Why doesn't Typology use Octocrylene?

First used in the 1990s, octocrylene is an organic UV filter that primarily protects against UVB rays (290–320 nm), while also offering slight protection against short UVA rays. It can be found in both sunscreens and daily creams, as well as makeup products containing a SPF. Looking at its chemical structure, octocrylene is an ester of benzoic acid, characterized by a conjugated aromatic structure. This configuration allows it to absorb UV photons and dissipate the energy in the form of heat, a typical mechanism of chemical sun filters. It's also worth noting that it's a lipophilic filter, meaning it has good compatibility with oily phases.

From a regulatory standpoint, the European Union permits the use of octocrylene at a maximum concentration of 10%, except for aerosols where it cannot be incorporated at a percentage higher than 9%. This filter is therefore listed in Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. In the United States, where the regulation surrounding sun filters is somewhat unique, octocrylene can also be used up to 10%. However, it is banned in the Republic of Palau and the U.S. Virgin Islands due to environmental concerns it raises. Furthermore, octocrylene is suspected of disrupting the endocrine system and is currently under increased scrutiny.

As a precautionary measure, we have decided to exclude octocrylene from our sun care products.

Even though octocrylene is a permitted and regulated sunscreen filter in the European Union and the United States, it does not mean it is completely harmless.

What are the risks of octocrylene to skin and human health?

• Octocrylene is linked to risks of photoallergies.

  Octocrylene is generally well tolerated by the skin. A German study conducted on 2,577 patients subjected to a patch test with a 10% octocrylene solution revealed only two mildly positive reactions, a rate of just 0.08%. These results were confirmed on a European scale: another multicenter study noted an allergic reaction rate of 0.7% in over 1,000 patients suspected of contact dermatitis related to sun care products. Children however, appear to be slightly more sensitive than adults, likely due to the fragility of their skin barrier and the increased prevalence of atopic dermatitis in this age group.

  Photoallergic reactions are more common. In a large European photopatch test study, about 4% of the people tested showed a photoallergic reaction to octocrylene. This type of reaction seems to be strongly linked to a prior sensitization to topical ketoprofen, an anti-inflammatory with a similar chemical structure. In an Italian study involving 156 patients, 61.5% of octocrylene photoallergy cases were associated with a concurrent reaction to ketoprofen. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain this co-reactivity, including a possible degradation of octocrylene into benzophenone, a photoreactive compound.

A study conducted in 2021 evaluated the formation of benzophenone in sunscreen products tested at purchase and then after accelerated aging simulating one year of storage. Benzophenone was detected in all products initially containing octocrylene, but not in the one that was devoid of it. The average rates doubled after aging (from 39 to 75 mg/kg), reaching up to 435 mg/kg.

The authors of the study thus concluded:"Our work unequivocally establishes that octocrylene undergoes a slow retro-aldol condensation reaction that results in the formation of benzophenone. This process occurred in all tested commercial sunscreens containing octocrylene, leading to a concurrent increase in benzophenone concentration as the product ages".

• Octocrylene is suspected to be an endocrine disruptor.

  There are also suspicions about octocrylene's effect on the endocrine system. Some studies in rats have shown that octocrylene can affect the metabolism of thyroid hormones. In a 2019 study, high exposure (up to 193 mg/kg/day) led to an increase in enzymes responsible for the degradation of thyroxine (T4), resulting in compensatory stimulation of the thyroid via the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. However, this reaction is considered specific to rodents. Humans have a T4 binding protein in the blood, which limits the depletion of this hormone and therefore reduces the risk of comparable thyroid stimulation. For this reason, the Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS) does not include these effects in its assessment of human risks, although vigilance remains necessary.

  However, if octocrylene is accused of being an endocrine disruptor, it's also due to its transformation into benzophenone. Indeed, several studies have reported estrogen-like activity in vitro on cells and in vivo on rats/zebrafish due to benzophenone. This compound could have an acute effect on endogenous reproductive hormone levels in humans and interfere with the functioning of the endocrine system (hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis), potentially affecting human health after topical application. Given that octocrylene has a high risk of transforming into benzophenone, concerns remain.

• Octocrylene could potentially be carcinogenic.

  For the same reasons, that is, by degrading into benzophenone, octocrylene could present a carcinogenic risk. A 2008 report revealed that exposing human lung cancer cells to non-toxic concentrations of benzophenone could cause the cells to change behavior towards mesenchymal phenotypes (epithelial-mesenchymal transition). This is a process that facilitates the formation of metastases, or the ability of tumor cells resistant to anoikis to migrate and invade surrounding tissues to form secondary tumors. Other studies have reportedly identified effects of this compound on mammary tumorigenesis in mice.

  However, whether it's benzophenone or octocrylene, more studies are needed to make a definitive statement. Furthermore, the CSSC concluded in its latest report that octocrylene does not pose a carcinogenic risk.

Are there environmental risks associated with Octocrylene?

Finally, beyond the risks posed by octocrylene to human health, this UV filter raises concerns about its impact on aquatic ecosystems, particularly coral reefs. Studies conducted on the coral Pocillopora damicornis have shown that exposure to concentrations of 300 μg/L and above results in a massive closure of corals. Even more concerning, researchers have found a buildup of octocrylene and its derivatives in coral tissues, starting at 5 μg/L — levels comparable to those measured in some coastal areas. These derivatives, formed by coupling octocrylene with fatty acids, are very lipophilic and likely to accumulate over time. Furthermore, traces of octocrylene and its metabolites have been detected in various marine organisms, such as dolphins and mussels, suggesting a fairly broad bioaccumulation.

In response to these findings, some regions, such as Hawaii, have banned the sale of products containing octocrylene to protect coral reefs.

• Règlement (CE) n°1223/2009 du Parlement Européen et du Conseil.

• HUNGERBÜHLER K. & al. Ultraviolet filter contact and photocontact allergy: consumer exposure and risk assessment for octocrylene from personal care products and sunscreens. British Journal of Dermatology (2014).

• MARINOVICH M. & al. Review of the safety of octocrylene used as an ultraviolet filter in cosmetics. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology (2019).

• LEBARON P. & al. Metabolomics Reveal That Octocrylene Accumulates in Pocillopora damicornis Tissues as Fatty Acid Conjugates and Triggers Coral Cell Mitochondrial Dysfunction. Analytical Chemistry (2019).

• ADLER B. L. & al. Sunscreen Safety: a Review of Recent Studies on Humans and the Environment. Current Dermatology Reports (2020).

• LEBARON P. & al. Benzophenone Accumulates over Time from the Degradation of Octocrylene in Commercial Sunscreen Products. Chemical Research in Toxicology (2021).

• Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). Opinion on Octocrylene (2021).

• KHALID M. & al. Environmental implications and nanotechnological advances in octocrylene-enriched sunscreen formulations: A comprehensive review. Chemosphere (2024).

• FERNANDEZ-MARTIN M.-E. & al. Next Generation Risk Assessment to Address Disease-Related Vulnerability—A Proof of Concept for the Sunscreen Octocrylene. Toxics (2025).