America’s sun-care market has long trailed behind its global counterparts (especially Europe and Asia’s expansive SPF innovations), but now, we’re one step closer to slathering on better sunscreen. Surprisingly, some good news came out of Washington, D.C. last week: On June 9, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially approved bemotrizinol (BEMT) as a permitted sunscreen active ingredient. It’s a major win for stateside SPF fans (and, frankly, anyone with skin), as it marks the first new addition to the FDA’s over-the-counter sunscreen monograph since 1999.What is Bemotrizinol?BEMT — also known by its trade name Tinosorb S — is a broad-spectrum chemical UV filter that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation. “One of its most notable characteristics is that it is highly photostable, meaning it does not significantly degrade when exposed to sunlight, allowing it to provide consistent UV protection throughout sun exposure,” Dr. Hadley King, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, tells Fashionista. It can also “improve the performance of other UV filters when used in combination formulations,” she adds. Another purported benefit is low skin absorption. (Some older chemical SPF filters have been found in the bloodstream after routine use, spurring demonization within “clean” beauty circles.)BEMT is currently the only chemical sunscreen filter recognized by the FDA as GRASE (Generally Recognized as Safe and Effective). Plus, it’s been widely used across Europe, Asia and Australia for years in fan-favorite formulations like Bioré’s UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence and Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun Aqua Fresh. Put…
