Chemical filter
4-MBC
Older UVB filter. EU banned it in 2025–26. Australia still allows 4% and is consulting on a sharp cut or a ban.
4-MBC is a camphor UVB filter (peak about 300 nm). It is the clearest current human-safety outlier among established sunscreen actives.
The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded there is sufficient evidence of effects on the thyroid and oestrogen systems, could not exclude genotoxicity, and could not set a safe concentration. Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/996 moved it from the permitted UV-filter list to the prohibited list: no new products from 1 May 2025 and no remaining stock from 1 May 2026. Great Britain has followed (SI 2026/23: no new products from 15 July 2026).
Australia still permits 4% in therapeutic sunscreens. TGA published a safety review on 11 September 2026: at 4% the margin of safety for whole-body use fell below 100. The same day it opened a Poisons Standard consultation, closing 12 October 2026 and covering both sunscreens and cosmetics, on three options: a single low cap (0.39%), tiered face-and-hands-only limits (0.95%, or 3.8% for adults), or a full ban (proposed by two private applicants rather than TGA). An interim decision is expected in 2027. TGA is not recalling products and is not telling people to stop using sunscreen.
It is already uncommon in good 2025–26 formulas. Prefer another UVB filter.
Sources
- https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/publication/corporate-reports/safety-review-4-methylbenzylidene-camphor-4-mbc
- https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/explore-topic/sunscreens/sunscreen-ingredients
- https://consultations.tga.gov.au/tga/scheduling-pre-meeting-notice-4mbc-nov-2026/
- https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/996/oj
Sunscreens with 4-MBC
-
Airyday
Tough Luxe Dreamscreen
Octocrylene 4%
Avobenzone 4%
4-MBC 4%
Ethylhexyl triazone 3%
Chemical
SPF50 · lotion
- Aspect CC Cream Homosalate 10% Octocrylene 5% Avobenzone 2% 4-MBC 2% DHHB 1.5% Chemical SPF50+ · cream
- Aspect Hydrating Face Homosalate 10% Octocrylene 5% Avobenzone 2% 4-MBC 2% DHHB 1.5% Chemical SPF50+ · cream
-
Aussie Sunmate
Football & Rugby
Homosalate 10%
Octocrylene 5%
Avobenzone 2%
4-MBC 2%
DHHB 1.5%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
Aussie Sunmate
Kids All Sports
Homosalate 10%
Octocrylene 5%
Avobenzone 2%
4-MBC 2%
DHHB 1.5%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
Aussie Sunmate
Tennis & Cricket
Homosalate 10%
Octocrylene 5%
Avobenzone 2%
4-MBC 2%
DHHB 1.5%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
Avène
Sunsitive Sunscreen Children Spray
4-MBC 4%
Avobenzone 4%
Octocrylene 4%
Ethylhexyl triazone 3%
Chemical
SPF50+ · spray
-
Banana Boat
Baby Sunscreen Roll-On
Avobenzone 5%
4-MBC 4%
Octocrylene 2%
Bemotrizinol 1%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
Banana Boat
Dry Balance Sunscreen Spray
Homosalate 7.96%
Octisalate 3.98%
Octocrylene 3.58%
Avobenzone 2.98%
4-MBC 1.99%
Chemical
SPF50+ · spray
-
Banana Boat
Kids Sunscreen Lotion Trigger Spray
Avobenzone 5%
4-MBC 4%
Octocrylene 2%
Bemotrizinol 0.5%
Chemical
SPF50+ · spray
-
Banana Boat
Kids Sunscreen Roll-On
Avobenzone 5%
4-MBC 4%
Octocrylene 2%
Bemotrizinol 1%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
Banana Boat
Kids Sunscreen Spray
Homosalate 7.96%
Octisalate 3.98%
Octocrylene 3.58%
Avobenzone 2.98%
4-MBC 1.99%
Chemical
SPF50+ · spray
-
Banana Boat
Sport Sunscreen Lotion Trigger Spray
Avobenzone 5%
4-MBC 4%
Octocrylene 2%
Bemotrizinol 0.5%
Chemical
SPF50+ · spray
-
Banana Boat
Sport Sunscreen Spray
Homosalate 7.96%
Octisalate 3.98%
Octocrylene 3.58%
Avobenzone 2.98%
4-MBC 1.99%
Chemical
SPF50+ · spray
-
Bondi Sands
Face Tinted Everyday Sunscreen Lotion
4-MBC 4%
Ethylhexyl triazone 3%
Avobenzone 4%
Octocrylene 4%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
- Bondi Sands Hydra UV Protect Sunscreen Lotion Avobenzone 4% 4-MBC 4% Octocrylene 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
-
Bondi Sands
Sunny Cream Face Lotion
4-MBC 4%
Octocrylene 4%
Ethylhexyl triazone 3%
Avobenzone 3%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
- Bondi Sands Sunny Daze Illuminating Face Fluid Drops Octocrylene 4% 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · fluid
-
Bondi Sands
Sunny Drops Face Serum
4-MBC 4%
Ethylhexyl triazone 3%
Avobenzone 4%
Octocrylene 4%
Chemical
SPF50+ · serum
-
Cancer Council
Active Sunscreen
Avobenzone 5%
4-MBC 4%
Octocrylene 2%
Bemotrizinol 1.5%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
Cancer Council
Kids Sunscreen
4-MBC 4%
Octocrylene 4%
Avobenzone 3%
Ethylhexyl triazone 3%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
Cancer Council
Repel Sunscreen Plus Insect Repellent Lotion
Avobenzone 5%
4-MBC 4%
Octocrylene 2%
Bemotrizinol 1%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
Cancer Council
Ultra Lip Balm
Homosalate 10%
Octisalate 5%
Octocrylene 5%
Avobenzone 4%
4-MBC 4%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lip balm
-
Cancer Council
Watersport Sunscreen
Homosalate 8%
Octocrylene 6%
Octisalate 5%
Avobenzone 3%
4-MBC 2.5%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
- Chemists' Own Sport Moisturising Lip Balm Homosalate 10% Octisalate 5% Octocrylene 5% 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Chemical SPF50+ · lip balm
-
Coles
Kids Ultra Sunscreen
4-MBC 4%
Octocrylene 4%
Ethylhexyl triazone 3%
Avobenzone 3%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
Coles
Sensitive Sunscreen
4-MBC 4%
Avobenzone 4%
Octocrylene 4%
Ethylhexyl triazone 3%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
- DermaVeen Sensitive Sun Moisturising UVA+UVB Sunscreen Avobenzone 4% Octocrylene 4% 4-MBC 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · cream
- Ecosol Lip Balm Homosalate 10% 4-MBC 4% Octisalate 5% Octocrylene 5% Avobenzone 4% Chemical SPF50+ · lip balm
-
Goat
Moisturising Lip Balm
4-MBC 4%
Avobenzone 4%
Homosalate 10%
Octocrylene 5%
Octisalate 5%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lip balm
- Guardian Moisturising Lip Balm Homosalate 10% Octisalate 5% Octocrylene 5% 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Chemical SPF50+ · lip balm
- Guardian Moisturising Lip Balm Strawberry Homosalate 10% Octisalate 5% Octocrylene 5% 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Chemical SPF50+ · lip balm
- Hamilton Kids Lotion 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Octocrylene 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Hamilton Sensitive Lotion 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Octocrylene 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Hamilton Toddler Lotion 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Octocrylene 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Hamilton Toddler Roll-On 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Octocrylene 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
-
Hawaiian Tropic
Silk Hydration Sunscreen Spray
Homosalate 7.96%
Octisalate 3.98%
Octocrylene 3.58%
Avobenzone 2.98%
4-MBC 1.99%
Chemical
SPF50+ · spray
-
Key Sun
Clear Zinke
Octocrylene 10%
Avobenzone 5%
Zinc oxide 5%
4-MBC 4%
Mineral + chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
Key Sun
Clear Zinke Kids Sensitive
Octocrylene 10%
Avobenzone 5%
Zinc oxide 5%
4-MBC 4%
Mineral + chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
Key Sun
Weather Guard Lip Balm
Homosalate 10%
Octisalate 5%
Octocrylene 5%
4-MBC 4%
Avobenzone 4%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lip balm
- Le Tan BB Cream Light Tint Octocrylene 3% Avobenzone 3% 4-MBC 2% Ethylhexyl triazone 2% Chemical SPF50+ · cream
- Le Tan BB Cream Medium Tint Octocrylene 3% Avobenzone 3% 4-MBC 2% Ethylhexyl triazone 2% Chemical SPF50+ · cream
- Le Tan Coconut Sunscreen Lotion Homosalate 8% Octocrylene 6% Octisalate 5% Avobenzone 3% 4-MBC 2.5% Chemical SPF15 · lotion
- Le Tan Coconut Sunscreen Lotion 4-MBC 4% Octocrylene 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Avobenzone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
-
Le Tan
Coconut Sunscreen Spray
4-MBC 4%
Avobenzone 4%
Octocrylene 4%
Ethylhexyl triazone 3%
Chemical
SPF50+ · spray
- Le Tan Mango Sunscreen Lotion 4-MBC 4% Octocrylene 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Avobenzone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Le Tan Pineapple Sunscreen Lotion 4-MBC 4% Octocrylene 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Avobenzone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Le Tan Watermelon Sunscreen Lotion 4-MBC 4% Octocrylene 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Avobenzone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Manola Sports Active Sunscreen 4-MBC 2% Avobenzone 2% DHHB 1.5% Homosalate 10% Octocrylene 5% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Maxiblock Kinder Sunscreen Lotion Avobenzone 4% Octocrylene 4% 4-MBC 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Maxiblock Lip Balm Vanilla Homosalate 10% Octocrylene 5% Octisalate 5% 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Chemical SPF50+ · lip balm
- Maxiblock Outbacker Insect Repellent Sunscreen Lotion 4-MBC 4% Bemotrizinol 1% Avobenzone 5% Octocrylene 2% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Natio Ageless Daily Moisturiser UV Protection Octocrylene 3% Ethylhexyl triazone 2% 4-MBC 2% Avobenzone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · cream
- Natio Aromatherapy Daily Defence Face Moisturiser Octocrylene 3% Ethylhexyl triazone 2% 4-MBC 2% Avobenzone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Natio For Men Face Moisturiser Octocrylene 3% Ethylhexyl triazone 2% 4-MBC 2% Avobenzone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Natio Moisturising Lip Balm Homosalate 10% Octisalate 5% Octocrylene 5% 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Chemical SPF50+ · lip balm
- Natio Rosewater Hydration Moisture Balance Day Cream Octocrylene 3% Ethylhexyl triazone 2% 4-MBC 2% Avobenzone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · cream
-
Nivea
Kids Protect & Play Caring Roll-On
Zinc oxide 5%
Bisoctrizole 2.5%
Bemotrizinol 2%
4-MBC 1%
Mineral + chemical
SPF50 · lotion
-
Ombra
Lip Balm Classic
Homosalate 10%
Octisalate 5%
Octocrylene 5%
4-MBC 4%
Avobenzone 4%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lip balm
- Ombra Lip Balm Coconut Octisalate 5% Octocrylene 5% Homosalate 10% 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Chemical SPF50+ · lip balm
- OXX Skincare Sport Sunscreen Zinc oxide 5% Octocrylene 10% 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 5% Mineral + chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- OXX Skincare Ultra Protection Lip Balm Homosalate 10% Octisalate 5% Octocrylene 5% 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Chemical SPF50+ · lip balm
- Pharmacy Choice Dry Touch Kids Sunscreen Lotion Roll On 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Octocrylene 4% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
-
Pharmacy Health
Sensitive With Zinc Sunscreen Lotion
Zinc oxide 5%
Octocrylene 10%
4-MBC 4%
Avobenzone 5%
Mineral + chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
- Priceline Sensitive With Zinc Sunscreen Lotion Octocrylene 10% Avobenzone 5% Zinc oxide 5% 4-MBC 4% Mineral + chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Reef Sunscreen Coconut Oil Homosalate 10% Octisalate 5% Avobenzone 4% Octocrylene 10% 4-MBC 1% Chemical SPF50+ · oil
- Reef Sunscreen Coconut Oil Spray Homosalate 10% Octisalate 5% Avobenzone 4% Octocrylene 10% 4-MBC 1% Chemical SPF50+ · spray
- SunGenix Sensitive Sunscreen Lotion 4-MBC 4% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Avobenzone 3% Octocrylene 4% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
-
Surf Life Saving
Daily Sunscreen Spray
Avobenzone 5%
4-MBC 4%
Octocrylene 2%
Bemotrizinol 0.5%
Chemical
SPF50+ · spray
- Surf Life Saving Despicable Me Sun Screen Avobenzone 3% 4-MBC 2.5% Octocrylene 6% Octisalate 5% Homosalate 8% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion
- Surf Life Saving Minions Sunscreen Spray Avobenzone 5% 4-MBC 4% Octocrylene 2% Bemotrizinol 0.5% Chemical SPF50+ · spray
-
Surf Life Saving
Sport Sunscreen Lotion
Avobenzone 3%
4-MBC 2.5%
Octocrylene 6%
Octisalate 5%
Homosalate 8%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
Surf Life Saving
Sport Sunscreen Spray
Avobenzone 3%
4-MBC 2.4%
Octocrylene 1.2%
Bemotrizinol 0.3%
Chemical
SPF50+ · spray
- Surf Life Saving Sport Trigger 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 5% Octocrylene 2% Bemotrizinol 0.5% Chemical SPF50+ · spray
-
TerryWhite Chemmart
Kids Sunscreen Lotion
4-MBC 4%
Octocrylene 4%
Ethylhexyl triazone 3%
Avobenzone 3%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
-
We Are Feel Good Inc
Sensitive Sunscreen Lotion – Fragrance Free
Avobenzone 4%
Ethylhexyl triazone 3%
4-MBC 4%
Octocrylene 4%
Chemical
SPF50+ · lotion
- Woolworths Everyday Sunscreen Sensitive Spray Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Octocrylene 4% 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 3% Chemical SPF50+ · spray
- Woolworths Kids Sunscreen 4-MBC 4% Avobenzone 3% Ethylhexyl triazone 3% Octocrylene 4% Chemical SPF50+ · lotion