Skincare ingredients for sun protection
Our research data links 37 ingredients to sun protection. Strongest evidence comes first, each with the studies behind it.
A research list, not medical advice. If a skin condition worries you, see a dermatologist.
Which ingredients have the most evidence for sun protection?
In our data, the strongest evidence for sun protection is behind Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate (Amiloxate), Avobenzone, and Benzylidene Camphor Sulfonic Acid.
Get a free routine matched to your skin
Answer 5 questions, skip the rest. Free, and no sign-up to see it.
| Ingredient | Evidence | Studied at | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate (Amiloxate) | 🏛 Regulatory evidence | EU limit 10% | Low concern |
| Avobenzone | 🏛 Regulatory evidence | EU limit 5% | Low concern |
| Benzylidene Camphor Sulfonic Acid | 🏛 Regulatory evidence | EU limit 6% (acid equivalent) | Low concern |
| Bemotrizinol | 🏛 Regulatory evidence | EU limit 10%; US final limit 6% | Low concern |
| Bisdisulizole disodium | 🏛 Regulatory evidence | EU limit 10% (acid equivalent) | Low concern |
- Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate (Amiloxate)Low concern
Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate
Studied at EU limit 10%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 189 products
- AvobenzoneLow concern
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Studied at EU limit 5%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 720 products
- Benzylidene Camphor Sulfonic AcidLow concern
Studied at EU limit 6% (acid equivalent)
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Not in our product list yet
- BemotrizinolLow concern
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Studied at EU limit 10%; US final limit 6%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
- Reference: FDA, 2026
- Reference: FDA, 2026
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1,015 products
- Bisdisulizole disodiumLow concern
Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate
Studied at EU limit 10% (acid equivalent)
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1 product
- Sodium sulisobenzone (Benzophenone-5)Low concern
Benzophenone-5
Studied at EU limit 5% combined with BP4 (acid equivalent)
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 111 products
- Camphor Benzalkonium MethosulfateLow concern
Studied at EU limit 6%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Not in our product list yet
- Diethylhexyl butamido triazoneLow concern
Studied at EU limit 10%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 98 products
- Diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexyl benzoateLow concern
Studied at EU limit 10%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
- Reference: European Commission, 2026
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1,006 products
- Drometrizole trisiloxaneLow concern
Studied at EU limit 15%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 139 products
- EcamsuleLow concern
Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid
Studied at EU limit 10% (acid equivalent)
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 235 products
- Ethylhexyl triazoneLow concern
Studied at EU limit 5%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 630 products
- EnsulizoleLow concern
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
Studied at EU limit 8% (acid equivalent)
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 250 products
Bis-(Diethylaminohydroxybenzoyl Benzoyl) Piperazine
Studied at EU limit 10% nano combined
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Not in our product list yet
Studied at EU limit combined with non-nano 10%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Not in our product list yet
- HomosalateModerate concern
Studied at EU limit 7.34% face only; propellant spray excluded
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: use with care · Listed in 614 products
- BisoctrizoleLow concern
Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol
Studied at EU limit 10% nano combined
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 216 products
Studied at EU limit combined with non-nano 10%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Not in our product list yet
Studied at EU limit 3%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 3 products
- OctisalateModerate concern
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
Studied at EU limit 5%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1,235 products
- OctocryleneLow concern
Studied at EU limit 10%; propellant spray 9%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 649 products
- OctinoxateLow concern
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Studied at EU limit 10%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: use with care · Listed in 1,070 products
- OxybenzoneModerate concern
Benzophenone-3
Studied at EU 6%; face, hands and lips spray excluded; body 2.2%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: use with care · Listed in 52 products
- Polyacrylamidomethyl Benzylidene CamphorLow concern
Studied at EU limit 6%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Not in our product list yet
- Padimate OLow concern
Ethylhexyl Dimethyl PABA
Studied at EU limit 8%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1 product
- Phenylene Bis-DiphenyltriazineLow concern
Studied at EU limit 5%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Not in our product list yet
- PEG-25 PABALow concern
Studied at EU limit 10%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Not in our product list yet
- Polysilicone-15Low concern
Studied at EU limit 10%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 345 products
- SulisobenzoneLow concern
Benzophenone-4
Studied at EU limit 5% (acid equivalent); combined with BP5
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 92 products
- Tris-biphenyl triazineLow concern
Studied at EU limit 10% specification nano
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 2 products
- Titanium dioxideLow concern
Studied at EU limit 25%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not advised against on skin · Listed in 3,361 products
- Titanium Dioxide (nano)Low concern
Studied at EU limit combined with non-nano 25%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 4 products
- Zinc oxideLow concern
Studied at EU limit 25%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not advised against on skin · Listed in 1,215 products
- Zinc Oxide (nano)Low concern
Studied at EU limit combined with non-nano 25%
Not a score for the SPF or skin-cancer prevention effect of an individual filter. Optical testing of the whole composition is needed, including crystal form, particle size, dissolution and film.
- Reference: European Union
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 3 products
- Iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3; CI77491)Low concern
CI 77491
Studied at N/A; finished-product visible-light blocking test needed
An auxiliary pigment for visible-light protection. Its stand-alone UV-filter score is 1.0; keep the effect of finished products for melasma prevention apart, as in sections 4 and 15 and the formulation table.
- Reference: Castanedo-Cazares et al., 2014
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 1,221 products
- Iron(II,III) oxide (Fe3O4; CI77499)Low concern
CI 77499
Studied at N/A; finished-product visible-light blocking test needed
An auxiliary pigment for visible-light protection. Its stand-alone UV-filter score is 1.0; keep the effect of finished products for melasma prevention apart, as in sections 4 and 15 and the formulation table.
- Reference: Castanedo-Cazares et al., 2014
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 551 products
- Iron(III) oxyhydroxide (FeOOH; CI77492)Low concern
CI 77492
Studied at N/A; finished-product visible-light blocking test needed
An auxiliary pigment for visible-light protection. Its stand-alone UV-filter score is 1.0; keep the effect of finished products for melasma prevention apart, as in sections 4 and 15 and the formulation table.
- Reference: Castanedo-Cazares et al., 2014
Pregnancy: not rated yet · Listed in 890 products
Which ingredients for sun protection are advised against in pregnancy?
None of the 37 ingredients here carries an 'advised to avoid' verdict for pregnancy in our data.
Use with care (the reason is on each ingredient page): Homosalate, Octinoxate, and Oxybenzone.
Pregnant or breastfeeding? Check new products with your doctor or midwife.
Get a routine for your skin
A free quiz picks products for your concerns and leaves out ingredients you tell it to avoid. Answer 5 questions, skip the rest.