Ingredient guide · E

Ethylhexyl Salicylate

Ethylhexyl Salicylate is a clear, oily liquid commonly used in UK sunscreens and daily moisturisers with SPF. It works as a UVB filter to help protect skin from sun damage while also acting as a solvent for other UV filters. You’ll often find it listed near the top of the ingredients in lightweight facial SPFs and tinted moisturisers.

Ethylhexyl Salicylate — Ethylhexyl Salicylate is a synthetic ester formed from salicylic acid (originally deriv… | UK Lips ingredient guide

How it works in skincare

In cosmetics and skincare, Ethylhexyl Salicylate functions primarily as a UVB absorber, converting ultraviolet radiation into harmless heat. It is lipophilic, which allows it to integrate easily into oil-based formulations and improve the overall water resistance and spreadability of sunscreen products. It is frequently combined with other UV filters such as butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane to achieve broad-spectrum protection while maintaining a non-greasy, elegant skin feel.

Key benefits

  • Helps shield skin against UVB rays
  • Enhances the performance of other UV filters
  • Improves water resistance of sunscreen formulas
  • Contributes to a lightweight, non-greasy texture
  • Stabilises formulations exposed to sunlight
  • Allows for elegant daily wear SPF products

Best for

all skin types, oily skin, combination skin, sensitive skin

Where it comes from

Ethylhexyl Salicylate is a synthetic ester formed from salicylic acid (originally derived from willow bark) and 2-ethylhexanol. While the salicylic acid component has a botanical heritage, the finished ingredient used in cosmetics is produced in a laboratory.

Products with Ethylhexyl Salicylate

Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Ethylhexyl Salicylate than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.

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