OCTINOXATE (OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE)
UV ABSORBER; UV FILTER
Also listed as
ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE, 2-ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE; 2-ETHYLHEXYL 4-METHOXYCINNAMATE; P-METHOXYCINNAMIC ACID, 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER; 3- (4-METHOXYPHENYL) -2-PROPENOIC ACID, 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER; OCTINOXATE; OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE; 2-PROPENOIC ACID, 3- (4-METHOXYPHENY L) -, 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER; 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER P-METHOXYCINNAMIC ACID; 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER 3- (4-METHOXYPHENYL) -2-PROPENOIC ACID; 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER 2-PROPENOIC ACID, 3- (4-METHOXYPHENY L) -; 3- (4-METHOXYPHENY L) - 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER 2-PROPENOIC ACID
Given the incomplete information made available by companies and the government, EWG provides additional information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature. The chart below indicates that research studies have found that exposure to this ingredient -- not the products containing it -- caused the indicated health effect(s) in the studies reviewed by Skin Deep researchers. Actual health risks, if any, will vary based on the level of exposure to the ingredient and individual susceptibility -- information not available in Skin Deep.
| This ingredient: | |
 | Cancer |
 | Developmental/reproductive toxicity |
 | Violations, restrictions & warnings |
| Allergies/immunotoxicity |
| Contamination concerns |
 | Other strong concerns for this ingredient: Enhanced skin absorption, Biochemical or cellular level changes |
| Other moderate concerns for this ingredient: Persistence and bioaccumulation |
| Lesser or emerging concerns for this ingredient: Endocrine disruption, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Ecotoxicology |
|
See products containing OCTINOXATE (OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE) | |
About OCTINOXATE (OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE): The most widely used sunscreen ingredient, known for its low potential to sensitize skin or act as a phototallergen. Estrogenic effects are noted in laboratory animals as well as disruption of thyroid hormone and brain signaling.
ingredient UV blocking strength
| common sunscreen concentrations |
UV blocking strength |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4.0% |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5.0% |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6.0% |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7.0% |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
7.5% |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10.0% |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20.0% |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
OCTINOXATE (OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE) has reported used in the following product types: sunscreen: SPF 15-30 (821); facial moisturizer/treatment (772); sunscreen: makeup (495); foundation (466); lipstick (407); sunscreen: moisturizer (386); anti-aging (337); lip balm (302); sunscreen: lip balm (273); moisturizer (233)
Violations, restrictions & warnings
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Restricted in cosmetics (recommendations or requirements) - use, concentration, or manufacturing restrictions - Japan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit) | products for use around the eyes; products for use on the lips | Japan's Standards for Cosmetics |
Biochemical or cellular level changes
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Produces excess reactive oxygen species that can interfere with cellular signaling, cause mutations, lead to cell death and may be implicated in cardiovascular disease. | Allen, 1996 |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more human case studies show possible photoallergic effects | Rodriguez E, Valbuena MC, Rey M, Porras de Quintana L, 2006 |
Developmental/reproductive toxicity
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show reproductive effects at moderate doses | Klammer, 2005 | |
| show more | ||
Endocrine disruption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more studies show weak endocrine disruption | Seidlová-Wuttke D, Christoffel J, Rimoldi G, Jarry H, Wuttke W, 2006 | |
| show more | ||
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Ingredient is suspected or measured to accumulate in people | Janjua NR, Mogensen B, Andersson AM, Petersen JH, Henriksen M, Skakkebaek NE, et al, 2004 | |
| show more | ||
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| One or more animal studies show liver effects at high doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | Schneider S, Deckardt K, Hellwig J, Küttler K, Mellert W, Schulte S, van Ravenzwaay B, 2005 | |
| show more | ||
Ecotoxicology
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | M, 2004 | |
| show more | ||
Data gaps
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| 195 studies on toxicity in PubMed see search results -> | PubMed |
Enhanced skin absorption
| type of concern | product conditions | reference |
| Penetration enhancer | Pont AR, Charron AR, Brand RM, 2004 | |
| Absorbs into the skin | Klinubol P, Asawanonda P, Wanichwecharungruang SP, 2008 | |
| Absorbs into the skin | Gupta, 1999; Potard, 2000; Benech-Kieffer, 2000 |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | 2-PROPENOIC ACID, 3-(4-METHOXYPHENYL)-, 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER | •This chemical was NOT flagged by CEPA for further attention. |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | 2-ETHYL-HEXYL-4-METHOXYCINNAMATE | HH-CAT1;WF-CAT1 |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | 2-PROPENOIC ACID, 3-(4-METHOXYPHENYL)-, 2-ETHYLHEXYL ESTER | •The chemical has been reported as used in fragrance compounds by IFRA affiliated member companies in 2008. |
| Japan's Standards for Cosmetics | 2-ETHYLHEXYL P-METHOXYCINNAMATE | •Japan - restricted for use in some types of cosmetics (concentration limit) |
| Allen, 1996 | OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE (ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE) | Produces damaging reactive oxygen species upon exposure to sunlight |
| Gomez, 2005 | OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE (ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE) | Weakly estrogenic in vitro |
| Gupta, 1999; Potard, 2000; Benech-Kieffer, 2000 | OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE (ETHYLHEXYL METHOXYCINNAMATE) | Is absorbed into skin in vitro at 0 to X% |
| Inui, 2003 | OCTYL-METHOXYCINNAMATE | Increased VTG plasma concentration and ERa mRNA exression level in the liver in male medaka |
| Klammer, 2005 | OCTYL-METHOXYCINNAMATE | Increased uterine weight at dose of 100 mg/kg in rats; in addition, expression of Erb and TERP1 genes, decreased expression of IGF1 gene, decreased cholesterol and LDL levels |
| Schneider, 2005 | OCTYL-METHOXYCINNAMATE | Led to reduced food consumption and body weight, increased liver weight, produced hepatic cytoplasmic eosinophilia and erosion/ulceration of glandular stomach mucosa, decreased implantation rate and delayed maturation of F1 and F2 pups |
| Schlumpf M, Schmid P, Durrer S, Conscience M, Maerkel K, Henseler M, et al, 2004 | OCTYL-METHOXYCINNAMATE | In female rats, uterine weight was dose-dependently increased. |
| Pont AR, Charron AR, Brand RM, 2004 | OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE | OMC increased penetration of 2,4D (a pesticide) and decreased lag time. |
| Hanson KM, Gratton E, Bardeen CJ, 2006 | OCTYLMETHOXYCINNAMATE | |
| Rodriguez E, Valbuena MC, Rey M, Porras de Quintana L, 2006 | OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE | 8 of 82 patients diagnosed with photoallergic contact dermatitis displayed photoallergic reactions to octyl methoxycinnamate following a photopatch test. |
| Janjua NR, Mogensen B, Andersson AM, Petersen JH, Henriksen M, Skakkebaek NE, et al, 2004 | OCTYL-METHOXYCINNAMATE | In the men the plasma concentrations of OMC were significantly higher after 96 h than after 24 h. |
| Szwarcfarb B, Carbone S, Reynoso R, Bollero G, Ponzo O, Moguilevsky J, Scacchi P, 2008 | OCTYLMETHOXYCINNAMATE | Octylmethoxycinnamate decreased the hormonal release significantly in male and female rats , potentially affecting the reproductive system and sexual maturation. |
| Klammer H, Schlecht C, Wuttke W, Schmutzler C, Gotthardt I, Köhrle J, Jarry H, 2007 | OCTYL-METHOXYCINNAMATE | Octyl-methoxycinnamate decreased serum levels of thyroid hormones TSH, T4 and T3 in female rats. |
| Seidlová-Wuttke D, Christoffel J, Rimoldi G, Jarry H, Wuttke W, 2006 | OCTYLMETHOXYCINNAMATE | In rats, octylmethoxycinnamate was shown to exert endocrine disrupting including uterotrophic, i.e. estrogenic effects. |
| Klammer H, Schlecht C, Wuttke W et al, 2007 | OCTYL-METHOXYCINNAMATE | OMC caused a dose-dependent decrease of serum concentrations of thyroid hormones in ovariectomised rats. |
| Schneider S, Deckardt K, Hellwig J, Küttler K, Mellert W, Schulte S, van Ravenzwaay B, 2005 | OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE | 2-generation rat study shows increased liver weight in adults fed 1000 mg/kg OMC. |
| Schneider S, Deckardt K, Hellwig J, Küttler K, Mellert W, Schulte S, van Ravenzwaay B, 2005 | OCTYL METHOXYCINNAMATE | 2-generation rat study shows reduced rate of implantation associated with a dose of 1000 mg/kg OMC. |
| Klinubol P, Asawanonda P, Wanichwecharungruang SP, 2008 | 2-ETHYLHEXYL-4-METHOXYCINNAMATE | At 4.4 mg/cm(2) coverage of UV filter on the baby mouse skin, 2.98 +/- 0.38 % of the applied EHMC was detected in the receptor fluid at 24 h after application. |
| M, 2004 | Concentrations in water and fish from Swiss Lakes |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Environmental Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| European Commission on Endocrine Disruption | EU (European Union)- Strategy for Endocrine Disrupters 2007. Commision on endocrin disruption requested by the European Parliament in 1998. |
| IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List | IFRA (International Fragrance Assocication). 2010. IFRA Fragrance Ingredient List based on 2008 Use Survey. Accessed online 01/04/2010: http://www.ifraorg.org/Home/News/Latest-News/page.aspx/66?xf_itemId=43&xf_selectionDatapartId=25 |
| Japan's Standards for Cosmetics | Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. 2006. Standards for Cosmetics. Evaluation and Licensing Division. Pharmaceutical and Food Safety Bureau. |
| Open scientific literature | {Allen, 1996} |
| Open scientific literature | {Gomez, 2005} |
| Open scientific literature | {Gupta, 1999; Potard, 2000; Benech-Kieffer, 2000} |
| Open scientific literature | {Inui, 2003} |
| Open scientific literature | {Klammer, 2005} |
| Open scientific literature | {Schneider, 2005} |
| Open scientific literature | Schlumpf M, Schmid P, Durrer S, Conscience M, Maerkel K, Henseler M, et al. 2004. Endocrine activity and developmental toxicity of cosmetic UV filters--an update. Toxicology 205(1-2): 113-122. |
| Open scientific literature | Pont AR, Charron AR, Brand RM. 2004. Active ingredients in sunscreens act as topical penetration enhancers for the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 195(3): 348-354. |
| Open scientific literature | Hanson KM, Gratton E, Bardeen CJ. 2006. Sunscreen enhancement of UV-induced reactive oxygen species in the skin. Free Radic Biol Med 41(8): 1205-1212. |
| Open scientific literature | Rodriguez E, Valbuena MC, Rey M, Porras de Quintana L. 2006. Causal agents of photoallergic contact dermatitis diagnosed in the national institute of dermatology of Colombia. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 22(4): 189-192. |
| Open scientific literature | Janjua NR, Mogensen B, Andersson AM, Petersen JH, Henriksen M, Skakkebaek NE, et al. 2004. Systemic Absorption of the Sunscreens Benzophenone-3, Octyl-Methoxycinnamate, and 3-(4-Methyl-Benzylidene) Camphor after Whole-Body Topical Application and Reproductive Hormone Levels in Humans. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 123(1): 57-61. |
| Open scientific literature | Szwarcfarb B, Carbone S, Reynoso R, Bollero G, Ponzo O, Moguilevsky J, Scacchi P. "Octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC), an ultraviolet (UV) filter, alters LHRH and amino acid neurotransmitters release from hypothalamus of immature rats." Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2008 Feb;116(2):94-8. |
| Open scientific literature | Klammer H, Schlecht C, Wuttke W, Schmutzler C, Gotthardt I, Köhrle J, Jarry H. "Effects of a 5-day treatment with the UV-filter octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC) on the function of the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid function in rats." Toxicology. 2007 Sep 5;238(2-3):192-9. |
| Open scientific literature | Seidlová-Wuttke D, Christoffel J, Rimoldi G, Jarry H, Wuttke W. "Comparison of effects of estradiol with those of octylmethoxycinnamate and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor on fat tissue, lipids and pituitary hormones." Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2006 Jul 1;214(1):1-7. |
| Open scientific literature | Klammer H, Schlecht C, Wuttke W et al. "Effects of a 5-day treatment with the UV-filter octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC) on the function of the hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid function in rats." Toxicology 2007; 238 (2-3):192-9. |
| Open scientific literature | Schneider S, Deckardt K, Hellwig J, Küttler K, Mellert W, Schulte S, van Ravenzwaay B. "Octyl methoxycinnamate: two generation reproduction toxicity in Wistar rats by dietary administration." Food Chem Toxicol. 2005 Jul;43(7):1083-92. |
| Open scientific literature | Schneider S, Deckardt K, Hellwig J, Küttler K, Mellert W, Schulte S, van Ravenzwaay B. "Octyl methoxycinnamate: two generation reproduction toxicity in Wistar rats by dietary administration." Food Chem Toxicol. 2005 Jul;43(7):1083-92. |
| Open scientific literature | Klinubol P, Asawanonda P, Wanichwecharungruang SP. Transdermal penetration of UV filters. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2008; 21 (1):23-9. |
| Open scientific literature | M.E. Balmer, H.R. Buser, M.D. Muller, T. Poiger. 2004. Occurrence of the organic UV-filter compounds BP-3, 4-MBC, EHMC, and OC in wastewater, surface waters, and in fish from Swiss lakes, Agroscope, Swiss Federal Research Station for Horticulture, Plant Protection Chemistry, CH-8820W’’Adenswil, Switzerland. |
"RTECS®" is a United States trademark owned and licensed under authority of the U.S. Government, by and through MDL Information Systems, Inc.
Copyright © 2010 by Environmental Working Group
All rights reserved.
Favorites basket
No items in basket.
Skin Deep User Tools BETA
Looking for a product report that we don't have in Skin Deep? Sign up to enter it into the Skin Deep database and leave product reviews.
SKIN DEEP NEEDS YOUR HELP
We always want Skin Deep to be free to the public, but delivering high-quality research costs time and money. Help by donating just the cost of a bar of soap or bottle of shampoo.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Stay informed with email updates on toxics in everyday products and how they can affect your health.
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN
Find out more about the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.