- What it can be used for
- Protects the product from UV light and protects the product from light (the functions the EU ingredient database, CosIng, lists for it; a product may use it for any of them)
- CAS number
- 131-56-6
Why it’s flagged
Under EU evaluation as an endocrine disruptor, or identified as one by a national authority (ED Lists II and III).
- EU ED List II: under evaluation as an endocrine disruptor. Source: EU endocrine disruptor lists (edlists.org)
EU ED List II: under evaluation as an endocrine disruptor in an EU process. List III: identified as one by a national authority in the EU.
What the research says
- Studies reviewed in the cosmetics industry's own 2021 benzophenone safety report found benzophenone-3 estrogenic in MCF-7 breast cancer cells (EC50 1.56-3.73 uM) and estrogenic/antiandrogenic in a yeast reporter assay (EC50 6.44 uM estrogen, 10.2 uM antiandrogen), and found benzophenone-1 and benzophenone-2 estrogen- and androgen-receptor-active in ovarian and prostate cancer cell lines; the industry panel's own Discussion and Conclusion do not address this data when reaching a 'safe' determination. Moderate evidence. CIR 2021 Benzophenones Industry-funded
- The cosmetics industry's own safety panel (CIR, funded by the Personal Care Products Council) concluded in 2021 that Benzophenone-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, -8, -9, -10, -11 and -12 are 'safe' in cosmetics at their present concentrations of use, including Benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone) used as a light stabilizer or fragrance-formulation ingredient at up to 0.5%. Moderate evidence. CIR 2021 Benzophenones Industry-funded
Each finding shows its evidence grade. See every graded fact or how we grade.
What this page can’t tell you
These lists describe what a substance can do, its hazard. The risk from one product depends on how much is in it and how you use it, and the label doesn’t say how much.
Not being on a list doesn’t make an ingredient safe. It may never have been assessed.
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Official lists checked September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.