2026 Is the Year the US Finally Gets a New Sunscreen Filter
Bemotrizinol is coming, and here's why skincare nerds are losing it.
Bemotrizinol is the first new active in the U.S. OTC sunscreen monograph since the late 1990s.
Bemotrizinol is broad-spectrum and so photostable it retains roughly 98% of activity after intense UV exposure.
Frequently asked questions
What is bemotrizinol (Parsol Shield)?
Bemotrizinol (trade name Parsol Shield; also known as Tinosorb S) is a broad-spectrum UVA+UVB filter that is highly photostable. On June 9, 2026 the FDA approved it — the first new sunscreen active added to the US monograph since the 1990s — for adults and children 6 months and older at up to 6%.
Are next-gen UV filters better than older ones?
Newer filters such as bemotrizinol, bisoctrizole and Mexoryl 400 generally give broader, more even UVA coverage and far better photostability than older ones like avobenzone, which degrades in sunlight. They also tend to feel more elegant — though applying enough and reapplying still matter most.
Which sunscreen filters are approved in the US vs the EU?
The EU has approved 34 UV filters for sunscreens; the US allows about 16 (now 17 with bemotrizinol's 2026 approval). Filters widely used in Europe and Asia — such as bisoctrizole, drometrizole trisiloxane and Mexoryl 400 — remain under FDA review, which is why US options have lagged.
r/SkincareAddiction: 'Is bemotrizinol finally coming to US sunscreens?'
Sources & citations
- Holland & Knight, 'FDA Proposes First New Sunscreen Ingredient in Decades' (Dec 2025)
- hklaw.com ↗