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Quick answer: Octinoxate carries the heavier risk profile. Octinoxate is restricted in the EU and allowed in the US; Octisalate is allowed in the EU and allowed in the US.
| Property | Octinoxate | Octisalate |
|---|---|---|
| EU status | Restricted | Allowed |
| US status | Allowed | Allowed |
| Risk level | high | low |
| Banned in | — | — |
| Restricted in | European Union | — |
| Category | uv filter | uv filter |
| Where it hides | sunscreen, SPF moisturizer, foundation | Banana Boat Sport Performance SPF 100, Coppertone Sport SPF 50, Neutrogena Beach Defense SPF 70 |
Octinoxate is an organic UVB filter (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate).
Octisalate (INCI: Ethylhexyl Salicylate) is an oil-soluble UVB-absorbing chemical sunscreen active. It is primarily used as a UVB filter and photostabilizer for avobenzone.
Octinoxate: A suspected endocrine disruptor; the EU restricts its concentration and reef regions ban it, but it remains common in US sunscreens.
Octisalate: Octisalate is FDA-approved at up to 5% and EU-permitted at up to 5%. It has a good safety record and low sensitization rate. The 2019 FDA absorption study detected systemic absorption above the 0.5 ng/mL threshold, warranting further study. This does not indicate known harm. It is a salicylate; those with aspirin sensitivity should note the structural relationship, though reactions are rare.
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