Cited skincare — every flag names its source, no upsell.
Oc

Octinoxate

Ethylhexyl MethoxycinnamateSPF filter

Chemical UVB filter. Banned in Hawaii / some marine reserves; common elsewhere.

What it does

Octinoxate absorbs UVB radiation and is historically one of the most-used filters globally. It is more stable than avobenzone but not photostable on its own. Comparative testing found both significantly degraded after UV exposure. That is why photostabilising partners matter. Some jurisdictions (Hawaii, Palau, parts of Mexico) restrict it for reef-safety reasons; many newer formulas in those markets shift to mineral or alternative organic filters.

The evidence, graded

expert consensusReapply sunscreen every two hours of continuous UV exposure. For indoor desk-bound days with no window light, the morning application is sufficient. For desk work near a window, UVA passes through standard glass — reapply 4–6 hours into the day. Cushion compacts and SPF powders can substitute for liquid reapply over makeup, but only with generous full-face application — a single light pass does not maintain rated SPF.Wang 2011 · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ↗
emergingIn a photostability comparison of five UV filters, formulations containing bemotrizinol were the most photostable, while the US-approved filters avobenzone and octinoxate were significantly degraded after UV exposure.Freitas 2015 · European journal of pharmaceutical sciences ↗
emergingPhotolabile UV filters such as avobenzone and octinoxate degrade under sunlight but can be stabilized by more photostable filters like bemotrizinol through optical-density and triplet-quenching mechanisms.Herzog 2020 · Photochemical & photobiological sciences ↗

Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.

Also known as

octyl methoxycinnamate, OMC

Read more

How Drop works · 5 minSunscreen Reapplication: Why Every 2 Hours Actually MattersSunscreen wears off faster than most people realize. What happens in those 2 hours, when reapplication matters most, and how to do it over makeup.

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