Photo: Catherine Robotis//UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
If you’ve ever smuggled a handful of sunscreen into your luggage from Europe or Asia (raises hand), there’s good news for you: Sunscreens here in the U.S. are now one step closer to being as good as what we get overseas. For the first time in over 25 years, the FDA approved a new ingredient as safe to use in U.S. sunscreens, bemotrizinol.
According to the FDA’s announcement, the chemical UV filter provides protection against ultraviolet A and B rays and has low levels of absorption through the skin into the body. Plenty of countries have had bemotrizinol cleared for safety for decades, but the U.S. — where the sunscreen-regulatory process is notoriously strict — hasn’t approved a new filter since 1999. Now, we’re finally catching up with modern-day sunscreen formulations.
Some cult-classic sunscreens that we love are formulated with bemotrizinol, including the popular J-beauty Bioré UV sunscreen, Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun:Rice + Probiotics sunscreen, and the French-pharmacy-favorite La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UVMune 400. The FDA’s approval doesn’t mean these will immediately become available in the U.S., but it’s certainly a promising development. Hopefully the next approval doesn’t take another two decades.
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