BENZOPHENONE-2

Name / description

2,2',4,4'-Tetrahydroxybenzophenone

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Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

FRAGRANCE

Enhances the smell of a product and / or perfumes the skin

FRAGRANCE FUNCTIONAL

Functional ingredient (excipient) of perfume oils and / or flavours

LIGHT STABILIZER

Protecting the cosmetic product from deterioration effects of light

UV ABSORBER

Protects the cosmetic product from damage caused by UV light

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Occurrence in cosmetics

As a UV absorber for the protection of eg fragrances, colourants and light-sensitive ingredients in products such as perfumes and soaps and for the protection of plastics packaging against UV radiation

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Occurrence in other products

As a photo initiator in UV hardening applications (such as inks and coatings in the printing industry)

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Background information on use in cosmetics

Fragrances or mixtures of fragrances are often referred to in the cosmetics area as "perfuming agents" or "perfume oils" or "parfum oils". On the cosmetic products they are declared with the INCI name "PARFUM". These are undiluted individual substances or their mixtures which originate from natural raw materials or can be produced (semi-) synthetically. They are starting materials for the production of perfume, eau de parfum, eau de toilette, eau de cologne and other perfumed cosmetic products. The average content of fragrances amounts in perfume to 15-30 %, in eau de parfum to 10-14 %, in eau de toilette to 6-9 %, in eau de cologne to 3-5 % as well as in skin creams, shampoos, hair and deodorant sprays to approximately 0.2-1 % and approximately 1-3 in deodorant sticks. The perfume oils include essential oils, resinoids and absolutes. The sources are, amongst others, flowers, leaves and stems, fruits and fruit peels or roots of plants; woods, grasses or herbs, needles, resins and balsams. Moreover, only compounds isolated from natural products such as aldehydes, ketones, esters, alcohols etc. are used (geraniol, citronellal, citral, eugenol, menthol) as well as semi-synthetic (citronellol, geranyl acetate, jonone) and synthetic scents (eg phenylethyl alcohol and linalool) are used. Scents of animal origin such as musk and ambra are only rarely used.

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Why are we talking about it?

Benzophenone-1 and benzophenone-2 are suspected of being endocrine disruptors. They are also suspected of polluting surface waters and of endangering aquatic organisms. The facts: According to in vitro studies, benzophenone-1 and benzophenone-2 could have some effects on oestrogens and androgens. Benzophenone-2 is also believed to have effects on the thyroid axis. However, in vivo data are insufficient to confirm or refute their endocrine disrupting activity. New evaluations are underway. A balanced scientific assessment should not only be based on the in vitro evidence of an ebndocrine activity, but should rather also consider potency and human exposure under cosmetic use conditions.It should be mentioned, that sufficiently sensitive in vitro assays have identified endocrine activity of e. g. soybean ingredients (isoflavones), whereas scientific and regulatory experts have not expressed safety concerns with regard to ingestion of soybean based food. Key points to take away: These substances are rarely, if ever, used in cosmetics. Further studies are needed for a scientifically sound assessment of a possible endocrine disrupting potential of benzophenone-1 and benzophenone-2. With regard to environmental effects, benzophenone-1 is biodegradable and accumulates only insignificantly in aquatic organisms. No environmental data are available for benzophenone-2.

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Belongs to the following substance groups

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Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.