Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate

The short answer

Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, often shortened to DHHB, is an organic sunscreen filter used mainly for UVA protection.

You may know it by the trade name Uvinul A Plus. On an ingredient list, the long INCI name simply tells you the formula contains that filter. It does not tell you the SPF, the UVA protection factor, or whether the finished sunscreen will suit your skin.

What DHHB does

UVA reaches into the longer end of the ultraviolet spectrum. It contributes to pigment darkening and photoageing, and it matters even on days when you do not burn.

DHHB is included in sunscreen systems to absorb UVA. It is useful because sunscreen needs coverage across UVA and UVB, not a heroic performance from one ingredient. A finished formula may pair DHHB with UVB-focused filters such as Ethylhexyl Triazone and with other UVA or broad-spectrum filters.

The tested formula matters more than the ingredient roll call. ISO sunscreen methods assess UVA protection from the product as a whole, not by giving one filter a medal^[3].

What it cannot do alone

DHHB is not complete broad-spectrum protection by itself. It is a UVA specialist, so it needs other filters for meaningful UVB coverage and a finished product with a tested label claim.

That is why I would not shop by searching for one clever-looking INCI name. Look for broad-spectrum or the relevant UVA label in your market, an SPF suited to your exposure, and a texture you can apply generously.

Safety and EU status

DHHB is listed as an authorised UV filter in Annex VI of the EU Cosmetics Regulation^[2]. The European Commission's 2025 scientific advice examined a specific manufacturing impurity, DnHexP, and calculated a maximum safe level of that impurity when DHHB is used up to 10% in cosmetics^[1].

That is more nuance than a front label can hold. The practical message is calmer: cosmetic safety assessments apply to the permitted filter, the quality of the raw material, and the finished product. They do not turn every unfamiliar chemical name into a reason for alarm.

Is it good for sensitive or acne-prone skin?

The ingredient alone cannot predict that. DHHB is not a known acne treatment, nor is it a useful standalone measure of pore-clogging risk.

For sensitive or acne-prone skin, the whole sunscreen decides the experience:

• other filters and the base formula
• fragrance or alcohol content
• how the product behaves around the eyes
• whether it feels heavy under sweat
• how gently you can remove it at night

If a sunscreen stings or breaks you out, test a different finished formula rather than blaming one INCI name immediately. Our guide to why sunscreen can cause breakouts can help you sort irritation, texture, and removal from filter panic.

The practical takeaway

DHHB is a useful UVA filter, not a skincare personality test. It helps a finished sunscreen cover part of the UV spectrum; it does not make the product complete on its own.

I gathered the useful science here so you can stop chasing the next clever filter and return to a simple, effective routine. That is also why I created the Danish Skin Care Kit: the routine I built after helping more than 100,000 people with problem skin. If you have a question about a sunscreen label or your routine, write to me at info@danishskincare.com.