FDA Adds Bemotrizinol to Permitted U.S. Sunscreen Ingredients

U.S. Food and Drug Administration added bemotrizinol to the list of permitted sunscreen ingredients in June 2026. The new rule takes effect August 9, 2026, and sunscreens containing the ingredient could reach store shelves by late summer.

Bemotrizinol has been sold in Europe for more than 25 years and is also available in Japan, Canada, and Australia. Tanya Hathaway, a dermatologist at Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle, said the ingredient is more long-lasting than some other sunscreen ingredients, is not readily absorbed into the bloodstream, and blocks ultraviolet A1 radiation.

U.S. Sunscreens block UVB radiation effectively but have offered fewer options for UVA protection, said Jennifer Stein, a dermatologist at NYU Langone Health. Bemotrizinol is more stable than avobenzone and oxybenzone, two chemical ingredients that absorb the sun’s radiation and can break down when exposed to sunlight.

Physical ingredients titanium dioxide and zinc oxide reflect the sun’s rays.

The FDA classifies only three sunscreen ingredients as generally recognized as safe and effective: bemotrizinol, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. U.S. sunscreen ingredient list had not changed in 20 years before the addition of bemotrizinol.

Hathaway said there have never been studies showing that current ingredients on the market are unsafe, though the FDA has stated that additional data are needed for some chemical sunscreens. Stein noted that physical ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can leave a white sheen and do not rub in well. Chemical ingredients often rub in more easily but are less stable.

Hathaway said bemotrizinol’s approval could open the pipeline for other sunscreen ingredients used around the world. She added that low-tech options such as long sleeves, hats, sunglasses, and shade remain effective protection measures.