Avobenzone is a chemical ingredient in sunscreens that absorbs UVA rays, which helps protect skin from sun damage like discoloration and black spots. It's a photostable, oil-soluble compound that is often combined with other ingredients to create a broad-spectrum sunscreen and is generally considered a safer option for marine life compared to other UV filters, notes Redox.
How it works
- UVA protection: Avobenzone is a specialist in absorbing long-wave UVA rays, which can cause deep skin damage. It also provides protection against UVA I, UVA II, and some UVB wavelengths.
- Protection for other ingredients: It can protect other ingredients in a sunscreen formula from deteriorating when exposed to the sun.
How to use
- Apply before sun exposure: Apply sunscreen with avobenzone 1530 minutes before going outside.
- Reapply regularly: Reapply every 2 hours, or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
- Use on cloudy days: Apply even when it's cloudy, as the sun's radiation is still present.
Additional considerations
- Stability: Avobenzone is often combined with other chemicals to improve its stability.
- Formulation: It is oil-soluble, not water-soluble, and is recommended to be used at concentrations of 13%.
- Environmental impact: It is less toxic to marine life than some other common UV filters like oxybenzone and octinoxate.