FDA Approves Tinosorb S (Bemotrizinol): What US Shoppers Need to Know

If you've ever preferred a European or Korean SPF because it felt lighter, less greasy, or just… better than anything at the drugstore, this could be why. The filters available to US brands have been stuck in the late '90s, while the rest of the world moved on. That's finally starting to change.

Something genuinely historic happened this month. The FDA approved bemotrizinol, also known as Tinosorb S, marking the first new sunscreen active ingredient to be approved in the US in over 25 years.

Twenty-five years.

While the rest of the world has been layering on lightweight, cosmetically elegant sunscreens with advanced UV filters, we've been working with essentially the same ingredient list since the late '90s.

How Tinosorb S (Bemotrizinol) Protects Against UVA & UVB

Most chemical UV filters approved in the United States primarily protect against either UVB rays (the ones responsible for visible sunburn) or UVA rays, not both. UVA is the sneakier culprit. It penetrates deeper into the skin, accelerates premature aging, contributes to hyperpigmentation, and is a major driver of skin cancer. This is why you’ll often see multiple UV filters combined in a single sunscreen formula.

Mineral filters, particularly zinc oxide, are an exception. Zinc oxide provides broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection on its own. However, mineral sunscreens have traditionally been thicker and more likely to leave a visible white cast, particularly on medium to deep skin tones.

Bemotrizinol addresses several longstanding limitations of U.S. sunscreen formulations. It is a true broad-spectrum UV filter, providing protection against both UVA and UVB radiation in a single molecule. It also has two absorption peaks that target wavelengths most responsible for long-term skin damage.

Then there’s the issue of photostability.

Avobenzone, currently the primary UVA filter found in most U.S. chemical sunscreens (as of June 2026), naturally breaks down when exposed to sunlight. In other words, your sunscreen can become less effective the longer you’re outdoors. Bemotrizinol is highly photostable and can help stabilize less stable filters like avobenzone, improving the durability of the entire formula.

Another advantage is cosmetic elegance. Because bemotrizinol is so effective, formulators have greater flexibility to create lightweight, comfortable sunscreens that blend more easily into the skin and are less likely to leave a noticeable cast.

From a safety standpoint, bemotrizinol is not a new ingredient globally. It has been used in sunscreens in Europe, Australia, and many other countries for years, with a strong safety record. Available research suggests it has very low skin penetration, meaning most of the ingredient remains on the skin’s surface where it is intended to work. As with any sunscreen ingredient, ongoing safety monitoring continues, but current evidence supports its use as an effective and well-tolerated UV filter.

At the end of the day, the best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually wear consistently. By expanding the toolbox available to formulators, bemotrizinol has the potential to make sun protection more effective, more stable, and more enjoyable to use.

When Will Bemotrizinol Sunscreen Be Available in the US?

Honest answer: not quite yet, but any day now!

The more interesting question right now is which brand will be first to launch a U.S. sunscreen containing Tinosorb S under the new approval pathway. According to recent reports, companies such as Neutrogena and Solésence are already developing products.

The first US products with bemotrizinol listed as an active ingredient are likely to appear in late 2026 to early 2027, with broader availability in 2027.

It is expected to be listed in U.S. sunscreen formulations under the trade name Parsol Shield, supplied by DSM Nutritional Products, which holds the initial commercialization rights for the ingredient in the U.S. market.

Following an approximate 18-month exclusivity period, other sunscreen brands will be able to incorporate the ingredient into their own formulations.

Where to Buy Tinosorb S Sunscreen in the US Right Now

The FDA approval opens the door, but it doesn't instantly bring Korean and European sunscreens to US shelves. Most of those formulas rely on a combination of newer UV filters, many of which still aren't approved here. Brands can use Tinosorb S now, but they'll often need to reformulate before selling in the US.

It's a big step forward; just not quite the "all the Korean sunscreens are coming to Sephora next month" moment that some headlines imply.

For now, the most reliable way to get a formula with bemotrizinol is still to find it abroad or convince a well-traveled friend to stuff it in their luggage.

I'll keep an eye out as options become more available stateside:

• Retailers like French Pharmacy, YesStyle, Stylevana, and Amazon's imported beauty section
• Korean brands like Anua, Soko Glam, Round Lab, Beauty of Joseon, Haruharu Wonder, Isntree, and Purito
• European brands like La Roche-Posay, Bioderma, and Avène also have international versions that use it.

Note: Just be aware that some of these brands sell different formulas in the US versus Europe. You'll want to confirm by checking the ingredient list on the specific product, since formulas vary by market. 

How to Find Tinosorb S on a Sunscreen Ingredient Label

Whether you're shopping for an import now or scanning a newly launched US product, look specifically at the Active Ingredients section of the label. The ingredient will appear under one of these names:

• Bemotrizinol — how it will appear on most US labels going forward
• BEMT — common shorthand
• Tinosorb S — the BASF trade name, common on European formulas
• Parsol Shield — the DSM trade name, what you'll see on the first US products
• Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine — the full chemical name; deeply unpronounceable, completely safe to ignore as long as you know what it is

If you're looking at a Korean or European formula, any of those names confirms it's in there.

Why the FDA Took 25 Years to Approve Tinosorb S

The US regulates sunscreens as drugs, not cosmetics. That means any new active ingredient has to clear a lengthy FDA approval process, which is good in theory, because safety matters. In practice, though, it created a situation where ingredients with decades of use and safety data abroad couldn't make it onto American shelves.

Bemotrizinol has been used safely across Europe and Asia since 1999 under brand names including Tinosorb S and Parsol Shield. The original FDA application was filed all the way back in 2005. More than two decades of regulatory review. The finish line just kept moving.

What finally got it approved? In October 2024, DSM-Firmenich submitted a new request to the FDA under an updated regulatory process established by the CARES Act. The FDA reviewed it, opened a public comment period, and issued final approval on June 9, 2026. According to the FDA's review, bemotrizinol shows strong UVA and UVB protection, minimal absorption through the skin, and low rates of irritation.

How Tinosorb S Fits Into Your SPF Routine

This approval doesn't mean you need to overhaul everything tomorrow. If your current SPF is working for you (you like the texture, you wear it every day, your skin is happy), that's what matters most. But if you've been frustrated with white cast, greasiness, or SPFs that pill under makeup, this development may finally give you better options at your local retailer.

Sun protection sits at the foundation of prevention, maintenance, and correction. Whatever else your skin is dealing with, it gets harder to address when UV damage keeps accumulating.

Not sure where SPF fits into your routine, or which formula makes sense for your skin type? The Skincare Matchmaker Quiz is a good place to start.