In a major milestone for skin health and consumer safety, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved bemotrizinol as a new active sunscreen ingredient, marking the first addition to the agency's over-the-counter sunscreen monograph since the late 1990s. The FDA announced the decision on June 9, 2026, ending a decades-long regulatory drought that had left American sunscreen formulations lagging behind those available in Europe and Asia.
The approval is expected to broaden sunscreen choices for consumers, encourage innovation in sun-care products, and potentially improve protection against harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation linked to skin cancer and premature aging.
Bemotrizinol, also known as BEMT (bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine), is a broad-spectrum UV filter that absorbs both UVA and UVB rays. The ingredient has been widely used in sunscreen products across Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia since 2000, but until now had not been approved for use in the United States.
Unlike many older sunscreen filters, bemotrizinol is highly photostable, meaning it does not break down quickly when exposed to sunlight. This allows it to provide long-lasting protection without requiring additional stabilizing ingredients. Researchers and dermatologists have also highlighted its low absorption through the skin and favorable safety profile.
One of its biggest advantages is photostability. Some commonly used sunscreen filters, such as avobenzone, can degrade when exposed to sunlight and often require stabilizing ingredients to maintain effectiveness. Bemotrizinol remains highly stable under UV exposure, allowing it to provide longer-lasting protection.
Researchers have also found that the ingredient demonstrates very low skin absorption and a favorable safety profile, factors that contributed to the FDA's approval decision.
In addition, bemotrizinol works well alongside other sunscreen filter, including mineral ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, giving manufacturers greater flexibility when creating broad-spectrum formulations.
While many countries regularly approve new UV filters, the United States has historically moved much more slowly because sunscreen active ingredients are regulated as over-the-counter drugs rather than cosmetics.
This distinction subjects sunscreen ingredients to a more rigorous review process than in many other regions.
As a result, European and Asian consumers have had access to a wider range of modern UV filters for years, while American manufacturers have relied on a relatively limited list of approved ingredients. Even with the addition of bemotrizinol, the United States still has fewer approved UV filters than many international markets.
Bemotrizinol is expected to help close that gap by delivering robust protection against both forms of ultraviolet radiation.
In announcing the approval, the FDA emphasized that scientific evidence supports bemotrizinol's safety and effectiveness as a broad-spectrum sunscreen ingredient.
The agency cited multiple factors behind its decision, including:
Broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection
Favorable safety data
Low systemic absorption through the skin
Strong photostability
Decades of international use
Compatibility with existing sunscreen formulations
The FDA concluded that the ingredient meets the standards required for over-the-counter sunscreen products sold in the United States.
DSM Nutritional Products, a subsidiary of dsm-firmenich, will market bemotrizinol in the United States under the trade name Parsol Shield.
The company has been granted 18 months of marketing exclusivity, allowing it to introduce products containing the ingredient before competitors can use it in their formulations.
Industry observers expect the first U.S. sunscreen products containing bemotrizinol to begin appearing later in 2026, although broader adoption across major sunscreen brands could take additional time as companies reformulate products and complete regulatory requirements.
Reference:
1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “FDA Expands Sunscreen Options for the First Time in 20 Years.” News release, June 9, 2026. Accessed June 12, 2026.
(Rh/ARC)
