Ethylhexyl salicylate (also known as octyl salicylate or octisalate) is a chemical sunscreen filter commonly found in sunscreens. It has the ability to block UVB rays.
Its texture is liquid oily and it is colorless. Furthermore, it has antibacterial properties and helps sunscreen to preserve more time.
Ethylhexyl salicylate spectrum range and stability
Octisalate belongs to salicylates group (a type of sunscreen filters), so it can absorb UVB rays.
It is a weak sunscreen filter thus products which contain it usually add it at high concentrations to increase its
effectiveness. It also is usually combined together with other sunscreen filters such as avobenzone and oxybenzone in the same product to enhance sun protection and to stabilize them.
Octisalate it’s commonly present in sunscreens that contain avobenzone due to its capacity to stabilize avobenzone.
Due to the fact that salicylates are not water soluble (they can’t disolve in water), they keep their ability to still working and protecting skin after being exposed to water or sweat.
Ethylhexyl salicylate allergies and absorption
Octyl salicylate is generally well tolerated and rare cases of allergies (such as allergic contact dermatitis) have been reported.
It can act as a skin penetration enhancer, as we know that some studies have reported that octisalate can be absorbed trough the skin, however systemic absorption has not been reported.
Octisale does not produce free radicals, and although it posses a good safety profile, further research is needed to determine if it really posses any risk as an endocrine disruptor or if but it shouldn’t be a concern for now.
Is octisalate reef safe?
As it was said before, it’s known that octisalate is not water soluble, so it does not dissolve in water and should not cause any water environmental concern.
Anyway, no studies have reported how octisalate could affect marine life so it’s not actually known.
