BENZO-PHENONE-4 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a water-soluble UV filter and photostabilizer, used to absorb UVB and short UVA light in sunscreens and to protect color, fragrance, and formulas from light-driven change.
What does BENZO-PHENONE-4 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a water-soluble UV filter and photostabilizer, used to absorb UVB and short UVA light in sunscreens and to protect color, fragrance, and formulas from light-driven change.
Is BENZO-PHENONE-4 clean?
From a clean beauty perspective, it has friction because many standards flag synthetic benzophenone-family UV filters for endocrine-screening questions, sensitization reports, and aquatic data. It is regulated as a sunscreen active in some regions rather than treated as an ordinary cosmetic ingredient.
Is BENZO-PHENONE-4 sustainable?
This material is typically petrochemical-derived and is not a strong fit for renewable sourcing. Its water solubility can increase environmental mobility, and biodegradation is not considered a clear strength.
Is BENZO-PHENONE-4 COSMOS-approved?
It is not permitted in COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic formulas as a synthetic organic UV filter. Its fit with Green Chemistry is weak because it relies on synthetic aromatic chemistry, nonrenewable feedstocks, and limited biodegradability credentials.
How does BENZO-PHENONE-4 work chemically?
The molecule is an aromatic ketone UV absorber with a sulfonic acid group, which improves water solubility and often requires neutralization for aqueous systems. In regulated sunscreen products, allowed use levels vary by region and are commonly capped around 5% as acid in the EU; it is generally photostable but needs compatibility checks with salts, bases, and film-forming systems.
Last updated 2026-05-13