First FDA Approval of New Sunscreen Ingredient in 20 Years
In this episode of Science Snapshot, learn how bemotrizinol became the first new sunscreen ingredient approved by the FDA in decades—and why this highly photostable, broad-spectrum UV filter has been used in Europe and Asia for more than 20 years.
A new sunscreen ingredient has finally cleared the US regulatory hurdle. In June 2026, the FDA approved bemotrizinol—a highly photostable, broad-spectrum UV filter that’s already been used across Europe and parts of Asia for over two decades.
So how is bemotrizinol different from the sunscreens we already use in the US, and why did it take so long to get approved? Watch the full video to learn more.