The Next Filters That Could Follow Bemotrizinol to the US
What's realistically in the pipeline.
Bemotrizinol is the first new active in the US OTC sunscreen monograph since the late 1990s, leaving filters like bisoctrizole, DHHB and Mexoryl 400 — long used abroad — still awaiting FDA review.
Cosmetic chemists point to bisoctrizole and DHHB as the most likely next approvals, because they have decades of use and safety data in the EU and Asia behind them.
Questions we get a lot
Which UV filters might the FDA approve after bemotrizinol?
The strongest candidates are filters already used for years in the EU and Asia — bisoctrizole (Tinosorb M), DHHB (Uvinul A Plus) and Mexoryl 400 — all of which have substantial safety data. The CARES Act gave the FDA a more workable review pathway, but approvals are still measured in years, not months.
Why are some UV filters more photostable?
A photostable filter keeps absorbing UV without breaking down in sunlight. Older filters like avobenzone can lose protection within an hour unless paired with stabilizers such as octocrylene. The next-generation filters in the pipeline are engineered to stay chemically stable, so protection lasts longer — though reapplication is still advised.
What is the difference between Tinosorb S and Tinosorb M?
Both are broad-spectrum BASF filters. Tinosorb S (bemotrizinol) is oil-soluble and dissolves into the formula, while Tinosorb M (bisoctrizole) is a hybrid that both absorbs and scatters UV as microfine particles. Bemotrizinol just cleared the FDA; bisoctrizole is a leading candidate to follow.
r/SkincareAddiction: 'After bemotrizinol, which UV filter is most likely to get FDA approval next?'