FDA approves new sunscreen ingredient used for years in Europe and Asia
 |
| The FDA's approval of a new sunscreen ingredient will expand options for consumers in the US. agrobacter/iStockphoto/Getty Images |
For the first time in 20 years, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a new sunscreen ingredient — bemotrizinol, or BEMT — that experts say is a safer option than many chemical ingredients currently in use in the United States.“Bemotrizinol has been used safely in Europe for decades, and FDA’s action will increase competition and consumer confidence in sunscreen products,” US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy said in a statement announcing the change.
Adding BEMT is welcome news to many because there are few choices on US store shelves that are both safe and effective, according to an annual report by the Environmental Working Group, or EWG, a nonprofit health and environmental advocacy organization. rice. However, critics say they routinely fail to shield against deep-penetrating ultraviolet A, or UVA rays, which drive premature aging, suppress the immune system and are the primary contributor to skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.Peer-reviewed research by EWG has found US sunscreens deliver on average 24% of their UVA protection by just amplifying the sun protection factor, or SPF, labels.However, BEMT is a chemical filter that provides adequate UVA protection, is not easily absorbed into the skin, and has the most robust safety data on any UV filter to date, said Alexa Friedman, a senior scientist at EWG.
“Bemotrizinol changes the calculus of sun care. It is highly photostable — meaning it won’t break down when hot summer sun hits your skin — unlike avobenzone, currently the only non-mineral filter in the U.S. that provides meaningful UVA coverage,” she said in a statement. easily absorbed into the skin, and has the most robust safety data on any UV filter to date, said Alexa Friedman, a senior scientist at EWG. |
| Influencers are pushing false claims about SPF. Doctor explains why ... |
“Bemotrizinol changes the calculus of sun care. It is highly photostable — meaning it won’t break down when hot summer sun hits your skin — unlike avobenzone, currently the only non-mineral filter in the U.S. that provides meaningful UVA coverage,” she said in a statement.Those chemicals remained in the blood stopped days after application. In fact, two of the ingredients — homosalate and oxybenzone — stayed in the bloodstream above safety thresholds for more than two weeks.All of the chemicals are part of a dozen the FDA wants manufacturers to research before they can be considered GRASE or “generally regarded as safe and effective.” To date, those studies have not been announced, nor has the FDA passed any updated regulations on those chemicals, experts say.That’s a key reason the approval of a new, safer chemical ingredient for sunscreens is such good news, said David Andrews, EWG’s chief science officer.
“This is a great day for American consumers and everyone who has fought to improve sunscreen options and close the UVA protection gap in U.S. sunscreens,” Andrews said in a statement.
“For decades, Americans have used outdated sunscreen tech while the rest of the world moved forward.The approval of bemotrizinol will help change that,” Andrews added. “This is a win that has been a long time coming.”
More to be done
The Personal Care Products Council, which represents sunscreen manufacturers, applauded the FDA’s action as “a significant advancement for the personal care products industry and consumers,” but called on the FDA to do more. ingredients,” said PCPC spokesperson Tesia Williams in an email.
Recommended changes to how the FDA regulates sunscreens were first proposed in 2019 and announced in 2021. Recommendations included requiring sunscreen manufacturers to clearly label their products with active ingredients on the front, as well as clearer formats for SPF, broad-spectrum and water-resistant statements. To date, those proposals remain in limbo.
The FDA’s action on bemotrizinol aligns with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Strategy Report priority, the administration stated. “FDA will promote innovation in the sunscreen market, and improve regulatory processes for over-the-counter sunscreen, which has fallen behind other countries.”
Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN’s Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.pdated 21 min ago
Updated Jun 9, 2026, 2:32 PM ET
PUBLISHED Jun 9, 2026, 12:09 PM ETBy
Sandee LaMotte
Sandee LaMotte
