What Is Bemotrizinol (Parsol Shield / Tinosorb S)? The Filter Explained
Bemotrizinol has quietly protected European skin for two decades under names like Tinosorb S - here's why chemists love it and how it differs from avobenzone.
Bemotrizinol is a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB filter with very low percutaneous absorption due to its large molecular size. DSM Nutritional Products submitted the OTC monograph order request (OMOR) on September 23, 2024, proposing use up to 6%, and markets it under the brand name Parsol Shield.
Formulators favor bemotrizinol because its large molecular size limits skin absorption while delivering broad-spectrum coverage, a combination that helps explain its long popularity in European sunscreens.
Questions we get a lot
Are Tinosorb S, BEMT and Parsol Shield the same thing?
Yes. Bemotrizinol is the active also known by the trade name Tinosorb S and the abbreviation BEMT, and DSM Nutritional Products markets it under the brand name Parsol Shield. It is a single broad-spectrum UVA/UVB filter sold under multiple names. The variety of names reflects different brands and contexts.
Why is bemotrizinol considered low-absorption?
Bemotrizinol has a large molecular size, which limits how much can penetrate the skin, giving it very low percutaneous absorption. That property is part of why it is viewed favorably for sensitive skin. News coverage of the proposal highlighted this low-absorption profile.
Who asked the FDA to approve bemotrizinol?
DSM Nutritional Products submitted the over-the-counter monograph order request (OMOR) on September 23, 2024, proposing use of bemotrizinol at up to 6%. That filing set the FDA's review in motion. The company markets the ingredient as Parsol Shield.
r/AsianBeauty: 'Tinosorb S, bemotrizinol, BEMT, Parsol Shield - are these all the same thing, and why isn't it in American sunscreen?'