The ingredient narratives reshaping clean beauty.
Octocrylene
aka 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl acrylate · Eusolex OCR · Parsol 340
A dual-function UV filter and photostabiliser for avobenzone in broad-spectrum sunscreens. Under scrutiny for benzophenone degradation and aquatic ecotoxicity concerns.
- UVB + short UVA II absorption (280–340 nm)
- Photostabilises avobenzone — key function
- Oil-soluble for aesthetic sunscreen formulations
- High photostability itself
- FDA-approved up to 10%
- Chemical sunscreens
- Water-resistant sunscreens
- Sports sunscreens
- Film-former paired SPF products
- Broad-spectrum cosmetic SPF
Hydrophobic; oil-phase incorporation only. Essential photostabiliser for avobenzone combinations. High concentration needed for adequate avobenzone photostabilisation.
Degrades to benzophenone over time (hydrolysis) — benzophenone has established endocrine disrupting properties. Aquatic ecotoxicity documented in coral reef studies. Canada has restricted use in sunscreen products over aquatic toxicity concerns. SCCS 2021 review assessed safety concerns.
Increasingly avoided in marine-safe and reef-safe clean-beauty sunscreens. The benzophenone degradation finding and reef toxicity concerns have accelerated clean-beauty formulation toward mineral SPF.
The ingredient narratives reshaping clean beauty.
Octocrylene
aka 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl acrylate · Eusolex OCR · Parsol 340
A dual-function UV filter and photostabiliser for avobenzone in broad-spectrum sunscreens. Under scrutiny for benzophenone degradation and aquatic ecotoxicity concerns.
- UVB + short UVA II absorption (280–340 nm)
- Photostabilises avobenzone — key function
- Oil-soluble for aesthetic sunscreen formulations
- High photostability itself
- FDA-approved up to 10%
- Chemical sunscreens
- Water-resistant sunscreens
- Sports sunscreens
- Film-former paired SPF products
- Broad-spectrum cosmetic SPF
Hydrophobic; oil-phase incorporation only. Essential photostabiliser for avobenzone combinations. High concentration needed for adequate avobenzone photostabilisation.
Degrades to benzophenone over time (hydrolysis) — benzophenone has established endocrine disrupting properties. Aquatic ecotoxicity documented in coral reef studies. Canada has restricted use in sunscreen products over aquatic toxicity concerns. SCCS 2021 review assessed safety concerns.
Increasingly avoided in marine-safe and reef-safe clean-beauty sunscreens. The benzophenone degradation finding and reef toxicity concerns have accelerated clean-beauty formulation toward mineral SPF.