What Is Octyl Salicylate?
Octyl salicylate, also known as 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, is a common chemical found in sunscreen and certain types of makeup with sun-blocking properties. It protects against harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun’s rays, which can cause skin cancer. Octyl salicylate absorbs UVB rays but not UVA. For sunscreen to work effectively, both inorganic and organic ingredients are combined to block the UVB and UVA rays. UVA rays are longer and penetrate deep into the skin while UVB rays are shorter and hit the top of the skin, causing sunburns.
