ETHYLHEXYL DIMETHYL PABA
ETHYLHEXYL DIMETHYL PABA is approved in cosmetics in the EU as a UV filter — Annex VI, entry 21 of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Review the concentration limits and Safety Gate alerts.
Regulatory status as of 2026-08-28 (per the CosIng database).
About the ingredient
2-Ethylhexyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate
EU regulatory status
Annex of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009: VI/21
Source: the European Commission's official CosIng database and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on cosmetic products. How we assess ingredients — full methodology.
- View the entry in the CosIng database (European Commission)
- Open Regulation 1223/2009 in EUR-Lex
- Check the chemical profile in PubChem
Last updated:
Functions in cosmetics
Frequently asked questions
Is ETHYLHEXYL DIMETHYL PABA safe in cosmetics?
ETHYLHEXYL DIMETHYL PABA is included on the EU positive list of special-purpose additives (Annex IV – colorants, Annex V – preservatives, or Annex VI – UV filters of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). It may be used in cosmetics under the conditions laid down for the relevant annex: permitted product categories, maximum concentration and required warnings.
In which annex of Regulation 1223/2009 is ETHYLHEXYL DIMETHYL PABA listed?
ETHYLHEXYL DIMETHYL PABA is listed under reference VI/21 in the annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products. The first part (Roman numeral) indicates the annex: II – prohibited substances, III – substances restricted by conditions, IV – permitted colorants, V – permitted preservatives, VI – permitted UV filters.
What functions does ETHYLHEXYL DIMETHYL PABA perform in cosmetics?
According to the European Commission's CosIng database, ETHYLHEXYL DIMETHYL PABA performs the following functions in cosmetics: LIGHT STABILIZER, UV ABSORBER, UV FILTER. Functions are defined in the CosIng glossary and describe the technological role of a substance in the finished product.
Are there Safety Gate alerts concerning ETHYLHEXYL DIMETHYL PABA?
Our copy of the EU Safety Gate database currently contains no alerts linking ETHYLHEXYL DIMETHYL PABA to a cosmetic recall. The database is refreshed regularly from the European Commission's official Safety Gate system.