Homosalate on your skin: a safety profile

What is homosalate?

Also known as: Homomenthyl salicylate, Heliophan, 3,3,5-Trimethylcyclohexyl 2-hydroxybenzoate, Homosalato.

CAS number

118-56-9

Molecular formula

C16H22O3

Molecular weight

262.34 g/mol

SMILES

CC1CC(CC(C1)(C)C)OC(=O)C2=CC=CC=C2O

PubChem CID

8362

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Homosalate.

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where you encounter homosalate

• Personal Care — sunscreen, moisturizer with SPF, foundation, lip balm SPF

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Homosalate:

• Tinosorb S (bemotrizinol)
  Trade-offs: Alternative approach; specific tradeoffs depend on application context, scale, and regulatory requirements. Full hazard assessment of alternative recommended before adoption to avoid regrettable substitution.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Tinosorb M
  Trade-offs: Alternative approach; specific tradeoffs depend on application context, scale, and regulatory requirements. Full hazard assessment of alternative recommended before adoption to avoid regrettable substitution.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×
• Zinc oxide
  Trade-offs: Alternative approach; specific tradeoffs depend on application context, scale, and regulatory requirements. Full hazard assessment of alternative recommended before adoption to avoid regrettable substitution.
  Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions