Sunscreens in the U.S. Might Finally Be Getting Better
The Cut • • business
Key Points:
- The FDA has approved bemotrizinol, a new sunscreen ingredient, for use in U.S. sunscreens for the first time in over 25 years, marking a significant update in sunscreen regulation.
- Bemotrizinol is a chemical UV filter that protects against both UVA and UVB rays and has low skin absorption, making it a safe and effective option.
- This ingredient has been approved and widely used in many countries for decades, but the U.S. had not approved any new sunscreen filters since 1999 due to strict regulatory processes.
- Popular international sunscreens containing bemotrizinol include Bioré UV, Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun:Rice + Probiotics, and La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UVMune 400, though these may not be immediately available in the U.S.
- The FDA’s approval is seen as a positive step toward modernizing U.S. sunscreen formulations, with hopes that future ingredient approvals will occur more frequently.