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Ingredient · INCI reference

Trolamine Salicylate

a.k.a. Trolamine Salicylate

CAS 2174-16-5

Trolamine Salicylate is an older-generation organic UVB filter, the triethanolamine salt of salicylic acid. According to the data here it is not approved as a UV filter in the EU, US, Japan, or Korea. It is not photostable, and EWG rates it 4.

Legacy organic Pre-2000 chemical filters; broadly approved. ! UNSTABLE Photo-unstable — degrades under sunlight without stabilising filters. Gen · old organic
01 Spectrum coverage UVB
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — not covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — not covered
02 Regional approval · max %
JP — — Japan: No data KR — — South Korea: No data EU — — Europe: No data US — — United States: No data
03 Safety profile
EWG score
4
Reef-toxic
No
Endocrine disruptor
No
Comedogenicity
0
Reference

Frequently asked questions

What does Trolamine Salicylate do in a sunscreen?

It is an organic UVB absorber, related to the salicylate family of UV filters. It targets sunburn-range wavelengths and contributes no UVA coverage on its own.

Is Trolamine Salicylate currently used in sunscreens?

According to the data here it is not currently approved as a UV filter in the EU, US, Japan, or Korea, so it does not appear in modern sunscreens across these markets.

Is Trolamine Salicylate photostable?

No. It is not photostable, so its UV-absorbing capacity drops on exposure to light unless it is paired with stabilizers, a limitation that contributes to its disuse.

How does its safety profile look?

EWG rates it 4 on its hazard scale. The data here does not flag it as an endocrine disruptor or reef-toxic, but the EWG score is on the higher end versus newer filters.