Ingredient Index

Is Homosalate banned in Europe?

Restricted in EU

No, restricted: since 2022 the EU limits homosalate to face products at a maximum of 7.34%, while the FDA allows up to 15% in sunscreens applied anywhere.

CAS: 118-56-9 Also seen as: Homomenthyl salicylate, HMS

What the EU does

Restricted, and this is the largest single regulatory gap among the legacy sunscreen filters. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1176 limited homosalate to face products only, at a maximum of 7.34%, after the SCCS concluded that body-wide use at the old 10% limit didn't leave an adequate margin of safety given the substance's suspected endocrine activity.

As with oxybenzone, the finding was about thin safety margins under heavy whole-body exposure, not demonstrated harm. Face-only use at 7.34% passed the SCCS's arithmetic.

Citation Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009, Annex VI/3; Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1176

What the US does

Legal at up to 15% in any sunscreen: double the EU's concentration, with no body-area restriction. Homosalate is among the most common filters in US high-SPF formulas because it helps dissolve other actives.

It sits in the same FDA limbo as the other chemical filters: the 2019 proposed order asked for more safety data before confirming GRASE status, and the docket remains open. Meanwhile 15% homosalate sunscreens are on every drugstore shelf.

Citation FDA OTC sunscreen monograph (homosalate up to 15%)

Products that commonly contain it

Mostly a sunscreen ingredient, often in combination:

High-SPF chemical sunscreens and sprays
Sport and water-resistant sunscreens
Daily moisturizers with SPF
Lip products with SPF

What to look for on a label

Reading the sunscreen label:

"Homosalate" in the US Active Ingredients box, often at 10–15%
EU-market products may contain it only in face formulas, at 7.34% or less
Usually appears with octisalate, its milder salicylate cousin

Or skip the squinting: paste the whole ingredient list into our checker and it flags everything in our database. Nothing you paste leaves your browser.

Frequently asked questions

Is homosalate banned in Europe?

No, but since Regulation (EU) 2022/1176 it is allowed only in face products at up to 7.34%. Body sunscreens sold in the EU can no longer contain it.

Is homosalate legal in the United States?

Yes, at up to 15% in sunscreens for any body area, twice the EU concentration with none of the EU's product-type limits.

Why did the EU restrict homosalate?

The SCCS found suspected endocrine activity and calculated that whole-body use at 10% left too thin a safety margin. Face-only use at 7.34% met its threshold. It was a margins decision, not a harm finding.

Should I stop using my 15% homosalate sunscreen?

Regular sunscreen use prevents documented harm (skin cancer); the homosalate question is precautionary. If you want EU-margin formulas, choose mineral sunscreens or imported EU products.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed June 10, 2026 · How we assign statuses