Octocrylene . Inactive: Water

TL;DR. This ingredient is an oil-soluble organic UV filter used in sunscreens and daily-wear products to absorb mainly UVB and short UVA radiation. It also helps stabilize other filters, especially avobenzone, in the oil phase.

What does Octocrylene . Inactive: Water do in a cosmetic formula?

This ingredient is an oil-soluble organic UV filter used in sunscreens and daily-wear products to absorb mainly UVB and short UVA radiation. It also helps stabilize other filters, especially avobenzone, in the oil phase.

Is Octocrylene . Inactive: Water clean?

From a clean-beauty perspective, it has significant friction because some retailers and standards restrict it due to sensitization reports, endocrine-activity questions, and benzophenone-related impurity concerns. It is generally allowed in conventional sunscreens within regulatory limits, but it is not an easy fit for stricter clean lists.

Is Octocrylene . Inactive: Water sustainable?

This material is synthetic and typically petrochemical-derived, with low water solubility and notable environmental persistence signals. Its high lipophilicity raises concern for aquatic exposure and bioaccumulation screening, especially in rinse-off or beach-use contexts.

Is Octocrylene . Inactive: Water COSMOS-approved?

It is not permitted under COSMOS-organic or COSMOS-natural standards as a synthetic organic UV filter outside the standard’s accepted ingredient routes. Its petrochemical origin, persistence profile, and limited biodegradability make it a poor fit with Green Chemistry preferences.

How does Octocrylene . Inactive: Water work chemically?

The molecule is a lipophilic ester with a conjugated cyanoacrylate-like UV-absorbing system, used in the oil phase and commonly capped at about 10% in major sunscreen regulations. It is photostable and can improve avobenzone stability, but formulators monitor impurity formation, oil-phase compatibility, and sensory weight at higher use levels.

Last updated 2026-05-13