Benzophenone

INCI: BENZOPHENONE

CAS Number
119-61-9 [^1_6]
Function
UV absorber, masking agent
Safety Rating
POOR

Regulatory Status

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU Status prohibited
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US Status restricted
US Notes Not specifically banned for cosmetics; FDA removed from indirect food additive list (2024); under increasing regulatory scrutiny

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
high
Sensitization
moderate

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Prohibited in EU since 2022; IARC Group 2B carcinogen; mutagenic (CLP Muta. 2); endocrine disruption concerns; photoallergy risk. Monitor as impurity in benzophenone-derivative UV filters; trace limits apply if detected.

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Concern Level: High

Regulatory Flags

endocrine_disruptor prop65 ifra_fragrance fda_food_additive jecfa_safe

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Benzophenone safe in cosmetics?

Prohibited in EU since 2022; IARC Group 2B carcinogen; mutagenic (CLP Muta. 2); endocrine disruption concerns; photoallergy risk. Monitor as impurity in benzophenone-derivative UV filters; trace limits apply if detected. The EU classifies Benzophenone as "prohibited". Safety rating: POOR.

Is Benzophenone allowed in the EU?

Benzophenone EU regulatory status: prohibited. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Benzophenone do in cosmetics?

Benzophenone functions as: UV absorber, masking agent. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 119-61-9 [^1_6].

What is the Margin of Safety for Benzophenone?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

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