FDA Approves ‘New’ Sunscreen Ingredient Used in Europe and Asia for Years

Bemotrizinol (PARSOL Shield), an advanced sunscreen filter that has long been used in Europe and Asia, has been approved for use in the U.S. by the FDA. Image Credit: Photo by Lumi Nola/Getty Images The FDA has approved bemotrizinol (PARSOL Shield). This is the first new sunscreen ingredient approved in over 20 years, offering superior UVA and UVB protection. Consumers in the United States can expect new products featuring PARSOL Shield by the end of 2026, with broader availability to follow. This innovation closes the UVA protection gap and paves the way for more effective, cosmetically elegant sunscreens. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved bemotrizinol (PARSOL Shield), an advanced sunscreen filter that has long been used in Europe and Asia. It is the first new sunscreen ingredient approved by the FDA in over 20 years and will offer consumers improved UVA protection. It will also pave the way for a new generation of sunscreens. “Bemotrizinol has been used safely in Europe for decades, and [the] FDA’s action will increase competition and consumer confidence in sunscreen products,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr said in a press release. Bemotrizinol (PARSOL Shield) is a chemical sunscreen filter that is recognized for its broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection. It is photostable and effective at concentrations up to 6%. Unlike many older filters, bemotrizinol is absorbed minimally through the skin, with plasma levels rarely exceeding FDA thresholds. “This is exactly the kind of progress we can achieve when we modernize our processes and apply sound science to regulatory decisions,” Mike Davis, MD, Acting Director of the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), said in a press release. “The FDA is committed to ensuring the American consumer has access to the most effective and safe therapies, including over-the-counter products like sunscreens.” Why FDA approval of bemotrizinol is significant Bemotrizinol is the first new active ingredie