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.

10 of 34 shown
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.
Zinc Oxide
Zinc Oxide
aka 酸化亜鉛 · 산화아연
Also sold as Z-Cote (BASF)
Mineral Physical filters — reflect & scatter UV.
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — 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
Titanium Dioxide
Titanium Dioxide
aka 酸化チタン · 이산화티탄
Also sold as T-Lite (BASF)
Mineral Physical filters — reflect & scatter UV.
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not 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
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 Pre-2000 chemical filters; broadly approved.
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — not covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not 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
Octocrylene
Octocrylene
aka オクトクリレン · 옥토크릴렌
Also sold as Parsol 340 (DSM)
Legacy organic Pre-2000 chemical filters; broadly approved.
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not 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
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 Pre-2000 chemical filters; broadly approved.
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — not covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not 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
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 Pre-2000 chemical filters; broadly approved. ! UNSTABLE Photo-unstable — degrades under sunlight without stabilising filters.
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — not covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not 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
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 Pre-2000 chemical filters; broadly approved. ! UNSTABLE Photo-unstable — degrades under sunlight without stabilising filters.
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — not covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not 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
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 Pre-2000 chemical filters; broadly approved. ! UNSTABLE Photo-unstable — degrades under sunlight without stabilising filters.
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — not covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — 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.
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — 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
Sulisobenzone
Benzophenone-4
Legacy organic Pre-2000 chemical filters; broadly approved.
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not 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