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Jump to Key Points After a two-decade-plus wait, people in the United States now have access to a sunscreen ingredient that promises greater ultraviolet A (UVA)-blocking and a potentially better feel when being applied.
The first company to incorporate bemotrizinol (BEMT) into its products is Neutrogena, which announced in mid-September that it would begin selling several new sunscreens online. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily Face Sunscreen SPF 70 and Neutrogena Clear Face Sunscreen SPF 60 are now available at retail stores.
Both CeraVe and La Roche-Posay have said they will soon launch BEMT-containing sunscreens also.
The FDA first signaled in December 2025 that it would move quickly to add BEMT — which had been approved in Europe for 25 years — as a generally recognized safe and effective ingredient for sunscreens. The agency had not approved any new sunscreen ingredients since 1999.
- FDA approved bemotrizinol (BEMT) for sunscreens up to 6%.
- First US BEMT sunscreens now sold by Neutrogena; CeraVe, La Roche-Posay pending.
- BEMT provides UVA + UVB protection; low skin absorption; rare irritation.
- New ingredient may improve cosmetic feel, potentially ↑ sunscreen adherence.
- High-SPF launch may offset under-application; “best sunscreen” = one used.
DSM-Firmenich had originally sought FDA approval in 2018 for bemotrizinol (PARSOL Shield) and resubmitted data in late 2024 and was anticipating approval even before the FDA announcement.
Based on DSM-Firmenich submissions and the FDA review, the agency found that BEMT provides protection against both UVA and UVB rays, had low levels of absorption through the skin, and rarely caused skin irritation.
The FDA added bemotrizinol to the list of approved ingredients in June, approving it in concentrations up to 6% in sunscreens for use by adults and children aged 6 months or older.
Adam Friedman, MD, professor and chair of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, said that the addition of BEMT products "is a huge step forward" and will "make using sunscreens easier," because of the feel it has going on the skin. "The cosmesis of the filter is superior to that of other chemical filters or polyorganic filters," Friedman told Medscape Medical News.
It's not clear why Neutrogena debuted its sunscreens at a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) level. At press time, the company had not returned a request for comment.
Friedman said he urges patients to always use a higher SPF. "Not because higher is better," but because, he said, "I know they're not going to use enough to actually get that number on the bottle."
The approval and now availability of BEMT has attracted a lot of attention, noted Friedman. Even if many consumers might not be able to afford the $16 to $20 for the new sunscreen, the media coverage hopefully "raises awareness about the importance of sunscreen in general," he said.
"We are facing a misinformation pandemic with respect to the safety of chemical filters," he said. "The best sunscreen is the one that someone uses," said Friedman.
Consumer advocates at the Environmental Working Group (EWG) said that availability of BEMT would substantially improve sunscreen effectiveness. Bemotrizinol offers "a stable, non-mineral option that doesn't break down in the sun," said the group in a June statement.
EWG said previous peer-reviewed research it had conducted determined that sunscreens in the US deliver on average 24% of the UVA protection implied by their SPF labels. Many sunscreens available in the US also do not offer UVA protection, which contribute to premature aging and are the primary contributor to skin cancer, according to EWG.
Friedman consults for Kenvue (Neutrogena's parent company) and La Roche-Posay.
Alicia Ault is a Saint Petersburg, Florida-based freelance journalist whose work has appeared in many health and science publications, including Smithsonian.com. You can find her on X @aliciaault and on Bluesky @aliciaault.bsky.social.
