What is Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine and what is its use?

But what is the role of "Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine" in skincare products?

In cosmetics, this complex molecule serves as an organic sunscreen filter of the new generation to prevent skin and hair damage from UV exposure. Developed and patented in the late 1990s, its creation addressed a growing need for broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB), photostable filters that are well tolerated by the skin.

At that time, available UV filters had significant limitations: they lacked stability under UV exposure, had limited efficacy at specific wavelengths, and posed formulation constraints. The molecule attracted interest from the skincare industry in Europe, where it was approved for use in sunscreens in the early 2000s.

BEMT provides broad-spectrum sun protection by absorbing UVA and UVB rays (280–400 nm) with absorption peaks near 310 and 345 nm, making it one of the most effective UV filters known to date. It is used in sunscreens for adults and children. According to one study, bemotrizinol is found in 60% of sunscreens for children and 54% of sunscreens for adults sold in Poland.

Moreover, a 2007 study compared the efficacy of 18 UV filters authorized in the European Union. Among them, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine stood out for its sun protection factor (SPF) value. Applied at a concentration of 10%, the maximum allowed in finished products under EU legislation, anisotriazine enabled an SPF of 20, making it one of the most effective filters in this evaluation.

Its action is not restricted to its effect on skin or hair. It acts as a stabilizing agent against light to protect the formula from light-induced damage and extend its shelf life.

In addition to providing broad-spectrum protection across UVA-I, UVA-II, and UVB, bemotrizinol stands out for its high photostability. In other words, it resists degradation from UV exposure, which lets it maintain its protective performance throughout sun exposure. This stability presents an additional advantage: it contributes to protecting other UV filters that are more light-sensitive, in particular avobenzone and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate. A 2001 study by Gabard et al. demonstrated this dose-dependent photostabilization effect, showing that adding bemotrizinol preserved an optimal ratio between SPF and the UVA protection factor (PF-UVA) even after prolonged irradiation.

What is the safety profile of “Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine”?

In 1999 the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) concluded there was no evidence of toxicity, irritation, or sensitization associated with “Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine,” deeming its safe for use in skincare formulations at authorized concentrations. This assessment was reinforced by a 2024 clinical study involving 30 participants with sensitive skin predisposed to reactions from first-generation sunscreen filters. No participant showed signs of contact dermatitis—redness, itching, or inflammation—after applying a moisturizer containing BEMT. These findings confirm good skin tolerance of this UV filter, even in sensitive or atopic individuals.

Although these data support a high safety profile, it is recommended to perform a skin patch test prior to any use, as with any cosmetic product. Three isolated cases of allergic contact dermatitis have been reported since its market launch. These occurrences are rare but possible, especially in individuals with a history of allergies. Each skin is unique; an individual reaction cannot be excluded, even for an ingredient tolerated by most.

Moreover, several studies support the favorable toxicological profile of bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine. In particular, research showed that it does not act as an endocrine disruptor. According to a study in vitro from 2001 (LEFEVRE P. A. et al.), it was demonstrated that this filter does not bind to estrogenic or androgenic receptors, which rules out an endocrine disruptor effect. Data also indicate that its skin penetration is very low, thus limiting its entry into systemic circulation. Environmentally, current data indicate that BEMT would exert no measurable negative effects on the marine ecosystem (corals, algae, crustaceans, fish), alone or when used in combination with other UV filters.

What is the current regulatory status of "Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine" ?

While in Europe "Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine" is an approved UV filter at up to a 10% concentration in a finished product, it remains prohibited in the United States by the FDA. Its safety and efficacy have not been assessed by the FDA under sunscreen monographs. It is recognized as safe and effective by regulators in Europe and Asia. In the United States, it can be used as a formulation stabilizer, where it protects the product itself from light-induced degradation.

In Japan, it is permitted up to 3% but prohibited in products intended for mucous membranes.