INCI
Cosmetic ingredient

OCTOCRYLENE

Octocrylene is an organic UV filter found mainly in sunscreens and in other cosmetics designed for light exposure. It is made through chemical synthesis and is described by PubChem as a viscous yellow liquid, so it is not a botanical extract or a plant oil with a similar-sounding name.

INCIOC1 products
CAS number
6197-30-4
EC number
228-250-8
Chemical name
2-Cyano-3,3-Diphenyl Acrylic Acid 2-Ethylhexyl Ester

OCTOCRYLENE: what it is

Octocrylene is an organic UV filter found mainly in sunscreens and in other cosmetics designed for light exposure. It is made through chemical synthesis and is described by PubChem as a viscous yellow liquid, so it is not a botanical extract or a plant oil with a similar-sounding name.

On an ingredient list, it may appear beside several other filters. The name refers to a molecule used to absorb part of ultraviolet radiation and to help a composition remain stable in light. That combination explains its place in sun-protection formulas rather than in products marketed as treatments for the skin.

OCTOCRYLENE: what it does in cosmetics

Octocrylene is used to contribute to a cosmetic product's UV protection: by absorbing ultraviolet radiation, it forms part of the filter system intended to reduce the radiation reaching the skin. Protection is a property of the finished product, so seeing this ingredient alone does not state a formula's SPF or its UVA coverage.

Its light-stabilizing role can help the composition behave more consistently when exposed to radiation. This is a formulation benefit, not a separate claim of moisturising, brightening, or treating the skin. An in-vitro study examined filter combinations that included octocrylene and avobenzone while comparing encapsulation technologies; it does not show a clinical skin benefit from octocrylene on its own.

OCTOCRYLENE: conditions and care

In the European Union, octocrylene is authorised as a UV filter at a maximum concentration of 10%. It must not be used in applications that could lead to the end user's lungs being exposed by inhalation.

Use limits

Restrictions and conditions of use

Cosmetic restriction
VI/10
Catalogue presence

Products containing this ingredient

See which products include it and the name used in each composition.