BENZOPHENONE-3 (oxybenzone)
Official label name (INCI name, EU glossary of cosmetic ingredient names), No 3221
- UV filter allowed under conditions (Annex VI)
BENZOPHENONE-3 (oxybenzone): UV filter allowed under conditions, with limits depending on the product type (Annex VI, entry 4), under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.
In plain words
What it is used for
Functions declared by manufacturers:
Light stabilizer.
UV absorber: protects the cosmetic product from the effects of UV light.
UV filter: filters certain UV rays in order to protect the skin or the hair from harmful effects of these rays.
What the rules say
An ingredient can be used as a UV filter only if it appears on the list of Annex VI. <function plain_language.<locals>.name at 0x7f7805a65580> is on it with a maximum concentration, for some product types only and with a warning to print.
The text of the annexes
UV filter allowed under conditions
- Entry
- Annex VI, No 4
- Substance
- 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone / Oxybenzone
- Glossary names
- BENZOPHENONE-3
- CAS
- 131-57-7
- EC
- 205-031-5
- Product type
- a) Face products, hand products, and lip products, excluding propellant and pump spray products b) Body products, including propellant and pump spray products c) Other products
- Maximum concentration
- a) 6% b) 2,2% c) 0,5% Footnote 1: However, cosmetic products containing '2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzophenone/Oxybenzone' and complying with the restrictions set out in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as applicable on 27 July 2022 may be placed on the Union market until 28 January 2023 and be made available on the Union market until 28 July 2023.
- Other conditions
- a) If used at 0,5 % to protect product formulation, the levels used as UV filter must not exceed 5,5 %. b) If used at 0,5 % to protect product formulation, the levels used as UV filter must not exceed 1,7 %.
- Warnings
- For a) and b): Contains Benzophenone-3 (*) Footnote (*): Not required if concentration is 0,5 % or less and when it is used only for product protection purposes.
Dates in the act (3)
- Entry into force on 28 July 2022
- Placing on the market until 28 January 2023
However, cosmetic products containing that substance and complying with the restrictions set out in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as applicable on 27 July 2022 may be placed on the Union market until 28 January 2023 and be made available on the Union market until 28 July 2023.
- Making available until 28 July 2023
However, cosmetic products containing that substance and complying with the restrictions set out in Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 as applicable on 27 July 2022 may be placed on the Union market until 28 January 2023 and be made available on the Union market until 28 July 2023.
Excerpts from the English text published in the Official Journal. A date may concern only some substances of the act: the excerpt says so.
Identity
- CosIng identifier
- 32142
- CAS (according to CosIng)
- 131-57-7
- EC (according to CosIng)
- 205-031-5
- Declared functions
- Light stabilizer, UV absorber, UV filter
- Wikidata
- Q518114
- PubChem
- 4632
- ECHA InfoCard
- 100.004.575
- InChIKey
- DXGLGDHPHMLXJC-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Elsewhere in the world
Information on other jurisdictions. What is covered, and what is not yet.
United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- UV filter allowed under conditions (Annex VI)
Same entries as in the European Union. Conditions (concentrations, warnings) may differ: they are not compared here.
Switzerland
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 applies in Switzerland (Article 54 of the Ordinance on Foodstuffs and Utility Articles).
United States, federal rules
None of the integrated sections of the federal code (21 CFR 700.11 to 700.27 and 250.250) targets this name. The FDA does not publish a list of allowed ingredients.
South Korea
- Restricted: 벤조페논-3(옥시벤존) (BENZOPHENONE-3)
별표 2, 자외선 차단성분 (UV filters), entry 11, page 15. Limit: 2.4% (다만, 얼굴,손 및 입술에 사용되는 제품에는 5%).
Recorded cosmetics that contain it
51 recorded products list it, according to Open Beauty Facts contributors. Records are dated: the formula may have changed. See the list (page in French).
Glossary: Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1175. Page updated on 21 October 2026.