Octocrylene

uv filterDepends on context

Also on labels as: 2-ethylhexyl 2-cyano-3,3-diphenyl acrylate, Eusolex OCR, Parsol 340

In one line

A synthetic UV filter that absorbs UVB and short UVA rays to protect skin from sun damage.

What is Octocrylene?

Octocrylene is a synthetic chemical UV filter made from an ester of 2-ethylhexanol and a cyanoacrylate compound. It is produced entirely in the laboratory and does not occur naturally. Its oily texture also makes it useful as a stabiliser for other UV filters, such as avobenzone, in a formulation.

What does it do in the product?

Octocrylene absorbs ultraviolet radiation—primarily in the UVB range and the shorter end of UVA—and converts it to a small amount of heat, reducing the UV energy that reaches skin cells. It also stabilises photoinstable filters in the same formula, helping the overall sunscreen maintain its SPF over time. Its slight emollient character can improve the spreadability and feel of a product on skin.

Where you usually find it

Sunscreen lotions and sprays
Daily moisturisers with SPF
Lip balms with sun protection
After-sun products
Foundation and tinted primers with SPF

Is Octocrylene something to worry about?

Octocrylene is absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream at measurable levels, a finding that prompted the FDA to request additional safety data before it could be classified as Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective. Some studies have found it accumulates in human breast milk and marine organisms, raising environmental questions. For most adults using sunscreen as directed, regulatory bodies have not concluded it causes harm, but the data gap is genuine and ongoing review is warranted.

Who should pay attention

People with known contact or photocontact allergies to this ingredient or to benzophenones, as cross-reactions can occur
Pregnant and breastfeeding individuals who prefer to minimise systemic absorption from cosmetics
Parents applying sunscreen to infants and young children, given the higher surface-area-to-body-weight ratio in small children
Coral reef environments and ecosystems—octocrylene has been detected in marine waters and organisms at concerning concentrations
Anyone with a history of eczema or sensitive skin who experiences reactions to chemical UV filters

How is it regulated?

In the United States, the FDA regulates sunscreen ingredients as over-the-counter drug active ingredients. Octocrylene is currently permitted at up to 10% while the FDA awaits additional safety data requested in its 2019 proposed rulemaking; it has not yet been classified as safe and effective under the revised framework. In the European Union, the European Commission permits octocrylene in cosmetics at a maximum concentration of 10%, and EFSA-adjacent cosmetics authorities have continued to allow its use pending any new safety conclusions.

How to spot it on a label

On a sunscreen, octocrylene appears in the 'Active Ingredients' section in the United States, listed with its percentage concentration, which must be 10% or below. In some international products it may appear in the standard ingredients list under one of its chemical synonyms. If a label also lists avobenzone, octocrylene is likely there partly to stabilise it, so the two names often appear together.

What a cleaner swap looks like

Mineral UV filters—zinc oxide and titanium dioxide—sit on the skin surface rather than being absorbed, and both have received a 'safe and effective' determination from the FDA under the current framework. For those who dislike the white cast of mineral filters, newer non-nano formulations have improved cosmetic elegance considerably. Scanning the label with InZoRAH can help you compare the active ingredients in a product against these mineral alternatives before you buy.

Questions people also ask about Octocrylene

Is octocrylene safe to use in sunscreen?

Most regulatory bodies still permit it, but the FDA has requested more safety data before fully endorsing it under its revised sunscreen drug framework. The ingredient is absorbed into the bloodstream, and some researchers have flagged its presence in breast milk. For healthy adults, the short-term risk appears low, though the long-term picture is still being evaluated.

Why does octocrylene appear alongside avobenzone on labels?

Avobenzone is effective at absorbing UVA rays but degrades quickly in sunlight. Octocrylene chemically stabilises avobenzone, slowing its breakdown and helping the sunscreen maintain its declared SPF and UVA protection throughout wear. The pairing is a deliberate formulation strategy rather than coincidence.

Can octocrylene cause an allergic reaction?

Yes. Contact allergy and photocontact allergy—where the reaction is triggered only when the ingredient is on skin that is then exposed to sunlight—have both been documented. People sensitive to benzophenone compounds are sometimes also reactive to octocrylene. A patch test conducted by a dermatologist can confirm sensitivity.

Is octocrylene harmful to coral reefs?

Evidence is growing that octocrylene accumulates in marine organisms and aquatic environments, which has led some jurisdictions to restrict certain chemical UV filters in reef-adjacent areas. The environmental concern is distinct from human safety questions but is a legitimate reason some consumers prefer mineral sunscreens, especially when swimming in natural water.

What is the maximum concentration of octocrylene allowed in products?

Both the US and EU cap octocrylene at 10% in finished products. US sunscreens must declare the percentage in the active ingredients panel, so you can see exactly how much a formula contains. EU cosmetics list it by INCI name in the ingredients list without a required percentage disclosure.

Is octocrylene the same as oxybenzone?

No. They are different synthetic UV filters with distinct chemical structures, though both are absorbed through the skin and both face ongoing safety scrutiny. Oxybenzone belongs to the benzophenone family; octocrylene is an acrylate-based compound. Some people are sensitive to one but not the other, so it is worth identifying which ingredient caused a past reaction.

Where this came from

FDA over-the-counter sunscreen drug monograph and 2019 proposed rulemaking — Supports the permitted concentration limit, the GRASE status gap, and the request for additional safety data
EU Cosmetics Regulation permitted UV filter list — Supports the 10% maximum concentration permitted in European cosmetic products
FDA sunscreen absorption clinical studies — Supports findings that octocrylene is measurably absorbed into the bloodstream and detectable in breast milk at levels above FDA thresholds for toxicology review
Peer-reviewed environmental chemistry literature on UV filter accumulation in marine ecosystems — Supports concerns about octocrylene bioaccumulation in coral and other marine organisms

Original write-up based on public records. Educational information, not medical advice — ingredient records change, so always read the physical label if you have an allergy.

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