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4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor

What 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor is & what it does

Enzacamene, a UVB filter from the camphor family. It is effective but restricted in some regions over environmental and hormonal concerns.

What is 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor and what does it do in sunscreen?

4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, also called enzacamene, is a synthetic chemical UV filter from the camphor family. It absorbs UVB light, the band most responsible for sunburn, so it contributes to a product's SPF. It is an older filter that you mostly see in legacy or regional formulas rather than newer launches.

Is 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor a UV filter?

Yes. It is an organic (chemical) UV filter that works by absorbing UVB radiation and converting it to a little heat, rather than sitting on the skin like a mineral filter. It mainly covers UVB, so in broad-spectrum products it is paired with other filters that handle UVA.

Is 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor safe and is it banned?

Its status is mixed and depends on where you are. It is restricted in some regions over concerns about potential hormonal activity and effects on aquatic environments, and the European Union has moved to phase it out of sunscreens. Where it remains approved it is used within set limits, but it is increasingly being replaced by newer filters, so you will see it less in current products.

Is 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor reef-safe?

It is one of the filters flagged in reef and aquatic-environment discussions, which is part of why it has fallen out of favour and faced restrictions. If reef safety is a priority for you, mineral filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the usual safer-by-reputation choice. The science on sunscreen and reefs is still debated, but this filter is among those people tend to avoid for that reason.

Does 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor clog pores?

Generally no. As a UV filter it is used at controlled levels and is not a heavy oil or wax, so it is not typically considered comedogenic. If a sunscreen breaks you out, the overall formula, especially its emollients, is a more likely factor than this filter alone.

Is 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor natural?

No, it is a synthetic, lab-made UV filter. Although its name references camphor, it is manufactured specifically to absorb UVB rather than harvested from a plant. Synthetic here simply means man-made; the relevant questions about it are regulatory and environmental, not whether it is natural.

Sunscreens with 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor

We rate 166 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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