Broad-spectrum, stable and light on the skin: the filter Europe has used for years has finally arrived in US sunscreens. For decades, American sunscreen shoppers have had fewer filters to choose from than people in Europe, Asia and Australia. That gap has finally started to close.
In June 2026, the FDA added bemotrizinol, often called BEMT, to its list of approved over-the-counter sunscreen ingredients. It is the first new sunscreen active ingredient added in more than 25 years, and it is now appearing on US shelves.
What the FDA Approved
The FDA issued a final order in June 2026 adding bemotrizinol at concentrations of up to 6 percent to the over-the-counter sunscreen monograph, Dermatology Times reports. The agency determined it to be generally recognized as safe and effective for adults and children 6 months and older. The previous new addition dates back to the late 1990s.
The filter has been used for years in Europe, Asia and Australia, NBC Select notes.
What Makes It Different
Bemotrizinol protects against both UVB rays, which cause sunburn, and UVA rays, which penetrate deeper and contribute to aging and skin cancer.
Its biggest advantage is stability. “One of its most notable characteristics is that it is highly photostable, meaning it does not significantly degrade when exposed to sunlight,” New York dermatologist Dr. Hadley King told NBC Select. That is a key difference from avobenzone, the main UVA filter in many US sunscreens, which breaks down in sunlight unless it is paired with stabilizers.
Bemotrizinol also has low skin absorption, according to the FDA, so it stays on the surface where it does its job. As a chemical filter, it can be formulated into lightweight textures that do not leave the white cast often associated with mineral sunscreens.
The First Formulas You Can Buy
Several brands have already launched products. Neutrogena released Clear Face Sunscreen for Acne Prone Skin SPF 60 and Ultra Sheer Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 70, at around $17 each, in September. Australian brand Ultra Violette offers Unblock Screen SPF 50, a matte formula for oily and acne-prone skin, at $40 at Sephora. La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UVDefense SPF 50, around $40, was set for release on October 20, NBC Select reports.
Dr. King describes the approval as “likely just the beginning of a broader conversation about sunscreen innovation in the U.S.”
Why It Matters Even in Fall
Sunscreen is easy to forget once summer ends, but UVA rays are present all year. They pass through clouds and window glass, so daily exposure continues on gray days, in the car and near windows at home or at work. Dermatologists recommend a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day, applied to the face, neck and backs of the hands.
How to Choose
Look for “broad spectrum” on the label and bemotrizinol in the active ingredients. Choose a texture you will actually wear every day: a matte finish for oily skin, a dewier one for dry skin. Apply generously and reapply every two hours outdoors.
Goodbye white streaks and unstable filters. For US sunscreen users, bemotrizinol is the most important upgrade in a generation.
