOPENE | |||||
| MAGNESIUM ASCORBYLBORATE | |||||
| N-ADAMANTANOYL DOPAMINE | |||||
| N-ADAMANTANOYL TYRAMINE | |||||
| N-CAPROYL TYRAMINE | |||||
| N-CYCLOHEXANOYL DOPAMINE | |||||
| N-CYCLOHEXANOYL TYRAMINE | |||||
| P-HYDROXYANISOLE | |||||
| POTASSIUM SULFITE | |||||
| PRAMOXINE HCL | |||||
| RADIUM ORE POWDER | |||||
| RESORCINOL | |||||
| Vitamin A Palmitate RETINYL PALMITATE | |||||
| RH-POLYPEPTIDE-51 | |||||
| RH-POLYPEPTIDE-63 | |||||
| RH-POLYPEPTIDE-7 HEXAPEPTIDE-25 | |||||
| RH-POLYPEPTIDE-79 | |||||
| SELENIUM/GLYCINE SOJA SPROUT EXTRACT | |||||
| SODIUM BISULFITE | |||||
| SODIUM METABISULFITE | |||||
| SODIUM SULFANILATE | |||||
| SODIUM SULFITE | |||||
| SODIUM THIOGLYCOLATE | |||||
| SODIUM ZINC HISTIDINE DITHIOOCTANAMIDE | |||||
| Perhydrosqualene SQUALANE | |||||
| Squalene SQUALENE | |||||
| THIOGLYCOLIC ACID | |||||
| THUJA OCCIDENTALIS LEAF EXTRACT | |||||
| TOLUENE | |||||
| ZINC ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE | |||||
| ZINC ASCORBATE | |||||
| ZINC DIBUTYLDITHIOCARBAMATE | |||||
| ZINC THIOSALICYLATE |
Banned in at Least One Region
52 ingredients are banned in one or more regions.
4-FURANYLETHYL RESORCINOL
CANNABIDIOL - DERIVED FROM EXTRACT OR TINCTURE OR RESIN OF CANNABIS
CANNABIDIOL - SYNTHETICALLY PRODUCED
CANNABIS SATIVA EXTRACT
CANNABIS SATIVA FLOWER/LEAF/STEM EXTRACT
CANNABIS SATIVA FLOWER/LEAF/STEM OIL
CAPRYLAMIDE MEA
CITRUS LIMON SOMATIC EMBRYO EXTRACT
CITRUS PARADISI JUICE EXTRACT
CROTONALDEHYDE
CURCUMIN
DIPEPTIDE-20 HEXAPEPTIDE-40 OLIGOPEPTIDE-93 RH-POLYPEPTIDE-68 TETRAPEPTIDE-35
ETHYL CARBAZIDO HYALURONATE RH-POLYPEPTIDE-3
ETHYL CARBAZIDO HYALURONATE RH-POLYPEPTIDE-7
HUMAN EMBRYONIC INDUCED SKIN PLURIPOTENT CELL CONDITIONED MEDIA
HUMAN FIBROBLAST INDUCED PLURIPOTENT CELL CULTURE CONDITIONED MEDIA
HUMAN FIBROBLAST INDUCED PLURIPOTENT CELL EXTRACT
HUMAN T CELL CONDITIONED MEDIA
HUMAN UMBILICAL MESENCHYMAL STEM CELL CONDITIONED MEDIA EXTRACT
HYDROLYZED SACCHAROMYCES/SODIUM SELENATE FERMENT EXTRACT
HYDROXYLAMINE HCL
HYDROXYLAMINE SULFATE
LYCOPENE
MAGNESIUM ASCORBYLBORATE
N-ADAMANTANOYL DOPAMINE
N-ADAMANTANOYL TYRAMINE
N-CAPROYL TYRAMINE
N-CYCLOHEXANOYL DOPAMINE
N-CYCLOHEXANOYL TYRAMINE
P-HYDROXYANISOLE
POTASSIUM SULFITE
PRAMOXINE HCL
RADIUM ORE POWDER
RESORCINOL
RH-POLYPEPTIDE-51
RH-POLYPEPTIDE-63
RH-POLYPEPTIDE-7 HEXAPEPTIDE-25
RH-POLYPEPTIDE-79
SELENIUM/GLYCINE SOJA SPROUT EXTRACT
SODIUM BISULFITE
SODIUM METABISULFITE
SODIUM SULFANILATE
SODIUM SULFITE
SODIUM THIOGLYCOLATE
SODIUM ZINC HISTIDINE DITHIOOCTANAMIDE
THIOGLYCOLIC ACID
THUJA OCCIDENTALIS LEAF EXTRACT
TOLUENE
ZINC ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE
ZINC ASCORBATE
ZINC DIBUTYLDITHIOCARBAMATE
ZINC THIOSALICYLATE
Allowed in All Regions
7 ingredients with no bans or restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are antioxidants used in cosmetic products? +
Antioxidants serve two primary roles in cosmetics: protecting the product formulation from oxidative degradation (which can cause rancidity, color changes, or loss of efficacy), and functioning as cosmetic actives. Common cosmetic antioxidants include tocopherol (vitamin E), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), and rosemary extract. Their inclusion, concentrations, and permitted claims vary by regulatory framework.
Are BHA and BHT safe in cosmetics? +
BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are synthetic antioxidants used at low concentrations in cosmetics. The EU permits both under specific conditions; BHA is restricted in certain product types (aerosols, lip products). The Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) in the US has assessed both as safe at current use concentrations. Some countries require labeling disclosure when these ingredients are present above threshold levels.