Is Homosalate safe on skin (left on)?
Personal care1 use researched4 sourced claims
Where it turns up: chemical uvb filter in sunscreens. Detox My Life researched homosalate under one use, because the same substance means something different in each use. Every claim below carries its evidence tier, how sure the research is that it applies here, and the sources it cites. The level is computed by the app's own deterministic engine, so the page says exactly what the app would.
Level by use and lens
| Use | Mainstream | Cautious (default) | Based | Concerns · favour · fringe |
|---|
| On skin, left on | Swap | Swap | Swap | 4 · 0 |
Mainstream shows consensus claims only; Cautious adds emerging research; Based adds fringe claims, labelled as such. The last column counts, under Cautious, the sourced concerns, the findings in its favour and the fringe claims Based would add.
Safer swaps: the app's swap catalog has no entry tied to this ingredient yet. When you scan a product that contains it, the app suggests cleaner alternative types for that product; the swap categories list what the catalog covers today.
On skin, left on Swap
Under the default Cautious lens homosalate on skin (left on) rates Swap: the app would put this near the top of your swap plan. Mainstream (consensus only) rates it Swap; Based (adds the fringe) rates it Swap. Researched 2026-09-03.
Sourced concerns (4)
ConsensusEndocrineconfidence 90%
Homosalate is restricted in the European Union due to its potential as an endocrine disruptor, with the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) recommending reduced concentrations based on potential reproductive toxicity observed in an oral repeated dose study, and studies suggesting it may interfere with hormone systems and has been detected in human breast milk.
- Why here
- Dermal leave-on products lead to systemic absorption, allowing the chemical to interact with the body's endocrine system.
- What would have to be true
- Use in leave-on cosmetic products, with EU restrictions limiting concentration to a maximum of 7.34% in face products (excluding propellant sprays) and 0.5% in body sunscreens, effective July 1, 2025.
Sources the engine cites:
ConsensusMetabolicconfidence 90%
Homosalate is systemically absorbed through the skin, with FDA studies showing plasma concentrations reaching 23.5 ng/mL after a single application, which is 47 times higher than the FDA's safety threshold of 0.5 ng/mL, and levels continue to increase with repeated use.
- Why here
- The nature of leave-on products allows for continuous skin contact and absorption into the bloodstream, leading to systemic exposure and accumulation.
- What would have to be true
- Dermal application of sunscreens containing homosalate, with plasma concentrations reaching 23.5 ng/mL after a single application, 47 times higher than the FDA safety threshold of 0.5 ng/mL.
Sources the engine cites:
ConsensusEnvironmentalconfidence 90%
Homosalate is an environmental contaminant that can harm coral reefs and marine ecosystems, leading to bans in some regions like Hawaii since 2021.
- Why here
- When leave-on products containing homosalate are used, the chemical can wash off into aquatic environments, impacting marine life.
- What would have to be true
- Release into aquatic environments from dermal application, leading to detection in surface waters, wastewater, fish, and other aquatic organisms.
Sources the engine cites (no regulator, review or study among them):
- 1 web article (Elchemy), linked in the app.
EmergingMetabolicconfidence 80%
Homosalate can act as a penetration enhancer, potentially increasing the dermal absorption of other chemicals, including pesticides, when applied to the skin.
- Why here
- Its presence in leave-on formulations can alter the skin's barrier function, facilitating the uptake of other substances present on the skin.
- What would have to be true
- Dermal application of products containing homosalate alongside other chemicals, such as pesticides.
Sources the engine cites (no regulator, review or study among them):
- 1 community or commercial page, not counted here.
Not researched here
The engine has no dossier for homosalate when cooked with heat, in cold food, as a finishing ingredient, in heated food packaging or other uses. The app researches an ingredient for the use it infers from your product, so a scan fills these in; this page only shows what has already been researched and source-verified.
This is research, not medical advice. Detox My Life shows sourced claims sorted by evidence tier. It does not diagnose, treat, or tell you to start or stop anything. Talk to a qualified professional about your health.
Scan your own. The app reads any product label with your camera, works out how you are about to use it, and researches every ingredient for that use with live sources. Every scan adds to a Detox Score for your home, where 50 is a typical home in your region, and a plan of next swaps.
See also: all ingredients · paste a label to check it · how to read an ingredient flag
