Ensulizole

TL;DR. This ingredient is a sunscreen active used mainly as a UVB filter in leave-on sun-care and SPF products. It is water-soluble after neutralization, which can help formulators build lighter textures than many oil-soluble filters.

What does Ensulizole do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is a sunscreen active used mainly as a UVB filter in leave-on sun-care and SPF products. It is water-soluble after neutralization, which can help formulators build lighter textures than many oil-soluble filters.

Is Ensulizole clean?

From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is approved for sunscreen use in some regions but sits outside many natural and clean frameworks because it is a synthetic chemical UV filter. It can cause skin or eye irritation for some users at sunscreen-active levels, especially in leave-on formats.

Is Ensulizole sustainable?

This material is typically synthetic and petroleum-derived rather than renewable. Its water solubility may limit bioaccumulation relative to more lipophilic filters, but it is still an aromatic UV absorber with environmental fate questions in aquatic systems.

Is Ensulizole COSMOS-approved?

It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards as a UV filter. Its Green Chemistry fit is limited because it relies on synthetic feedstocks and does not strongly align with renewable sourcing or simple biodegradation principles.

How does Ensulizole work chemically?

The molecule is an anionic, water-soluble aromatic UV absorber once neutralized, with strongest protection in the UVB range and limited UVA contribution. It is typically used up to 4% in U.S. OTC sunscreens and up to 8% in EU products, and it is often paired with broader-spectrum filters for full-spectrum labeling.

Last updated 2026-08-22