A person rubs sun tan lotion on a woman amid a heat advisory on May 19, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Americans will soon be able to purchase a newly approved sunscreen ingredient that has been approved in Europe since the 20th century. Bemotrizinol is designed to shield users from both ultraviolet A and B rays without leaving those white streaks caused by mineral-based sunscreens.
Big picture view:
On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration signed off on the ingredient, saying it met the agency’s standards for protecting people from the sun’s harmful rays without too much being absorbed through the skin. It is approved for children who are six months and older and adults.
Benefits of bemotrizinol
Why you should care:
The FDA requires all sunscreens to protect against UVA, which poses higher risks of cancer and wrinkles, and UVB, which is to blame for most sunburns. Currently, there are no chemical products on the market that can protect against both, so producers will usually mix chemicals in order to meet federal requirements.
Mineral-based ingredients, like zinc oxide, can block both types of rays, but they are known to leave a chalky white residue. Bemotrizinol is designed to offer similar protection without the streaks.
When the sunscreen goes on sale
What's next:
Dutch manufacturer DSM Nutritional Products will launch the first product, under the brand name Parsol Shield, later this year. After an 18-month exclusivity window, other manufacturers will be allowed to sell their own similar products.
The backstory:
Bemotrizinol was approved by European authorities in 1999 and first filed for review in the U.S. more than 20 years ago, in 2005. It is also available in many other countries around the world, the FDA noted in its announcement.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pointed out that this was also the first new sunscreen ingredient approved for the U.S. market in more than 20 years.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from the Food and Drug Administration and The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.