Database/Light Stabilizer/Benzophenone-4
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Benzophenone-4 natural?

Mostly not. The benzophenone ring is petrochemical; the sulfonic-acid group is counted as mineral/natural per the sulfonate convention.

INCI nameBenzophenone-4
CAS4065-45-6
FormulaC14H12O6S · 308.31 Da
FunctionLight Stabilizer · Uv Absorber
FeedstockMade by sulfonating a benzophenone-type UV absorber, itself…

How we scored it

Benzophenone-3-type aromatic core (petrochemical, 227 Da) + SO3H sulfonic acid group (natural mineral fragment, 81 Da); 81/308 = 0.26
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

How it’s made

Sulfonation of oxybenzone with SO₃ (EAS), rearomatisation, protonation. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Made by sulfonating a benzophenone-type UV absorber, itself synthesised from petrochemical aromatic intermediates. The sulfonic acid group added during sulfonation is the only natural-origin mass in the molecule.

In plain English

A UV filter used in sunscreens to absorb UVA and UVB light, and also to protect fragrance and colour from fading. Its aromatic core is fully synthetic, made from petroleum-derived chemicals.

CosIng definition: Benzophenone-4 is a benzophenone derivative that conforms to the formula:

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Structure

2D structure of Benzophenone-4

5-benzoyl-4-hydroxy-2-methoxybenzenesulfonic acid

PubChem CID 19988 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Benzophenone-4. PubChem CID 19988. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3BENZOPHENONE-4. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4BENZOPHENONE-4. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=BENZOPHENONE-4