Avobenzone

[ā-və-ben-zōn]

Categories: Sunscreen           

Avobenzone Skin Benefits:
UV protection

Avobenzone (butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane) is an organic material that helps reduce the amount of UV light to which the human skin is exposed by absorbing and refracting the radiation and subsequent disposal. 1 Avobenzone is one of the most common UVA-filters in sunscreens, but it is known to be photo-unstable. 2 3 To help stabilize avobenzone, antioxidants, such as vitamin C, E and ubiquinone, are used to help complement avobenzone’s photo protecting abilities. 1 2 3

Solar UV radiation is composed of UVB (290-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm) wavelengths. Avobenzone sunscreen can provide true broad-spectrum protection against UVA wavelengths greater than 360 nanometers. 3 In its photostable state, avobenzone can preserve its photo protecting abilities, as well as help protect against the formation of reactive oxygen species, which may cause photo degradation in skincare products. 4

  1. Kumar P, D.A. et al. Patent review on photostability enhancement of avobenzone and its formulations. Recent Pat Drug Deliv Formul 9(2), 121-8 (2015)
  2. Afonso, S. et al. Photodegradation of avobenzone: stabilization effect of antioxidants. J Photochem Photobiol B. 140:36-40, (2014)
  3. Beasley, DG. et al. Characterization of the UVA protection provided by avobenzone, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide in broad-spectrum sunscreen products. Am J Clin Dermatol 11(6), 413-21 (2010)
  4. Kawakami, C. et al. Mangiferin and naringenin affect the photostability and phototoxicity of sunscreens containing avobenzone. J Photochem Photobiol B 151, 239-47 (2015)