Home › Ingredients › Oxybenzone
Oxybenzone in skincare
The one UV filter with real open questions: FDA studies measured systemic absorption above the review threshold, which triggered a needs-more-data call, not a finding of harm. Higher contact-allergy rate than other filters; EU SCCS capped it in 2021. Stays flagged even in sunscreens.
AM use only. It is a UV filter and has no role in PM products. Should be reapplied every 2 hours during sun exposure. When possible, choose mineral alternatives (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) or oxybenzone-free organic filters, especially for children and reef-sensitive environments.
What it is
Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3) absorbs UVB and short-wave UVA. Highly controversial: absorbed systemically (detected in blood, urine, and breast milk), exhibits weak estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity in vitro, and is acutely toxic to coral reefs at 62 parts per trillion. Banned in Hawaii (2021), Palau, Key West, US Virgin Islands. EU caps it at 6% in face products and 2.2% in body products (Reg. 2022/1176, since Jan 2023). FDA: additional-data-needed under the Sep 2021 deemed proposed order; no final order as of 2026. Highest sensitization rate of any sunscreen chemical.
The facts
| Category | Chemical UV Filter (Benzophenone) |
| Typical use | Morning |
| Concentration YARAI treats as a full dose | 6% |
| EU maximum permitted concentration | 6.0% (6% face / 2.2% body) |
| EU Cosmetics Regulation annex | VI |
| EU status | restricted |
| EU and US differ | FDA's deemed proposed order (Sep 2021, under the CARES Act) keeps oxybenzone in the additional-data-needed bucket: not GRASE, not found unsafe, and no final order yet. In Dec 2025 the FDA proposed bemotrizinol as GRASE, the first new filter in decades. Hawaii and other jurisdictions ban oxybenzone for reef protection. The EU tightened its caps in 2023: 6% face, 2.2% body. |
| Also listed as | benzophenone-3 |
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. Oxybenzone at 6% and oxybenzone 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 Annex VI UV filter (Reg. 2022/1176, in force Jan 2023): max 6% in face, hand and lip products, 2.2% in body products including sprays, 0.5% to protect a formulation.
Common questions
What does oxybenzone do in a skincare product?
The one UV filter with real open questions: FDA studies measured systemic absorption above the review threshold, which triggered a needs-more-data call, not a finding of harm. Higher contact-allergy rate than other filters; EU SCCS capped it in 2021. Stays flagged even in sunscreens.
How much oxybenzone should a product contain?
YARAI treats 6% 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 oxybenzone restricted in the EU?
The EU Cosmetics Regulation permits this ingredient up to 6.0% in leave-on cosmetics, listed under VI. 6% face / 2.2% body
When should I use oxybenzone?
AM use only. It is a UV filter and has no role in PM products. Should be reapplied every 2 hours during sun exposure. When possible, choose mineral alternatives (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) or oxybenzone-free organic filters, especially for children and reef-sensitive environments.
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.