For your skin
An older broad-coverage chemical filter that is falling out of favour. It works, but it is the filter most likely to be absorbed into your bloodstream, the most common cause of sunscreen allergy, and the one banned in reef-protected areas. Most modern and K-beauty sunscreens have replaced it; if you are sensitive, pregnant, or reef-conscious, choosing an oxybenzone-free formula is a reasonable call.
Want the science? Keep reading ↓Mechanism of action
Benzophenone filter covering UVB and short UVA2 (270-350 nm). Historically one of the most common broad-ish chemical filters, but now being phased out: it showed the highest systemic absorption of any filter in the FDA maximal-use trial (Matta 2020, plasma levels far above the 0.5 ng/mL threshold), is one of the most frequent sunscreen contact allergens, and is banned in Hawaii, Key West and other jurisdictions over coral-reef toxicity.
Why we tier this moderate
2 cited papers across 1 country. The mechanism is well-described and there's at least one controlled trial in the literature, but we tier this Moderate rather than Strong to stay honest about how many specific papers we cite directly.
Cited research
Matta MK et al., Effect of Sunscreen Application Under Maximal Use Conditions on Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients: A Randomized Clinical Trial, JAMA 2020;323(3):256-267 — oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) showed the highest systemic plasma absorption of the filters tested
FDA Proposed Rule, Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use, 84 FR 6204 (26 February 2019) — oxybenzone GRASE status pending; also a frequent contact allergen and restricted in several jurisdictions for reef toxicity
Sources: PubMed · KCI · J-Stage · CNKI · Wanfang · SFD · MFDS · Cochrane · SCCS · CIR. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for what each outcome label means.