Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
Globally approved · 10 filters

Globally approved
across JP, KR, and US.

UV filters with approved status in Japan (MHLW), Korea (MFDS), and the United States (FDA). The safest baseline for cross-market reformulation — basically the blueprint.

10 of 34 showing
Whether each regulator (JP MHLW, KR MFDS, EU SCCS, US FDA) allows this filter in sunscreens, and the maximum concentration permitted by law. A ✓ means approved; — means not allowed or not yet evaluated.
Avobenzone
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane
Aka ブチルメトキシジベンゾイルメタン · 부틸메톡시디벤조일메탄
Also sold as Parsol 1789 (DSM)
Legacy organic OG chemical filters from before 2000 — widely approved. ! UNSTABLE Photo-unstable — degrades under sunlight without stabilising filters. Big ick.
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — not covered
JP ✓ 10% Japan: Approved · Max 10% KR ✓ 5% South Korea: Approved · Max 5% EU ✓ 5% Europe: Approved · Max 5% US ✓ 3% United States: Approved · Max 3%
231
Products
Bemotrizinol
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Aka ビスエチルヘキシルオキシフェノールメトキシフェニルトリアジン · 비스에틸헥실옥시페놀메톡시페닐트리아진
Also sold as Tinosorb S (BASF)
Modern organic Next-gen photostable chemical filters — built different.
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
JP ✓ 3% Japan: Approved · Max 3% KR ✓ 10% South Korea: Approved · Max 10% EU ✓ 10% Europe: Approved · Max 10% US ✓ 6% United States: Approved · Max 6%
664
Products
Octinoxate
Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
Aka メトキシケイヒ酸エチルヘキシル · 에칠헥실메톡시신나메이트
Also sold as Parsol MCX (DSM) · Eusolex 2292 (Merck)
Legacy organic OG chemical filters from before 2000 — widely approved. ! UNSTABLE Photo-unstable — degrades under sunlight without stabilising filters. Big ick.
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — not covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
JP ✓ 20% Japan: Approved · Max 20% KR ✓ 7.5% South Korea: Approved · Max 7.5% EU ✓ 10% Europe: Approved · Max 10% US ✓ 7.5% United States: Approved · Max 7.5%
482
Products
Octisalate
Ethylhexyl Salicylate
Aka サリチル酸エチルヘキシル · 에칠헥실살리실레이트
Also sold as Eusolex OS (Merck) · Neo Heliopan OS (Symrise)
Legacy organic OG chemical filters from before 2000 — widely approved.
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — not covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
JP ✓ 10% Japan: Approved · Max 10% KR ✓ 5% South Korea: Approved · Max 5% EU ✓ 5% Europe: Approved · Max 5% US ✓ 5% United States: Approved · Max 5%
349
Products
Octocrylene
Octocrylene
Aka オクトクリレン · 옥토크릴렌
Also sold as Parsol 340 (DSM)
Legacy organic OG chemical filters from before 2000 — widely approved.
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
JP ✓ 10% Japan: Approved · Max 10% KR ✓ 10% South Korea: Approved · Max 10% EU ✓ 10% Europe: Approved · Max 10% US ✓ 10% United States: Approved · Max 10%
260
Products
Padimate O
Ethylhexyl Dimethyl PABA
Aka パラジメチルアミノ安息香酸エチルヘキシル · 에칠헥실디메칠파바
Legacy organic OG chemical filters from before 2000 — widely approved. ! UNSTABLE Photo-unstable — degrades under sunlight without stabilising filters. Big ick.
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — not covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
JP ✓ 10% Japan: Approved · Max 10% KR ✓ 8% South Korea: Approved · Max 8% EU ✓ 8% Europe: Approved · Max 8% US ✓ 8% United States: Approved · Max 8%
1
Products
PBSA
Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid
Aka フェニルベンズイミダゾールスルホン酸 · 페닐벤즈이미다졸설포닉애시드
Legacy organic OG chemical filters from before 2000 — widely approved.
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — not covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
JP ✓ 3% Japan: Approved · Max 3% KR ✓ 4% South Korea: Approved · Max 4% EU ✓ 8% Europe: Approved · Max 8% US ✓ 4% United States: Approved · Max 4%
60
Products
Sulisobenzone
Benzophenone-4
Legacy organic OG chemical filters from before 2000 — widely approved.
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
JP ✓ 10% Japan: Approved · Max 10% KR ✓ 5% South Korea: Approved · Max 5% EU ✓ 5% Europe: Approved · Max 5% US ✓ 10% United States: Approved · Max 10%
0
Products
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium Dioxide
Aka 酸化チタン · 이산화티탄
Also sold as T-Lite (BASF)
Mineral Physical filters that bounce & scatter UV.
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
JP ✓ — Japan: Approved KR ✓ 25% South Korea: Approved · Max 25% EU ✓ 25% Europe: Approved · Max 25% US ✓ 25% United States: Approved · Max 25%
717
Products
Zinc Oxide
Zinc Oxide
Aka 酸化亜鉛 · 산화아연
Also sold as Z-Cote (BASF)
Mineral Physical filters that bounce & scatter UV.
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
JP ✓ — Japan: Approved KR ✓ 25% South Korea: Approved · Max 25% EU ✓ 25% Europe: Approved · Max 25% US ✓ 25% United States: Approved · Max 25%
538
Products