Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate

Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate is a water-soluble UV absorber used in sunscreens and daily wear products. It's used to improve formula photostability and color protection; evidence for anti-aging or tone benefits in leave-ons is limited.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
A UV absorber that helps protect sunscreen formulas from breaking down.
Category
Color
Type
UV Filter

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Fair

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

It helps bolster a formula's resistance to UV-induced breakdown, which can reduce fading and discoloration of the product itself. Skin tone or anti-aging improvements in leave-on products aren't well proven.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

It's used in sunscreens, day creams, and serums to support the UV stability of the formulation, and seen in color-protecting hair products and makeup to help limit product fade.

Comedogenic Rating

This ingredient is not typically evaluated for comedogenicity, and no standardized rating is available.

Safety

It's considered acceptable at typical cosmetic use levels, with generally low absorption. It may cause mild irritation or stinging in sensitive individuals, so patch testing is sensible for leave-on products.

Is Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate a Good Ingredient?

This rates Fair since it mainly stabilizes the formula against UV rather than delivering well-proven anti-aging or tone benefits to skin, and evidence for leave-on efficacy is limited. Some users may also experience mild irritation, particularly around the eyes or on sensitive skin.