Ingredient glossary
Octocrylene
On your shelf ✓What Octocrylene does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Octocrylene
In short: Octocrylene delivers uvb protection and photostabilizer, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is moderate. One thing to know: clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently.
- What it does
- Uvb protection, photostabilizer
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Watch out
- Clear it with your doctor if pregnant; introduce it gently
- Evidence
- Moderate
The molecule
The Glow take
Only as good as the sunscreen it lives in.
As a single filter, Octocrylene only matters as part of a finished sunscreen you actually reapply. The best SPF is the one that feels good enough to wear every morning.
— Maya
What it does
- uvb protection
- photostabilizer
moderate evidenceData indicate octocrylene helps maintain SPF and UVA protection in blends but has been associated with rare photoallergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
On a label: usually effective at 4-10%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- normal
- oily
Approach with care
- very sensitive
- fragrance allergy like
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskModerate
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveTake care
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: fragrance allergy like.
Where it fits in your routine
Plays well with
Octocrylene, answered
Is Octocrylene safe during pregnancy?
Clear it with your doctor first. Octocrylene is flagged as use-with-caution during pregnancy and breastfeeding, so check with your doctor or midwife before adding it.
Who should avoid Octocrylene?
Approach Octocrylene with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive and fragrance allergy like. Its irritation risk is moderate, so introduce it slowly and patch test first.
What concentration of Octocrylene actually works?
Octocrylene tends to do its job in the 4 to 10% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.
During pregnancy
Treat Octocrylene as a maybe rather than a yes for now. It is flagged as one to use with caution while pregnant or breastfeeding, so it is worth clearing before you carry on.
When in doubt, check with your doctor or midwife. They outrank any website, including this one.
Compare Octocrylene with
Can you mix Octocrylene with
This, for every label you own
One ingredient is easy. A full label is where it gets confusing. The Ingredient Decoder reads any product and tells you the honest truth, ingredient by ingredient.