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Butylparaben

Paraben

Worth knowingPreservativepreservative

EU-restricted, a common contact allergen, or subject to live debate.

Also written as: Butyl 4-Hydroxybenzoate · Butyl Paraben · E209

What it is

Butylparaben is the butyl ester of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. Its longer chain makes it the most oil-soluble and the most oestrogenically active of the parabens still permitted in the EU, which is why it shares the tighter 0.14% limit with propylparaben. It is uncommon in modern European face masks. The SCCS has looked at it twice recently, most importantly for children's exposure.

What it does well

  • Confirmed safe by the SCCS at the current adult limit

    The SCCS re-examined butylparaben in 2023 and concluded that use as a preservative up to 0.14% (expressed as acid) is safe, while noting that data specific to children were missing.

    Strong evidence

Worth knowing

  • Children's aggregate exposure at 0.14% is not considered safe

    In April 2025 the SCCS concluded that, for children aged roughly 6 months to 10 years using several products together, 0.14% is not safe; it indicated safety would require about 0.002% in leave-on products, 0.14% in rinse-off and 0.092% in oral care.

    Matters most toParents choosing products for children; the EU limit had not yet been changed as of mid-2026.

  • Not permitted in leave-on nappy-area products for under-3s

    This restriction has applied since 2014, on the same reasoning as for propylparaben: potentially damaged skin and a higher surface-area-to-weight ratio in small children.

    Matters most toParents of babies and toddlers.

  • Endocrine activity keeps it under review

    Butylparaben remains on the EU's priority list of substances with potential endocrine-disrupting properties, so its limits may be tightened again.

    Matters most toAnyone tracking ingredients whose regulatory status may shift.

Where the EU stands

Approved preservative (Annex V)

Permitted preservative but restricted: maximum 0.14% (as acid), alone or summed with propylparaben; total parabens must not exceed 0.8%. Not allowed in leave-on products for the nappy area of children under three. The SCCS advised in 2025 that a much lower leave-on limit is needed for children; the Annex V figure was unchanged as of July 2026.

Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex V entry 12a (introduced by Commission Regulation (EU) No 1004/2014) · source ↗

Sources (2)

Every link goes to the original: a journal, a PubMed record or an EU document.

  1. [1]
    Opinion on Butylparaben (CAS No. 94-26-8, EC No. 202-318-7) (SCCS/1651/23)

    SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety), European Commission · 2023

    The SCCS concluded butylparaben is safe as a preservative up to 0.14% (as acid), but noted that in the absence of child-specific exposure data safety concerns could not be excluded.

  2. [2]
    SCCS Opinion on Butylparaben (CAS No. 94-26-8, EC No. 202-318-7) - Children's exposure (SCCS/1674/25)

    SCCS (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety), European Commission · 2025

    For children using multiple product categories together, 0.14% was not considered safe; the SCCS indicated safety at about 0.002% in leave-on, 0.14% in rinse-off and 0.092% in oral care products.