Limited edition: The 2025 Advent Calendar

Identity Profile: Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

Commonly known as: DHHB, Uvinul A Plus.

I.N.C.I. list name: Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate.

Extraction process: /

Source: Synthetic.

Botanical name: /

Family: /

Extracted part of the plant: /

Origin, provenance: Germany.

Chemical properties: Peak absorption at 354 nm; Highly photostable; Molecular weight: 397.52 g/mol; Density: 1.16 g/cm3; Soluble in oils and ethanol.

Properties: Aqueous true solution emulsion.

Required dosage in cosmetic products: The maximum concentration allowed by European regulations: 10% (alone or in combination with other UV filters).

Function: Stabilizing agent, UV absorber, UV filter.

Specificities: Anti-inflammatory, photoprotective.

Benefits: All skin typologies; All hair types.

Details

Properties

Anti-inflammatory: Reducing swelling by inhibiting the inflammatory response;
Photoprotector: Protecting the skin and hair from the harmful effects caused by UVA radiation and preventing photoaging.

Applications

Facial Care (sunscreen creams, sunscreen sprays/mists, day creams);
Body Care (sun care, dry sun oils);
Hair Care (protective hair oils);
Hygiene (cologne waters, toilet waters).

Method of Preservation

Store at room temperature (77°F) in a dry place, protected from the sun's UV rays, humidity, and temperatures above 122°F.

Contraindications, Usage Precautions

After evaluation by the European Commission, DHHB is classified as non-irritating and non-photosensitizing. However, the toxicity from inhalation remains to be assessed.

With a chemical structure similar to that of the benzophenone class of drugs, diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoate is an organic UV filter used in sun care products to minimize skin and hair overexposure to harmful UVA rays, specifically long UVA-I (340 to 400 nm), which can lead to acute and chronic photodamage. Indeed, it absorbs, reflects, and scatters UVA rays by forming a protective shield on the surface of the epidermis. In addition to its high absorption in the UVA range, it exhibits good photostability and could even serve as a good alternative to avobenzone, a popular UVA sunscreen filter.