Meanings
- uncountablechemistryA benzophenone compound widely used in sunscreens and plastics.
Chemical ingredients — such as avobenzone, oxybenzone and homosalate — absorb the UV rays. Both types of sunscreen can degrade or wash off over time, so it’s important to reapply every two hours, and more frequently if you’re swimming or sweating.
2023 July 15, Dana G. Smith, “Why Sunscreen Is the Only Anti-Aging Product You Need”, in The New York Times1 more example
As documented in a recent FDA study, chemical sunscreens, with active ingredients like oxybenzone, octocrylene, octinoxate, homosalate, and avobenzone, are applied to the skin and then can remain in the blood plasma at significant levels for days to weeks after application[.]
2024 June 21, Danielle Sinay, quoting Madhu Shetti, “Is Sunscreen Bad for You? TikTok’s Anti-SPF Movement, Explained”, in Glamour
Origin
Cite this entry
oxybenzone. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxybenzone
“oxybenzone.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxybenzone. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “oxybenzone,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/oxybenzone.
Source: oxybenzone on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.