Common Name(s): Glyceryl ethylhexanoate dimethoxycinnamate
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Absorbs or reflects uv radiation, preventing uv-induced dna damage, photo-oxidative stress, and premature skin aging.
Why It's Used: Uv filters are the active ingredients in sun protection — without them, formulations cannot make spf claims or prevent solar-induced skin damage.
How It Works: The uv-absorbing chromophore undergoes photoexcitation by uv photons, then dissipates the absorbed energy through thermal relaxation (chemical filters) or photon scattering/reflection (physical filters), preventing photon penetration to skin cells.
Typically Found In: Sunscreens,moisturizers with spf,foundations with spf
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Uv filters
Secondary Functions: Skin-protecting
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.5–25% (within regulatory limits)
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional - feedstock declaration required
Halal Status: Unverified - feedstock declaration required (plant, animal and petrochemical routes all exist)
Source Notes: Synthetic uv filter; no animal components. [audit 2026-07-29 rev2: origin-dependent: the same inci exists in plant, animal and petrochemical versions and the name does not discriminate. determination requires shariah-panel sign-off.]
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1
Comedogenicity Rating: 0
Sensitivity Concerns: Contact allergy to uv filters occurs in approximately 1–3% of the general population; patch testing recommended for those with known photosensitivity.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Regulatory approval required per market (eu annex vi, fda otc monograph, etc.). generally non-irritating at approved concentrations.
Works Well With: Other uv filters,antioxidants,emollients
Avoid Combining With: Incompatible filter combinations (photodegradation); check regulatory approvals per region
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Uv filters operate through two mechanisms: organic/chemical filters absorb uv photons through electronic excitation (π→π* transitions in conjugated systems), then dissipate energy via thermal relaxation; inorganic/physical filters (tio2, zno) scatter and reflect photons through mie scattering (particle size 50–300 nm) and band gap absorption. spf is measured in vivo (iso 24444) as the ratio of minimal erythema doses with and without sunscreen.
Last Verified: 2025-01-15
Primary Sources: Cosing eu database; pcpc cosmetic ingredient safety reviews; eu cosmetics regulation annex vi; iso 24444 (in vivo spf testing)