Ask KBeauty Verified™
KBeauty Verified™ — K-beauty checked against official records from Korea, the EU and the U.S.
Reading time:
Views: 1
ChatGPT: 2 Claude: 1 Google · Gemini: 0 Perplexity: 0 Meta AI: 0 Amazon: 0 Others: 1
Read by AI & crawlers
ChatGPT2
Claude1
Google · Gemini0
Perplexity0
Meta AI0
Amazon0
Others1

Named by what the crawler says it is; look-alikes we detect are counted under Others. Google · Gemini includes Googlebot, Google’s search crawler, whose index Google also uses for its AI features; other search engines and bots are in Others. AI visibility →

Potassium Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonate

Korean: 포타슘페닐벤즈이미다졸설포네이트 · Functions: uv absorber, uv filter

KR South Korea (MFDS)

No specific rule on file.

EU European Union (CosIng)

Approved UV filter Annex VI/6

Maximum: 8%(as acid)

Conditions: 2-Phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulphonic acid and its potassium, sodium and triethanolamine salts / Ensulizole

Source: EU CosIng — Annex VI · checked Oct 16, 2026

US United States (FDA)

Not an FDA-listed sunscreen active M020 (not listed)

Conditions: Permitted as a UV filter elsewhere, but not on the FDA list of sunscreen active ingredients (§M020.10). It cannot be the active ingredient of a sunscreen marketed in the U.S. under the monograph.

Source: FDA OTC Monograph M020 (sunscreens) · checked Oct 16, 2026

This is a UV filter. In the U.S., sunscreens are regulated as over-the-counter drugs, so a filter must be on the FDA's list of permitted sunscreen actives to be used in a sunscreen sold there. Compare all filters on Sunscreen filters: Korea vs EU vs U.S.

Other markets

How Potassium Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonate is treated in 3 more markets, from the overseas cosmetic regulation database compiled by Korea's MFDS. Always confirm with the regulator of that country before selling there.

MarketStatusConditions
CN ChinaRestricted MFDS summary (Korean): * 【화장품 중 최대사용농도】 배합한도 (일반) : 총량 8%(산으로 계산)
AS ASEAN (10 countries)Restricted MFDS summary (Korean): * 【Restrictions】 Maximum authorised concentration in the finished cosmetic product : 8% expressed as acid * 제한 【완제품에서 허용된 최대 농도】 : 8% (자유염기로서)
TW TaiwanRestricted MFDS summary (Korean): * 用途(용도) : 防曬劑 (자외선차단제) * 배합한도 : 8% (以acid 計) 8% (산으로서 계산할 때)

Source: MFDS cosmetic ingredient use restrictions — overseas regulations · checked Oct 16, 2026

Also listed as

POTASSIUM PHENYLBENZIMIDAZOLE SULFONATE 포타슘페닐벤즈이미다졸설포네이트

Information only, not medical advice. Rules change — always check the linked official source. If you are pregnant, have a skin condition or allergies, ask a dermatologist or pharmacist.

Ask KBeauty Verified™
KBeauty Verified™ — K-beauty checked against official records from Korea, the EU and the U.S.
Reading time:
Views: 1
ChatGPT: 2 Claude: 1 Google · Gemini: 0 Perplexity: 0 Meta AI: 0 Amazon: 0 Others: 1
Read by AI & crawlers
ChatGPT2
Claude1
Google · Gemini0
Perplexity0
Meta AI0
Amazon0
Others1

Named by what the crawler says it is; look-alikes we detect are counted under Others. Google · Gemini includes Googlebot, Google’s search crawler, whose index Google also uses for its AI features; other search engines and bots are in Others. AI visibility →