Polyethoxylated retinamide is a Korean wrinkle-annex ingredient with a 95.0% assay, a pH 4.6-6.6 emulsion and no finished-form monograph, per the MFDS
Korean Sunscreen Filters: 27 Ingredient Monographs and 11 Alternative Names
Published November 02, 2026
The Korean functional cosmetics codex has 27 raw-ingredient monographs in its UV protection annex, Annex 4. Two of them are minerals, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. The other 25 are organic UV filters, written in the codex under Korean names such as 벤조페논-3 or 에칠헥실메톡시신나메이트. The codex, published by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), also prints 11 alternative names for filters that are better known abroad under other names.
That makes the annex useful as a decoder. A Korean sunscreen label may list a filter under the codex name, and an English reader may know it by another. This page lists all of them and the aliases the codex itself gives.
The facts on this page come from two Korean legal texts: the MFDS notice "Standards and Test Methods for Functional Cosmetics" (기능성화장품 기준 및 시험방법), MFDS Notice No. 2025-89, amended 16 December 2025, which its general annex calls the Korean Functional Cosmetics Codex (KFCC), and Article 2 of the Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act. Both were read in Korean. Korean statutes and notices are not copyright-protected (Copyright Act, Article 7), so they are quoted directly. No product, price or ranking appears here.
Which functional claim type do these ingredients belong to?
UV protection is item 5 of the closed list of functional cosmetic types in Article 2 of the Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act. The Korean text reads:
자외선을 차단 또는 산란시켜 자외선으로부터 피부를 보호하는 기능을 가진 화장품
In English: item 5 of Article 2 covers a cosmetic that protects the skin from ultraviolet rays by blocking or scattering them. SPF and PA ratings are not part of that wording; they are set in other notices not read for this page.
Which 27 ingredients have a monograph in Annex 4?
Same source, the MFDS codex. The English names below follow the form used in the ingredient index of this site; the Korean column is the name printed in the codex.
| No. | Ingredient (English form) | Name printed in the codex |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drometrizole | 드로메트리졸 |
| 2 | Drometrizole Trisiloxane | 드로메트리졸트리실록산 |
| 3 | Digalloyl Trioleate | 디갈로일트리올리에이트 |
| 4 | Dimethicodiethylbenzalmalonate (Polysilicone-15) | 디메치코디에칠벤잘말로네이트 |
| 5 | Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate | 디에칠아미노하이드록시벤조일헥실 벤조에이트 |
| 6 | Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone | 디에칠헥실부타미도트리아존 |
| 7 | Disodium Phenyl Dibenzimidazole Tetrasulfonate | 디소듐페닐디벤즈이미다졸테트라설포네이트 |
| 8 | Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol | 메칠렌비스-벤조트리아졸릴테트라메칠부틸페놀 |
| 9 | 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor | 4-메칠벤질리덴캠퍼 |
| 10 | Menthyl Anthranilate | 멘틸안트라닐레이트 |
| 11 | Benzophenone-3 | 벤조페논-3 |
| 12 | Benzophenone-4 | 벤조페논-4 |
| 13 | Benzophenone-8 | 벤조페논-8 |
| 14 | Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine | 비스-에칠헥실옥시페놀메톡시페닐트리아진 |
| 15 | Cinoxate | 시녹세이트 |
| 16 | Octocrylene | 옥토크릴렌 |
| 17 | Ethylhexyl Dimethyl PABA | 에칠헥실디메칠파바 |
| 18 | Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate | 에칠헥실메톡시신나메이트 |
| 19 | Ethylhexyl Salicylate | 에칠헥실살리실레이트 |
| 20 | Ethylhexyl Triazone | 에칠헥실트리아존 |
| 21 | Isoamyl p-Methoxycinnamate | 이소아밀 p-메톡시신나메이트 |
| 22 | Zinc Oxide | 징크옥사이드 |
| 23 | Titanium Dioxide | 티타늄디옥사이드 |
| 24 | Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid | 페닐벤즈이미다졸설포닉애씨드 |
| 25 | Homosalate | 호모살레이트 |
| 26 | Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane (Avobenzone) | 부틸메톡시디벤조일메탄 |
| 27 | Terephthalylidene Dicamphor Sulfonic Acid | 테레프탈릴리덴디캠퍼설포닉애씨드 |
For example, 에칠헥실메톡시신나메이트 is the codex name for ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, and the codex lists 옥틸메톡시신나메이트 as an alternative. The list is alphabetical by Korean name apart from the last two entries, which the ingredient index places after the others.
Which names does the codex give as alternatives?
The codex prints other names for 11 of the filters. Same source, the MFDS codex:
| Name in the codex | Alternative printed in the codex | English reading of the alternative (this page's rendering) |
|---|---|---|
| 벤조페논-3 (Benzophenone-3) | 옥시벤존 | oxybenzone |
| 벤조페논-4 (Benzophenone-4) | 설리소벤존 | sulisobenzone |
| 벤조페논-8 (Benzophenone-8) | 디옥시벤존 | dioxybenzone |
| 부틸메톡시디벤조일메탄 (Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane) | 아보벤존 | avobenzone |
| 디메치코디에칠벤잘말로네이트 (Dimethicodiethylbenzalmalonate) | 폴리실리콘-15 | polysilicone-15 |
| 에칠헥실메톡시신나메이트 (Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate) | 옥틸메톡시신나메이트 | octyl methoxycinnamate |
| 에칠헥실살리실레이트 (Ethylhexyl Salicylate) | 옥틸살리실레이트 | octyl salicylate |
| 에칠헥실트리아존 (Ethylhexyl Triazone) | 옥틸트리아존 | octyl triazone |
| 에칠헥실디메칠파바 (Ethylhexyl Dimethyl PABA) | 옥틸디메칠파바 | octyl dimethyl PABA |
| 호모살레이트 (Homosalate) | 호모멘틸산살리실레이트 | homomenthyl salicylate |
| 멘틸안트라닐레이트 (Menthyl Anthranilate) | 멘틸-o-아미노벤조에이트 | menthyl o-aminobenzoate |
The English reading in the third column is this page's own transliteration of the Korean alternative; the codex prints only the Korean. Notice the pattern: four of the alternatives replace 에칠헥실 (ethylhexyl) with 옥틸 (octyl), and the codex prints both forms. The codex also notes that the ethylhexyl salicylate monograph carries an assay of 98.0%.
Do any of them have a solution monograph?
Two entries come with a separate monograph for a solution. As printed in the MFDS codex:
| Ingredient | Monograph for the raw material | Monograph for the solution |
|---|---|---|
| Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid | Not summarised in the extract read for this page | A 33% solution with a content of 32.6 to 35.1% |
| Methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol | 98.5% or more, when dried | A 50% solution with a content of 48.0 to 52.0% |
A solution monograph is a raw-material specification for a liquid that a manufacturer might buy; it is not a finished sunscreen monograph.
What about the two mineral filters?
Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide have their own monographs in Annex 4, with assay floors of 99.5% (after ignition) and 90.0% (when dried) respectively, as printed in the MFDS codex. Annex 10, section II.2 adds an alternative method for measuring the content of both in finished UV products: a xenon arc lamp covering 290 to 400 nm, an application of 2.0 mg per square centimetre, 15 minutes at room temperature, and the mean of three readings. For the side-by-side numbers, see our page on titanium dioxide in the Korean codex.
What does a monograph tell you, and what not?
Rule 1 of the codex's general annex says the notice defines when a company seeking functional cosmetic review may be excused from submitting its own standards and test methods. So a monograph shows that the codex has a quality standard for the raw filter; it does not say the filter is allowed in every product, how much of it is permitted, or what SPF a product reaches. Maximum use levels and the SPF and PA labelling rules sit in other notices that were not read for this page.
Sunscreen label checklist
- Check that the product is marked as a functional cosmetic for UV protection
- Match each filter on the label to the codex name or its listed alternative
- Do not treat a monograph as a use limit or an SPF rating
- Check whether a mineral filter is zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
- Ask for the notice number if a brand cites the codex
How to look up a filter in the codex
- Find the filter name on the label
- Match it to the Annex 4 list or its alternative name
- Open MFDS Notice 2025-89 and read the monograph
- Check SPF and use limits in the other notices
Maximum use levels and SPF or PA rules. They sit in other MFDS notices not read for this page.
Every functional type and its codex ingredients are grouped in our K-beauty functional ingredient index.
What does Annex 1 of the notice do?
Annex 1 is the general rules, and two of its items frame everything above. Its first item sets the range in which the submission of standards and test methods data can be waived during the review of a functional cosmetic. Its second item gives the notice its English name, the Korean Functional Cosmetics Codex, or KFCC, which is the name used for it on this page. Neither item changes a monograph; they say who has to file what, and what the document is called.
Sources and how to check
- 기능성화장품 기준 및 시험방법 (Standards and Test Methods for Functional Cosmetics, KFCC), MFDS Notice No. 2025-89, amended 16 December 2025: Annex 1 (general rules), Annex 4 (UV monographs), Annex 10 (general tests, section II.2). Korean Law Information Center: https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/admRulInfoP.do?admRulSeq=2100000269816&chrClsCd=010201
- 화장품법 시행규칙 제2조 (Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act, Article 2), quoted above: https://www.law.go.kr/법령/화장품법%20시행규칙/제2조
- Checked as of 13 October 2026, against the annex files of the notice. Licence: unprotected works under Copyright Act Article 7.
Questions readers ask about Korean Sunscreen Filters
How many UV filters have a monograph in the Korean codex?
Annex 4 of the MFDS functional cosmetics codex (Notice No. 2025-89) holds 27 raw-ingredient monographs for UV protection, 25 organic filters and the two minerals.
Does the codex give other names for filters?
Yes. It prints 11 alternative names, for example 옥시벤존 for benzophenone-3 and 아보벤존 for butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane.
Does a monograph set a maximum amount?
No. Use limits are in other MFDS notices; the codex is a quality reference.
Does the codex give SPF values?
No. SPF and PA labelling is set in other notices.
Which filters have solution monographs?
Terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid (33% solution) and methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol (50% solution).