GoKawiilBemotrizinol sunscreen ingredient reaches US market after FDA clears it in June
Bemotrizinol, or BEMT, a sunscreen filter that has been sold across Europe since 1999, has finally been approved by the FDA and is now appearing in American products. The ingredient absorbs both UVA and UVB rays, causes minimal skin irritation, and was first filed for FDA review back in 2005. Australian brand Ultra Violette launched a BEMT sunscreen online in late August before it hit Sephora stores in October, and Neutrogena followed in September with two BEMT-based face sunscreens.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The approval ends a roughly two-decade regulatory gap during which American sunscreen formulas lagged behind those sold in Europe and Asia, according to reporting from the Associated Press. Because only a limited number of suppliers can provide BEMT during an 18-month exclusivity window, early-adopting brands may face higher costs, which BeautyMatter has called the 'BEMT tax,' a cost that could be passed on to consumers. The slow approval timeline also highlights broader criticism of the FDA's process for clearing new over-the-counter sunscreen ingredients.
- BEMT was approved by the FDA in June, the first new US sunscreen ingredient since the late 1990s.
- Ultra Violette and Neutrogena are among the first brands selling BEMT sunscreens in the US.
- An 18-month supplier exclusivity period may raise costs for early-adopting brands.
Ultra Violette Unblock Screen SPF50 — This is one of the first sunscreens available in the US featuring bemotrizinol, the broad-spectrum UV filter Europeans have trusted for decades. It offers lightweight, non-irritating protection against both UVA and UVB rays, perfect for daily wear under makeup or alone at the beach.
See Ultra Violette Unblock Screen SPF50 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: entrepreneur.com — Jonathan Small, 2026-10-15
Published there as: “America Finally Got a New Sunscreen. Europeans Have Been Sporting It Since 1999.”
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