For more than 25 years the list of UV filters an American sunscreen could use did not grow, even though European authorities approved bemotrizinol in 1999. On June 9, 2026, the FDA issued a final order adding it to the over-the-counter sunscreen monograph at up to 6%, for adults and children 6 months and older.
The rule is now final, but the retail rollout is slow. The order took effect August 9, one brand had a product on sale by August 31, and a single supplier controls the ingredient at first. Here is what changed, what did not, and how to shop sunscreen through the transition.
Trend Signal
62/100 Steady momentum
- Emerging
- Rising
- Mainstream
- Peaking
- Cooling
Legal since August 2026, with the first few face products launching
The FDA added bemotrizinol to the US sunscreen monograph in June 2026 and the order took effect August 9; Ultra Violette put the first product on sale August 31 and Neutrogena launched two more in September 2026, per Personal Care Insights.
Our editorial reading of the cited data, not a forecast. How it is scored
By the numbers
- 6%Maximum bemotrizinol concentration allowed in US sunscreens under the June 2026 FDA orderFDA
- +19%Growth in US prestige sun care sales, first half of 2026 vs a year earlierCircana
- 18 monthsExclusivity period before bemotrizinol becomes available to other manufacturersSTAT
- $40List price of the first US bemotrizinol sunscreen, on sale online from August 31, 2026Ultra Violette via PR Newswire
What the FDA actually changed
The June 2026 order, numbered OTC000039, amends the sunscreen monograph: the rulebook that lets a company sell a sunscreen without filing a new drug application, as long as it follows the listed ingredients and limits. Bemotrizinol is now allowed at up to 6% for adults and children 6 months and older, according to the FDA. DSM Nutritional Products asked for the addition on September 23, 2024; the FDA proposed it in December 2025 and took comments until January 26, 2026, per a Holland & Knight summary of the proposal.
STAT reported that bemotrizinol is the first ingredient to go through the faster order process Congress created in 2020. The ingredient itself is not new: it was authorized in Europe in 1999 and first filed with the FDA in 2005, STAT reported, and Health Canada approved it in 2023, according to Holland & Knight.
The monograph is also shrinking. On September 10, 2026, the FDA issued a final order removing aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and trolamine salicylate, saying their risks in sunscreen outweigh their benefits, and added that it is not aware of any US sunscreen that contains either one. Twelve other filters, including avobenzone, oxybenzone, homosalate and octocrylene, stay in the group the FDA says needs more data; in its 2021 proposal only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide were proposed as generally recognized as safe and effective.
The rulebook gained one filter and lost two unused ones; no sunscreen on a US shelf changed status.
Why a filter matters for texture, not just protection
Bemotrizinol absorbs both UVA and UVB light. MD Anderson describes it as more photostable than current chemical filters, less absorbable into the skin and free of the white cast mineral sunscreens can leave. Healio, quoting a Brigham and Women’s Hospital dermatologist, notes that it covers both bands on its own, where other chemical filters are usually combined.
Those traits drive the brand pitch. Ultra Violette sells its first US bemotrizinol product on lightweight texture with no white cast, and a Neutrogena product lead, quoted by Personal Care Insights, said nearly half of US households do not buy sunscreen at all, naming texture, feel and cosmetic elegance as the top barriers to daily use. The bet is that a sunscreen people like wearing gets worn more often.
Demand is already rising without it. Circana measured US prestige sun care sales up 19% in the first half of 2026, ahead of prestige skincare overall at 9%, and Edgewell, whose brands include Banana Boat and Hawaiian Tropic, reported mid-single-digit sun care growth in North America for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.
What is on shelves as of September 2026
Very little so far. Ultra Violette’s Unblock Screen SPF 50 went on sale August 31, 2026 on the brand’s site and Sephora.com at a $40 list price, with Sephora stores scheduled for October 2. It pairs bemotrizinol with zinc oxide, and the brand bills it as the first US sunscreen with the filter.
Neutrogena, owned by Kenvue, launched two face sunscreens with bemotrizinol, Clear Face SPF 60 and Ultra Sheer Daily Face SPF 70, Personal Care Insights reported on September 18, 2026, without giving prices or retail dates; a Neutrogena developer told the outlet the brand sees up to 6% bemotrizinol working well with other US filters. Healio lists CeraVe and La Roche-Posay among other brands that have announced releases.
Supply is the bottleneck. At first there is one approved maker of the ingredient, dsm-firmenich, which sponsored the request and sells it as Parsol Shield; MD Anderson notes that other companies have announced agreements to use it, and STAT reports it opens to other manufacturers after an 18-month exclusivity period. That may help explain why the first launches are face products rather than family-size body bottles.
| Product | Bemotrizinol | SPF | Status in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra Violette Unblock Screen | With zinc oxide; share not stated | 50 | On sale online since August 31; Sephora stores October 2 |
| Neutrogena Clear Face | Share not stated | 60 | Launch reported September 18; price not reported |
| Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily Face | Share not stated | 70 | Launch reported September 18; price not reported |
Who should buy now and who should wait
If you already wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day and like it, nothing in the June or September orders is a reason to switch. The FDA did not pull any filter used in current US products; it added an option. MD Anderson and Healio both frame bemotrizinol as an alternative for people unhappy with what they use, and an MD Anderson dermatologist still suggests trying a zinc oxide mineral sunscreen first.
The people with the most reason to try it early are those who skip sunscreen because of how it feels or looks: oily or breakout-prone skin that rejects heavy creams, or anyone bothered by a white cast from high-zinc formulas. Expect to pay a premium at first. The only US price on the table as of September 2026 is $40 for a face product, and with one ingredient supplier for 18 months, lower prices may take time.
Whatever you buy, check that the label says broad spectrum. The FDA’s 2021 proposal to cap labeled SPF at 60+ and require a UVA-to-UV ratio of at least 0.7 has not been finalized, according to the FDA and STAT, so SPF 70 claims remain on shelves.
Try bemotrizinol if texture is why you skip sunscreen; otherwise keep wearing what works.
What to watch next
- Sephora in-store availability of the first bemotrizinol product, scheduled for October 2, 2026, and whether other brands reach stores before winter
- Prices and shelf dates for Neutrogena’s two announced SPF 60 and SPF 70 face sunscreens
- Whether the FDA finalizes its 2021 proposals on SPF caps and UVA protection, which would change labels across the aisle
Where to start
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Face sunscreen types to compare while bemotrizinol supply is thin
| Product type | Good fit for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Bemotrizinol (BEMT) face sunscreen | Fits people who dislike white cast | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
| Tinted mineral face sunscreen | Fits a zinc-first routine | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
| Lightweight broad-spectrum face fluid | Fits daily wear under makeup | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
Product types that fit the trend described above, not tested models. Check the exact listing before you buy. How we pick them.
Bemotrizinol (BEMT) face sunscreen
Where to look: Amazon
For people who avoid sunscreen because of feel. A US-compliant product lists bemotrizinol under Active Ingredients on a Drug Facts panel; an import without one is not the product the FDA order covers.
- Broad-spectrum UVA and UVB filter
- Pitched on light texture without white cast
- Few US products as of September 2026
- Early prices sit at the premium end
Tinted mineral face sunscreen
Where to look: Amazon
The option an MD Anderson dermatologist suggests trying first. A tint is the usual fix for the white cast that pushes some people away from mineral formulas.
- Zinc oxide is one of two filters FDA proposed as safe and effective
- Tint offsets white cast
- Can feel heavier than chemical fluids
- Shade match varies
Lightweight broad-spectrum face fluid
Where to look: Amazon
The practical choice while bemotrizinol supply is limited. Check the broad-spectrum claim and the water-resistance time if you sweat or swim.
- Widely available today
- Thin layers under makeup
- Chemical versions use filters still under FDA data review
- Water resistance varies
More: Beauty and Grooming trends and how the Trend Signal is scored.
Sources
- FDA Expands Sunscreen Options for the First Time in 20 Years — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Questions and Answers: FDA’s regulatory actions on over-the-counter sunscreen — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- FDA OKs first new sunscreen ingredient in more than 25 years — STAT
- Answering common questions about the newest US sunscreen ingredient — Healio
- Bemotrizinol 101: what to know about this new sunscreen ingredient — UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Ultra Violette becomes first brand in the US to launch a sunscreen containing bemotrizinol — PR Newswire
- Neutrogena taps BEMT, bets on skinified sun care for daily SPF use — Personal Care Insights
- FDA Proposes First New Sunscreen Ingredient in Decades — Holland & Knight
- US beauty industry posts solid first-half growth as fragrance and skincare lead — Circana
- Edgewell Personal Care fiscal third-quarter 2026 results, Exhibit 99.1 — SEC EDGAR
Questions readers ask
Is bemotrizinol approved by the FDA?
Yes. The FDA issued a final order on June 9, 2026 adding bemotrizinol to the over-the-counter sunscreen monograph at up to 6%, for adults and children 6 months and older. The order took effect August 9, 2026.
When can I buy a bemotrizinol sunscreen in the US?
Ultra Violette’s Unblock Screen SPF 50 went on sale online on August 31, 2026 at $40, with Sephora stores scheduled for October 2, 2026. Neutrogena launched two bemotrizinol face sunscreens in September 2026, Personal Care Insights reported, without giving prices or retail dates.
Did the FDA ban any sunscreen ingredients in 2026?
On September 10, 2026 the FDA issued a final order removing PABA and trolamine salicylate from the sunscreen monograph. The agency said it is not aware of any US sunscreen that contains either one, and under the CARES Act such orders take effect no sooner than one year after they are issued.
Why did the US take so long to allow bemotrizinol?
Bemotrizinol was authorized in Europe in 1999 and first filed with the FDA in 2005, STAT reported. It became the first ingredient approved through the streamlined order process Congress created in 2020.
Should I replace my current sunscreen?
Not because of the 2026 orders. They did not remove any filter used in products the FDA knows are on sale. Bemotrizinol adds an option, mainly for people who dislike the feel or white cast of what they use now.
