FDA Approves First New Sunscreen Ingredient in 30 Years

For the first time since the 1990s, Americans will finally get access to a sunscreen ingredient that dermatologists have been waiting for—and it's already been protecting skin across Europe and Asia for decades.

The FDA just approved bemotrizinol, a chemical UV filter that blocks both aging UVA rays and burning UVB rays better than anything currently available in U.S. stores. Dr. Heather Rogers, a Seattle dermatologist, says it "hits really every box for us that we have been waiting for."

Here's why this matters: skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in America. But many people skip sunscreen because current formulas irritate their skin, leave a white cast, or break down too quickly in the sun.

Current U.S. sunscreens rely heavily on avobenzone to block UVA rays, but it breaks down rapidly when exposed to sunlight and can cause skin irritation. Bemotrizinol stays stable in the sun, offering longer-lasting protection even if you go a bit past the two-hour reapplication mark.

The ingredient has another major advantage: it's transparent on all skin tones. Until now, the only sunscreen offering similar protection was zinc oxide, which leaves an unflattering white cast that looks especially bad on people of color.

Why This Inspires

Scientists spent 20 years and at least $18 million getting bemotrizinol approved in the U.S. because sunscreens here are regulated as drugs, requiring rigorous safety testing. That means this ingredient now has more safety data backing it up than any other chemical sunscreen currently on American shelves.

Testing showed bemotrizinol doesn't irritate skin even with repeated use, doesn't cause reproductive harm, and isn't readily absorbed into the bloodstream. Its larger molecules stay on the skin's surface, addressing concerns that sparked social media misinformation campaigns against sunscreen.

Alexa Friedman, a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group, says having solid safety data matters. "This ingredient is exciting because we have that data to support its safety," she notes.

The approval couldn't come at a better time, as TikTok influencers have been spreading myths about sunscreen dangers. Rogers says people need sunscreen they'll actually trust and use, and bemotrizinol delivers exactly that.

Sunscreen makers can now create formulas that feel better, look invisible on every skin tone, and protect more effectively against both cancer and premature aging. This opens the door to sunscreens Americans will actually want to wear every single day.