Shinsung Materials secures Korean patent and US quality clearance for Ecamsule UV-A filter

SOUTH KOREA – Shinsung Materials, a Korean functional cosmetic ingredient company, has secured a Korean patent and aligned its high-purity, water-soluble Ecamsule UV-A filter with US Pharmacopeia (USP 44) quality standards.

This move positions the ingredient for broader adoption in advanced sunscreen and skincare formulations. 

The Ecamsule now meets USP 44 specifications, which define the chemical purity, safety, and quality benchmarks required for use in over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen products in the United States, although finished sunscreen products containing Ecamsule would still require separate FDA approval before market launch. 

Ecamsule has been present in some FDA-approved sunscreens in the US since 2006, but it is not broadly authorized as a standalone active ingredient under current OTC sunscreen monographs, meaning the new USP 44 alignment primarily offers formulators and regulators a clear, standardized reference point for purity and quality when evaluating Ecamsule-based formulations. 

This development arrives as global brands seek more advanced UV filters that enable lighter, more cosmetically elegant sunscreens, particularly to meet consumer demand for non-greasy, invisible protection without white cast. 

For years, US formulators have faced a “regulatory gap,” with many modern UV filters widely used in South Korea and Europe unavailable or restricted in the US, limiting their ability to create K-beauty-style textures and performance. 

By securing both a Korean patent and USP 44 compliance, Shinsung Materials effectively bridges part of that gap, offering a high-purity, water-soluble UV-A filter that can support more sophisticated, skin-like sunscreen formulations while meeting recognized US quality criteria. 

Ecamsule is a well-known UV-A filter valued for its photostability and ability to protect against long-wave UVA radiation, which contributes to skin ageing and DNA damage, and the water-soluble, high-purity form developed by Shinsung Materials is designed to integrate more easily into modern, lightweight formulations, supporting clear, fluid textures and reducing the need for heavy emollients or opaque bases. 

This aligns with K-beauty’s emphasis on “invisible” sun care that feels like skincare, an attribute increasingly expected by consumers worldwide, while the Korean patent further strengthens Shinsung’s IP position around its purification and formulation technology for Ecamsule, potentially differentiating its grade from other suppliers in terms of purity, solubility, and compatibility with sensitive-skin or clean-beauty claims. 

In the US, sunscreen actives are regulated under the OTC sunscreen monograph, and any new active or significant change typically requires FDA review and approval, so while Ecamsule is not newly introduced to the US market, broader authorization as a monograph ingredient would require additional regulatory steps beyond USP standardization. 

Nonetheless, USP 44 compliance provides a strong foundation for ingredient qualification in global supply chains, simplified regulatory dossiers for brands targeting multiple markets, and greater confidence among US and international formulators seeking to modernize sunscreens with advanced UV-A protection. 

Alongside the Ecamsule news, Shinsung Materials is expanding its range of naturally derived oil gelling agents, such as Dextrin Palmitate and Stearoyl Inulin, to help formulators fine-tune viscosity, stability, and sensory feel in creams, balms, and sunscreens, with one existing grade, OG-DP11, already holding COSMOS approval for use in organic and natural-certified products. 

New variants under development, including OG-DP25, DM14, and DPE33, are designed to offer different balances of gel strength, softness, transparency, and thixotropy, giving brands more control over texture and application feel, which are key attributes for K-beauty-inspired sunscreens and skincare. 

While still in R&D, these materials complement the high-purity Ecamsule by enabling the light, elegant textures that modern consumers expect.

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