The ingredient narratives reshaping clean beauty.
Homosalate
aka 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl salicylate · HMS · homomenthyl salicylate
A UVB-absorbing organic filter widely used in US sunscreens. Under increasing regulatory and clean-beauty scrutiny following TGA April 2025 review recommending concentration restrictions due to potential endocrine disrupting properties.
- UVB absorption (290–320 nm)
- Oil-soluble — compatible with elegant vehicle aesthetics
- Stabilises avobenzone — contributes to photostability system
- FDA-approved up to 15%; EU approved up to 10%
- High SPF contribution per percentage used
- Chemical sunscreens
- SPF moisturisers
- Sports sunscreens
- Water-resistant sunscreen formulas
- Dry-touch SPF products
Requires photostabiliser pairing. Stable in standard sunscreen oil phases. Often used in combination with avobenzone for full UVA/UVB coverage.
TGA April 2025 safety review concluded homosalate is not safe when used as a UV filter in cosmetic products at concentrations up to 10% based on SCCS assessment — potential endocrine disrupting activity. EU SCCS 2021 opinion: not safe above 1.4% in sunscreens due to endocrine disruption concern and systemic absorption above safety threshold. FDA GRASE non-determination pending. Detected in blood plasma and breast milk after topical application. Children: not recommended by paediatric toxicologists.
Increasingly excluded from clean-beauty SPF formulas. The TGA and SCCS 2021/2025 findings have accelerated the clean-beauty move toward mineral SPF filters in Australian and European markets.
The ingredient narratives reshaping clean beauty.
Homosalate
aka 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexyl salicylate · HMS · homomenthyl salicylate
A UVB-absorbing organic filter widely used in US sunscreens. Under increasing regulatory and clean-beauty scrutiny following TGA April 2025 review recommending concentration restrictions due to potential endocrine disrupting properties.
- UVB absorption (290–320 nm)
- Oil-soluble — compatible with elegant vehicle aesthetics
- Stabilises avobenzone — contributes to photostability system
- FDA-approved up to 15%; EU approved up to 10%
- High SPF contribution per percentage used
- Chemical sunscreens
- SPF moisturisers
- Sports sunscreens
- Water-resistant sunscreen formulas
- Dry-touch SPF products
Requires photostabiliser pairing. Stable in standard sunscreen oil phases. Often used in combination with avobenzone for full UVA/UVB coverage.
TGA April 2025 safety review concluded homosalate is not safe when used as a UV filter in cosmetic products at concentrations up to 10% based on SCCS assessment — potential endocrine disrupting activity. EU SCCS 2021 opinion: not safe above 1.4% in sunscreens due to endocrine disruption concern and systemic absorption above safety threshold. FDA GRASE non-determination pending. Detected in blood plasma and breast milk after topical application. Children: not recommended by paediatric toxicologists.
Increasingly excluded from clean-beauty SPF formulas. The TGA and SCCS 2021/2025 findings have accelerated the clean-beauty move toward mineral SPF filters in Australian and European markets.