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The FDA added bemotrizinol, or BEMT, to the permitted active ingredients for U.S. over-the-counter sunscreens in 2026, opening the market to formulas containing up to 6%. La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena and Ultra Violette are among brands launching BEMT products, though details on several products and their availability remain limited in the source report.
The FDA added bemotrizinol (BEMT) to the permitted active ingredients for U.S. over-the-counter sunscreens in 2026, allowing formulas to contain up to 6% BEMT. La Roche-Posay and Neutrogena are among the brands bringing BEMT sunscreens to U.S. shoppers, introducing an ingredient used in other markets for years.
Cosmetics Business reports that La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena and Australian brand Ultra Violette are among the early entrants with U.S. BEMT sunscreen launches. La Roche-Posay, which is owned by L’Oréal, has introduced Anthelios UV Defense SPF 50 Sunscreen, described in the report as its first Anthelios product containing BEMT. The source excerpt does not provide a complete ingredient list or further product performance details.
The regulatory change applies to over-the-counter sunscreens and allows BEMT at concentrations of up to 6%. DSM-Firmenich, a nutrition, health and beauty ingredients company, was granted exclusive rights to produce BEMT in the United States under the name Parsol Shield, according to the report. The source identifies brands moving into the market but does not give a full list of products, prices or retail locations.
BEMT is a sunscreen active that, according to the report, is used in Europe, Asia and other territories. Cosmetics Business describes BEMT formulas as applying clear to the skin, in contrast with mineral sunscreen formulations, and says the ingredient provides protection against UVA and UVB rays. Those descriptions are ingredient and product claims; consumers should follow each product’s label for directions and protection information.
A New Active Enters U.S. Sun Care
The FDA’s action opens U.S. sunscreen formulations to an ingredient already used in several overseas markets, allowing brands to offer consumers additional product choices. The development is relevant to shoppers who compare sunscreen texture, application and active ingredients, as well as manufacturers seeking to launch products previously unavailable under U.S. rules.
For consumers, the ingredient’s arrival does not by itself establish that one sunscreen is better suited to a particular person than another. Product protection depends on the finished formula and its labeled directions, not simply the presence of BEMT. The report’s description of clear application may be of interest to people who dislike the visible residue associated with some mineral products, but individual formulas can differ.
The change also creates a new commercial opportunity for sunscreen brands and for DSM-Firmenich, which the report says holds exclusive U.S. production rights for BEMT as Parsol Shield. How widely brands adopt the ingredient, and whether additional products appear across different price points and formats, will become clearer as the market develops.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Defense SPF 50 sunscreen
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The FDA’s 2026 Ingredient Decision
The source report says BEMT had been used in the EU, Asia and other regions for many years before becoming available for U.S. over-the-counter sunscreen formulations in 2026. It characterizes the FDA action as the first update to approved sunscreen actives since 1999. That description refers to the regulatory list of permitted active ingredients, not to the first sunscreen launch or the first change to sunscreen products of any kind.
The U.S. change sets a permitted maximum concentration of 6% BEMT. Cosmetics Business reports that companies including La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena and Ultra Violette are among the first brands to bring products forward. Its available article excerpt gives specific information about La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UV Defense SPF 50, but provides little detail about the other brands’ products.
“The FDA change was the “first update to approved actives for sun protection since 1999.””
— Cosmetics Business
Launch Details Still Taking Shape
The source report names Neutrogena and Ultra Violette among early brands but the available excerpt does not specify product names, launch dates, prices, formulations or retailers for their BEMT sunscreens. It also does not provide a complete list of products now on sale or say how broadly they are distributed.
The excerpt does not include the FDA’s underlying decision documents or explain the review criteria behind the permitted use. It also provides no independent comparative testing of BEMT products and does not establish that the ingredient is suitable for every skin type. Consumers should consult product labels for active ingredients, SPF, directions and any warnings. The report’s statements about skin feel and suitability are not a substitute for product-specific evidence or professional advice.
More Products and Retail Details
As brands expand their U.S. ranges, shoppers can look for product labels identifying bemotrizinol or BEMT and check packaging for the product’s SPF rating, use instructions and active-ingredient information. Retail availability and exact launch timing may vary by brand and seller.
Further reporting from brands, retailers or regulators could clarify which Neutrogena and Ultra Violette products are available, where they are sold and how their formulas compare. For now, the confirmed development is the ingredient’s permitted use in U.S. over-the-counter sunscreens and the arrival of early branded launches, including La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios UV Defense SPF 50.
Key Questions
What is BEMT in sunscreen?
BEMT is short for bemotrizinol, an active sunscreen ingredient. The source report says it has been used in Europe, Asia and other markets, and that U.S. over-the-counter products can contain up to 6% following the 2026 FDA action.
Which brands are launching BEMT sunscreens in the United States?
Cosmetics Business names La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena and Ultra Violette among the early brands. Its available report excerpt gives a product name for La Roche-Posay but not for the other two.
What is La Roche-Posay’s BEMT sunscreen called?
The product named in the report is Anthelios UV Defense SPF 50 Sunscreen, described as the brand’s first Anthelios sunscreen containing BEMT.
Does BEMT sunscreen work differently from mineral sunscreen?
The report says BEMT formulas apply clear, unlike mineral formulations that may leave visible residue. It does not provide independent comparisons of finished products. Check the product label for its SPF rating and directions.
When did BEMT become permitted in U.S. over-the-counter sunscreen?
The source report says the FDA added BEMT to the permitted sunscreen active ingredients in 2026, allowing U.S. over-the-counter products to contain concentrations of up to 6%.
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