Benzophenone-3
AKA “oxybenzone, 2-HYDROXY-4-METHOXYBENZOPHENONE, 2-Benzoyl-5-methoxyphenol, Advastab 45, Oxybenzon, Anuvex, 4-Methoxy-2-hydroxybenzophenone, Ongrostab HMB”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Benzophenone-3
AKA: Oxybenzone, 2-HYDROXY-4-METHOXYBENZOPHENONE, 2-Benzoyl-5-methoxyphenol, Advastab 45, Oxybenzon, Anuvex, 4-Methoxy-2-hydroxybenzophenone, Ongrostab HMB
Synthetic · Uv Absorber · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Sunscreen Filter
Safety Concern
Synthetic
Not Clean
A UV filter that protects skin from sun damage and helps prevent product breakdown when exposed to light.
Solubility less than 1 mg/mL at 68 °F (NTP, 1992)
Formula
C14H12O3
Mol. Weight
228.24
CAS #
131-57-7
Form
Powder
State
2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone appears as white to off-white or light yellow powder. (NTP, 1992)
See origin →
Functions
Light Stabilizer
Uv Absorber
Blocks or absorbs UV rays to protect your skin from sun damage, dark spots, and premature aging.
Uv Filter
Blocks or absorbs UV rays to protect your skin from sun damage, dark spots, and premature aging.
Shields from UV damage
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
Sun Damage
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
No
EWG
1
CIR
Safe w/Qualifications
Pregnancy
No
Restricted By
CIR Safety Findings
Not a Sensitizer
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
6.0%
0%8%
Reg. Limit
FDA OTC limit (Sunscreen): 6%. 21 CFR 352.10 | EU/SCCS limit: 0.5% in ready for use preparation, sunscreen. Opinion: SCCS/1625/20
Regulatory Agencies
Benzophenone-3
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Dermatological and environmental toxicological impact of the sunscreen ingredient oxybenzone/benzophenone-3.
DiNardo JC, Downs CA
Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 2018
Oxybenzone Toxicity to Coral Reef Organisms
Downs CA, Kramarsky-Winter E, Segal R, Fauth J, Knutson S, et al.
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2016
Benzophenone-3: Comprehensive review of the toxicological and human evidence with meta-analysis of human biomonitoring studies.
Mustieles V, Balogh RK, Axelstad M, Montazeri P, Márquez S et al.
Environment international, 2023
Review of environmental effects of oxybenzone and other s...
Samantha L Schneider, Henry W Lim
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2019
Review of environmental effects of oxybenzone and other sunscreen active ingredients.
Schneider SL, Lim HW
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2019
Review of environmental effects of oxybenzone and other sunscreen active ingredients.
Schneider SL, Lim HW
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2019
Comparison of developmental toxicity of benzophenone-3 and its metabolite benzophenone-8 in zebrafish.
Wang Y, Jiang S, Chen X, Liu X, Li N et al.
Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 2023
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR