Octocrylene 3.0%

TL;DR. This ingredient is an oil-soluble sunscreen filter that primarily absorbs UVB and short UVA radiation. It also helps photostabilize other UV filters in the oil phase.

What does Octocrylene 3.0% do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is an oil-soluble sunscreen filter that primarily absorbs UVB and short UVA radiation. It also helps photostabilize other UV filters in the oil phase.

Is Octocrylene 3.0% clean?

It has significant clean-standard friction, with some restricted lists flagging it due to sensitization reports, endocrine-screening questions, and monitoring for a benzophenone impurity or aging byproduct. At 3.0%, it sits below many regulatory maximums, but the clean-beauty profile is still contested.

Is Octocrylene 3.0% sustainable?

This material is synthetic and generally petroleum-derived, with limited renewable-feedstock alignment. It is not readily biodegradable and has aquatic persistence concerns, which weakens its environmental profile.

Is Octocrylene 3.0% COSMOS-approved?

It is not permitted under COSMOS-natural or COSMOS-organic standards. From a Green Chemistry view, it scores poorly because it relies on synthetic petrochemical chemistry and has persistence and impurity-management concerns.

How does Octocrylene 3.0% work chemically?

The molecule is an oil-soluble aromatic ester with a conjugated cyanoacrylate chromophore that absorbs mainly in the UVB range and helps stabilize certain UVA filters. Typical sunscreen use is about 2% to 10% depending on region and SPF target, and it is water-insoluble, oil-phase compatible, and generally stable across normal emulsion pH ranges.

Last updated 2026-05-16