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Octocrylene in skincare
UVA/UVB filter AND avobenzone photostabilizer; degrades into benzophenone (suspected carcinogen) on aging; FDA non-GRASE.
AM use only as a UV filter and photostabilizer for avobenzone. Reapply every 2 hours. Systemic absorption at ~14× FDA threshold. Special concern: check product age. Octocrylene degrades into benzophenone over time (especially in warm storage). Replace old sunscreen products annually.
What it is
Octocrylene (2-Ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl acrylate) is an organic UV filter absorbing both UVA and UVB radiation, most notably used as a photostabilizer that prevents avobenzone from photodegrading under UV exposure. Systemically absorbed at ~14× the FDA's safety threshold. Two key concerns: (1) A 2021 study (Johnson et al.) found octocrylene degrades into benzophenone. A suspected carcinogen (IARC Group 2A). Particularly at elevated temperatures during storage; products stored in hot cars or past shelf life pose higher risk. (2) Detected in breast milk after typical sunscreen use. FDA classified as non-GRASE (2019/2022 proposed order. Insufficient data). EU restricts to ≤10% in most products and ≤9% in aerosol sprays. Despite these concerns, it remains widely used due to its unmatched photostabilizing function with avobenzone. Reef toxicity concerns exist but are less severe than oxybenzone.
The facts
| Category | Chemical UV Filter (UVA/UVB) + Photostabilizer |
| Typical use | Morning |
| Concentration YARAI treats as a full dose | 10% |
| EU maximum permitted concentration | 10.0% (10%(as acid)) |
| EU Cosmetics Regulation annex | VI |
| EU status | restricted |
Why the amount matters, not just the presence
Most ingredient checkers tell you whether something is in the bottle. That is a smaller question than it sounds. Octocrylene at 10% and octocrylene at a trace level are not the same ingredient in any way that affects your skin.
An ingredient list is ordered by quantity, so position carries real information. YARAI reads that position and scores accordingly, which is why the same ingredient can land differently in two different products.
The honest limit: a list gives order, not percentages. Estimating concentration from position is an estimate. It is a better estimate than ignoring position, and it is still an estimate. We would rather tell you that than let a number look more certain than it is.
Regulatory status
EU CosIng Annex VI restricted substance. Max: 10%(as acid)
Common questions
What does octocrylene do in a skincare product?
UVA/UVB filter AND avobenzone photostabilizer; degrades into benzophenone (suspected carcinogen) on aging; FDA non-GRASE.
How much octocrylene should a product contain?
YARAI treats 10% as a full dose for this ingredient. Below that, the ingredient is present but is scored as contributing less. An ingredient list gives you the order of ingredients, not their percentages, so this is an estimate read from position rather than a measurement.
Is octocrylene restricted in the EU?
The EU Cosmetics Regulation permits this ingredient up to 10.0% in leave-on cosmetics, listed under VI. 10%(as acid)
When should I use octocrylene?
AM use only as a UV filter and photostabilizer for avobenzone. Reapply every 2 hours. Systemic absorption at ~14× FDA threshold. Special concern: check product age. Octocrylene degrades into benzophenone over time (especially in warm storage). Replace old sunscreen products annually.
Check your own products
Point your camera at a product. YARAI identifies it from the label, finds that product's full ingredient list from published sources, and scores it. No barcode and no box needed, which is how it handles imported and small-brand products.
Concern level, category and thresholds on this page are read directly from the same data the YARAI app scores with, so this page and the app cannot disagree. EU figures cite Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Last built 2026-09-09. Nothing here is medical advice.