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Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

What Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane is & what it does

The most widely used dedicated UVA filter, better known as avobenzone. It absorbs across the full UVA range (peak around 357 nm), the wavelengths most responsible for photoaging and pigmentation. On its own it degrades in sunlight, so well-formulated sunscreens pair it with a photostabilizer such as octocrylene or Tinosorb S to keep protection from fading on the skin.

What is Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone)?

It is avobenzone, the most widely used dedicated UVA chemical sunscreen filter. It absorbs across the full UVA range (peak around 357 nm), the wavelengths most responsible for photoaging and pigmentation.

Is avobenzone a UVA or UVB filter?

Avobenzone is a UVA filter, the workhorse for long-wave UVA protection in many sunscreens. It is almost always combined with UVB filters to achieve broad-spectrum coverage.

Is avobenzone safe, and why does it need to be stabilised?

Avobenzone is an approved, widely used filter considered safe as directed. Its main limitation is photostability: on its own it degrades in sunlight, so well-made sunscreens pair it with stabilisers like octocrylene or Tinosorb S so protection does not fade as you wear it.

Is avobenzone natural?

No, avobenzone is a synthetic chemical UV filter. It does not exist in nature; it is manufactured specifically to absorb UVA light. It is approved and widely used, and synthetic here simply means lab-made, not unsafe.

Is avobenzone safe to use during pregnancy?

Avobenzone is an approved filter with no proven harm in pregnancy, but because chemical filters are absorbed to a small degree and pregnancy data is limited, some people switch to a mineral (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) sunscreen as a precaution. There is no strong evidence it is a problem; this is caution, not a known risk. Your doctor can advise on your situation.

Sunscreens with Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

We rate 3564 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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