Ingredient glossary
Octisalate
On your shelf ✓What Octisalate does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Ethylhexyl Salicylate
In short: Octisalate delivers uvb protection, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is moderate.
- What it does
- Uvb protection
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Evidence
- Moderate
- How long
- Straight away
The molecule
The Glow take
Only as good as the sunscreen it lives in.
As a single filter, Octisalate only matters as part of a finished sunscreen you actually reapply. The best SPF is the one that feels good enough to wear every morning.
— Maya
What it does
- uvb protection
moderate evidenceGenerally considered one of the gentler UVB filters with low sensitization, but environmental impact is under review in some regions.
On a label: usually effective at 3-5%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- normal
- oily
Approach with care
- reef concern
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveSuits
Take extra care if any of these apply to you: reef concern.
Where it fits in your routine
This one works on contact — there is nothing to wait for.
What that covers, and what it does not
Measured on: UV attenuation by the applied film — UVB absorption contributing to SPF.
Ethylhexyl salicylate is a weak UVB absorber used at 3-5% mainly as an SPF booster and solvent for crystalline filters such as avobenzone; every one of those jobs is done by the film at first application. Timing follows the same monograph and ISO basis as the rest of the filter set — protection at the 15-minute mark, nothing developing afterwards. Its reputation for gentleness concerns tolerability, not speed.
US 21 CFR 201.327; EU Reg 1223/2009 Annex VI; ISO 24444:2019.
Plays well with
- other uvb filters
- broad spectrum filters
Octisalate, answered
Is Octisalate safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Octisalate is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Octisalate?
Approach Octisalate with care if any of these apply to you: reef concern.
What concentration of Octisalate actually works?
Octisalate tends to do its job in the 3 to 5% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.
Compare Octisalate with
This, for every label you own
One ingredient is easy. A full label is where it gets confusing. The Ingredient Decoder reads any product and tells you the honest truth, ingredient by ingredient.