For decades, Americans have had to hear about how much better sunscreen was in Europe. Now, what makes SPF special abroad is its entry into the U.S. market.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved bemotrizinol, also known as Tinosorb S, as a new active sunscreen ingredient. The ingredient has been used safely in Europe and other countries for years, where it’s valued for providing broad-spectrum protection against both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. After reviewing safety and efficacy data, the FDA determined that bemotrizinol is safe and effective for adults and children 6 months and older.
Dermatologists note this as a breakthrough, as the approval could pave the way for sunscreens that feel lighter on the skin and have little to no cast.
For many Black sunscreen users, the biggest issue isn’t whether sunscreen works — it’s how it appears on their skin.
Traditional mineral sunscreens made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide often leave behind a white or gray cast on deeper skin tones. For some people, that chalky finish is enough to make daily sunscreen a habit that’s easy to skip.
Bemotrizinol could help change that. Unlike mineral filters that sit on the skin’s surface, bemotrizinol is a chemical UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet radiation. That allows manufacturers to create lightweight lotions, gels, and creams that are much less likely to leave a visible residue. The sunscreen ingredient is also highly photostable, meaning it doesn’t break down as quickly in sunlight, so it continues protecting your skin for longer.
That may sound like a small detail, but dermatologists say how a sunscreen looks and feels is one of the biggest predictors of whether people will actually wear it. Research has found that concerns about white cast are a major barrier to sunscreen use among people with darker skin tones. If a product feels greasy or changes the appearance of your skin, it’s much more likely to stay in the medicine cabinet than make it into your daily routine.
Although bemotrizinol is new to the U.S., it isn’t a new ingredient. It’s been used in sunscreens across Europe and Asia since 1999 under brand names such as Tinosorb® S and Parsol® Shield, giving researchers decades of real-world safety data.
Getting U.S. approval, however, was a long process. The first application was submitted in 2005 under an older regulatory pathway that was later discontinued. A new application was filed in 2024 under the FDA’s updated review process established by the CARES Act. After reviewing years of safety and effectiveness data, the agency finally gave the ingredient the green light.
The safety data were also encouraging. Studies submitted to the FDA found that bemotrizinol is only minimally absorbed through the skin, even at the highest approved concentration of 6 percent. That’s a notable contrast to oxybenzone, another chemical sunscreen ingredient that has been shown to reach much higher levels in the bloodstream after routine use. Current evidence suggests bemotrizinol does not meaningfully enter the bloodstream, which helped support the FDA’s determination that it is safe and effective.
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Despite the persistent myth, melanin does not make someone immune to sun damage.
While Black people are less likely to develop melanoma than white people, they are often diagnosed at later stages, when treatment is more difficult, and survival rates are lower. UV exposure also contributes to uneven skin tone, premature skin aging, and can worsen many common skin conditions affecting melanin-rich skin.
Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen remains one of the most effective ways to reduce cumulative UV damage.
The arrival of another sunscreen ingredient won’t eliminate health disparities overnight, but having more formulations that work well on darker skin may help improve daily use.
Another reason the approval of this new sunscreen ingredient is noteworthy is the research behind it. The FDA’s decision relied on extensive clinical data evaluating bemotrizinol’s safety, skin absorption, and effectiveness. Importantly, approximately 30 percent of participants in the supporting studies were Black, helping researchers evaluate how the ingredient performed across a more diverse population.
That kind of representation matters. In dermatology, inclusive research is especially important because many skin conditions appear differently in richly pigmented skin than they do in lighter complexions. Without adequate representation, products may reach the market without fully understanding how they perform across all populations.
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You won’t see bemotrizinol on store shelves overnight, though.
Even with FDA approval, companies still need time to add the sunscreen ingredient to new formulas, manufacture products, and get them into retailers’ hands. That means it may be several months before the first products appear in the U.S., with more options rolling out over the next few years.
Until then, don’t wait to protect your skin. Dermatologists say the best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually wear every day. Whether you prefer a mineral sunscreen, a chemical formula, or a tinted SPF that blends seamlessly into your skin tone, using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day is one of the easiest ways to protect your skin from sun damage.
The approval of bemotrizinol represents more than just another sunscreen ingredient. It reflects how decades of clinical research, including participation from diverse populations, can lead to products that are safer, more effective, and more inclusive for everyone.
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