06/11/2026
🌞 A Green Slate Take on the FDA’s Approval of Bemotrizinol
The FDA just approved bemotrizinol as a sunscreen active ingredient, marking the first addition to the U.S. sunscreen monograph in decades.
I am not as familiar with the data on bemotrizinol as I am with the other sunscreen active ingredients that I have been writing and advising about for 15 years, but based on everything I have read I highly support its approval and I am looking forward to trying it myself. Personally, I am excited about this approval because it gives consumers another low-concern option! And as a mom of teenagers who are now very picky about the sunscreens they are willing to use, I have high hopes about this development.
This ingredient has been used in Europe and other parts of the world for many years, and products containing it are expected to begin appearing in the United States in the coming months. Because I know many of you are hearing about bemotrizinol for the first time, I wanted to address its safety and effectiveness more thoroughly.
I think it’s important to separate evidence from fear. When evaluating sunscreen ingredients, I focus on three questions: 1. How much is absorbed into the body? 2. Is there evidence of endocrine, reproductive, neurologic, or carcinogenic effects at relevant doses? 3. How does any potential risk compare to the well-established harms of UV radiation exposure?
So how does it compare to other sunscreen active ingredients with strong safety profiles that I have recommended consistently for the past 15 years?
Bemotrizinol has extremely low skin absorption but slightly more than zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Bemotrizinol has superior broad spectrum coverage, offering better UVA protection than titanium dioxide and better UVB protection than zinc oxide. All three have excellent photostability. It does not leave a white cast (unlike zinc oxide and titanium dioxide). It also has a great toxicological profile, like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. There is no convincing evidence of endocrine, reproductive, neurologic, or carcinogenic effects at levels used in sunscreens.
In summary, bemotrizinol ranks very highly in relation to UV protection and cosmetic performance - probably better than the zinc and titanium dioxide, combined with an excellent safety profile.
If I were ranking these ingredients solely based on theoretical toxicologic concern, zinc oxide would probably come out slightly ahead because it has perhaps the longest and most reassuring safety record. But from a practical public health perspective, all three fall into what I would consider a very low-concern category.
And that brings me to the most important point: any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen when it comes to prolonged sun exposure! I always recommend avoiding excessive sun exposure during peak hours, seeking shade, and protecting your skin with clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and sun glasses. The health benefits of preventing sunburns, photoaging, and skin cancer are far larger and better established than any plausible risks from these ingredients.
As with many environmental exposures, perfection is not required. A sunscreen that you enjoy wearing consistently is almost always a better choice than a theoretically "perfect" product that sits unused in a drawer.
The goal isn't zero exposure.
The goal is making evidence-based choices that meaningfully improve health while still allowing us to live our lives.
For my family, I prioritize sunscreen ingredients with the strongest safety data, but I spend far more time thinking about whether we're protected from UV exposure than whether a product is perfectly "clean." That's where the evidence is strongest. And we get outside a lot in the sun despite the risks, enjoying family time at the beach, swimming in our pool, hiking, running, walking, and playing sports outside all summer.
