Sunscreen filters compared: Korea vs US vs EU vs Japan vs China

Which UV filters can a sunscreen use? South Korea allows 29 of the 38 filters below, the EU 30, and the United States only 15. That gap is the main reason most Korean sunscreens are not sold in the US.

2026 US changes: bemotrizinol (Tinosorb S) became the first new US sunscreen filter since the 1990s (FDA final order, June 10, 2026, effective August 9, 2026). PABA and trolamine salicylate are being removed (FDA order, September 2026, effective September 2027).
Maximum concentration allowed in the finished product
FilterCoversKoreaUSEUJapanChina
BemotrizinolTinosorb S, BEMTUVA+UVB✓ 10%✓ 6%✓ 10%✓ 3%✓ 10%
BisoctrizoleTinosorb M, MBBTUVA+UVB✓ 10%Not approved✓ 10%✓ 10%✓ 10%
Uvinul A PlusDHHBUVA✓ 10%Not approved✓ 10%✓ 10%✓ 10%
Ethylhexyl TriazoneOctyl Triazone, Uvinul T 150UVB✓ 5%Not approved✓ 5%✓ 5%✓ 5%
IscotrizinolUvasorb HEBUVB✓ 10%Not approved✓ 10%—✓ 10%
Drometrizole TrisiloxaneMexoryl XLUVA+UVB✓ 15%Not approved✓ 15%✓ 15%✓ 15%
EcamsuleMexoryl SXUVA✓ 10%Approved products only✓ 10%✓ 10%✓ 10%
Bisdisulizole DisodiumNeo Heliopan APUVA✓ 10%Not approved✓ 10%—✓ 10%
Mexoryl 400MCEUVA✓ 3%Not approved✓ 3%——
Phenylene Bis-DiphenyltriazineTriAsorBUVA+UVB—Not approved✓ 5%——
Tris-Biphenyl TriazineTinosorb A2BUVB+UVA2—Not approved✓ 10%——
Bis-(Diethylaminohydroxybenzoyl Benzoyl) PiperazineUVA—Not approved✓ 10%——
Polysilicone-15Parsol SLXUVB✓ 10%Not approved✓ 10%✓ 10%✓ 10%
AmiloxateIsoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate, Neo Heliopan E1000UVB✓ 10%Not approved✓ 10%—✓ 10%
Enzacamene4-MBCUVB✓ 4%Not approved✗ Banned—✓ 4%
AvobenzoneButyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Parsol 1789UVA✓ 5%✓ 3%✓ 5%✓ 10%✓ 5%
OxybenzoneBenzophenone-3UVB+UVA2✓ 5%✓ 6%✓ 6%*✓ 5%*✓ 10%
SulisobenzoneBenzophenone-4UVB+UVA2✓ 5%✓ 10%✓ 5%✓ 10%*✓ 5%
DioxybenzoneBenzophenone-8UVB+UVA2✓ 3%✓ 3%———
OctinoxateEthylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, OMCUVB✓ 7.5%✓ 7.5%✓ 10%✓ 20%*✓ 10%
OctisalateEthylhexyl SalicylateUVB✓ 5%✓ 5%✓ 5%✓ 10%*✓ 5%
HomosalateUVB✓ 10%✓ 15%✓ 7.34%✓ 10%✓ 10%
OctocryleneUVB+UVA2✓ 10%✓ 10%✓ 10%*✓ 10%✓ 10%
Padimate OEthylhexyl Dimethyl PABAUVB✓ 8%✓ 8%✓ 8%✓ 10%*✓ 8%
PABAAminobenzoic AcidUVB✗ Banned⚠ Removing 2027✗ Banned✓ 4%✗ Banned
CinoxateUVB✓ 5%✓ 3%—✓ 5%*—
MeradimateMenthyl AnthranilateUVA2✓ 5%✓ 5%———
EnsulizolePhenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid, PBSAUVB✓ 4%✓ 4%✓ 8%✓ 3%✓ 8%
Trolamine SalicylateTEA-SalicylateUVB✓ conditions⚠ Removing 2027✓ 2.5%*✓ 1%✓ 2.5%*
DrometrizoleUVB+UVA2✓ 1%Not approved—✓ 7%—
Benzylidene Camphor Sulfonic AcidUVB—Not approved✓ 6%—✓ 6%
Camphor Benzalkonium MethosulfateUVB—Not approved✓ 6%—✓ 6%
Polyacrylamidomethyl Benzylidene CamphorUVB—Not approved✓ 6%—✓ 6%
PEG-25 PABAUVB—Not approved✓ 10%—✓ 10%
Glyceryl PABAUVB✗ BannedNot approved✗ Banned✓ 4%✗ Banned
Digalloyl Trioleate—✓ 5%Not approved———
Titanium DioxideCI 77891UVB+UVA2✓ 25%✓ 25%✓ 25%✓ no cap✓ 25%
Zinc OxideCI 77947UVA+UVB✓ 25%✓ 25%✓ 25%✓ no cap✓ 25%

✓ = allowed as a UV filter, with the maximum concentration in the finished product. * = the limit depends on product type (see the filter page). ✗ = banned. — = no entry in the official list compiled by Korea's MFDS (for the US this means it is not an approved sunscreen active; for other regions, check the regulator's own list).

Allowed in Korea but not in the US (14)

BisoctrizoleUvinul A PlusEthylhexyl TriazoneIscotrizinolDrometrizole TrisiloxaneEcamsuleBisdisulizole DisodiumMexoryl 400Polysilicone-15AmiloxateEnzacameneTrolamine SalicylateDrometrizoleDigalloyl Trioleate

Why the US list is so short →

Sources