The first new sunscreen filter in 25 years.
On June 9, the FDA approved bemotrizinol — the first new sunscreen active ingredient cleared for use in the United States since 1999. It is a quiet announcement, so we wanted to walk you through it properly.
Meet bemotrizinol.
Bemotrizinol — you may see it abbreviated as BEMT — is a UV filter that has protected skin across Europe, Australia, and Asia for decades. American formulators simply were not allowed to use it. With this approval, it becomes the seventeenth filter permitted in U.S. sunscreens, and the first addition to that list in a generation.
Why does that matter? Because filters are the working heart of a sunscreen — everything else is texture, finish, and feel. A better filter raises the ceiling on what a formulation can be.
A more refined kind of protection.
| 01 | Photostable. It holds its protection in direct sunlight, hour after hour, rather than degrading as some older filters do. |
| 02 | Broad-spectrum. Meaningful coverage across both UVA, the aging rays, and UVB, the burning ones. |
| 03 | Gentle. Demonstrated low skin absorption and low rates of irritation in FDA-reviewed data. |
| 04 | Elegant. A transparent UV filter that enables lightweight, invisible-feeling formulations without contributing a white cast. |
What the approval covers.
| Approved use | Concentrations up to 6% |
| Suitable for | Ages 6 months and older |
| In formulations | From August 2026 |
Source: U.S. FDA announcement, June 9, 2026
What this means for Sonrei.
We’re excited to see innovation moving forward in the U.S. sunscreen market. As formulators, we have followed bemotrizinol for years and believe it has the potential to unlock even more elegant, high-performance SPF experiences in the future.
One important note: approval does not mean you’ll see bemotrizinol in every sunscreen overnight. Great formulations take time. The best sunscreen is still the one you’ll wear consistently, every day. At Sonrei, we believe innovation matters — but thoughtful formulation matters just as much.
As ever — refined protection, for every kind of sun seeker.
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