Benzophenone-3 ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is an organic UV filter used mainly to absorb UVB and short UVA radiation in sunscreens and SPF cosmetics. It helps increase labeled SPF and can also protect formulas from light-driven degradation.
What does Benzophenone-3 do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is an organic UV filter used mainly to absorb UVB and short UVA radiation in sunscreens and SPF cosmetics. It helps increase labeled SPF and can also protect formulas from light-driven degradation.
Is Benzophenone-3 clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient has significant friction because it appears on many restricted lists due to sensitization, photoallergy, systemic absorption, and endocrine-activity questions. It is still legally allowed in some regions at capped levels, but it is not considered an easy fit for stricter clean standards.
Is Benzophenone-3 sustainable?
This material is a petroleum-derived synthetic aromatic compound with environmental persistence and aquatic-exposure concerns. It has been detected in waterways and is subject to reef-related restrictions in some jurisdictions.
Is Benzophenone-3 COSMOS-approved?
This ingredient is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards. Its petrochemical origin, limited biodegradability profile, and aquatic persistence concerns make it a poor match for Green Chemistry preferences.
How does Benzophenone-3 work chemically?
This molecule is a substituted aromatic ketone that absorbs across the UVB and short-UVA range, with absorption peaks commonly cited around 288 nm and 325 nm. It is oil-soluble, typically used around 2 to 6% where allowed, and is regulated at maximum concentrations such as 6% in the United States and European Union sunscreen products.
Last updated 2026-05-13