What Avobenzone does
It absorbs across the UVA range, including UVA1 — the wavelengths driving pigmentation and photoageing.
Unstabilised, it degrades significantly within an hour of sun exposure. Formulators pair it with octocrylene, or newer filters, to hold it together.
Worth using if…
- Cosmetically elegant daily sunscreen
- Deeper skin tones avoiding white cast
- Under makeup
Safety & watch-outs
- Photostability depends entirely on the rest of the formula — the filter list matters more than the SPF number.
- It is on some pregnancy caution lists alongside other organic filters.
- Can sting the eyes in high-filter formulas.
Avobenzone in pregnancy: Ask your doctor
Organic UV filters are absorbed to a measurable degree, and some pregnancy guidance suggests defaulting to mineral filters. There is no evidence of harm; if you want to be conservative, use zinc oxide.
Comedogenic rating: No published rating
No Fulton rating. Ratings come from the published Fulton scale, which was measured on rabbit ears rather than human faces — treat it as a rough signal, not a verdict on a finished formula.
Check a whole formula for pore cloggers →Common questions
Why do EU sunscreens feel better?
They have access to filters like Tinosorb S and Uvinul A Plus that are both more stable and cosmetically lighter than avobenzone systems.
Informational only, not medical advice. Written from public regulatory and dermatology references (EU Cosmetics Regulation annexes, SCCS opinions, CIR reviews, published Fulton-scale data). Concentration, formula and your own skin all change the outcome — consult a clinician for personal concerns.
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