Why do premium skincare brands still use oxybenzone (BP-3) despite safety concerns?

Why do premium skincare brands still use oxybenzone (BP-3) despite safety concerns?
Oxybenzone, or UV-9, remains a staple in premium cosmetics because it is an FDA-approved Class I sunscreen agent with broad-spectrum UV-A and UV-B absorption. Its efficacy, thermal stability, and low toxicity profile outweigh consumer app-based risk warnings, which often lack regulatory context. Beyond cosmetics, UV-9 serves as a versatile light stabilizer in PVC, unsaturated polyester, acrylics, and polyurethane, typically dosed at 0.1-0.5% in plastics and up to 1.5% in polyethylene. The dual-market demand from personal care and polymer industries underpins its steady consumption in China, where it competes with UV-531 at a ratio of roughly 1:4 in the benzophenone segment.