The First New Sunscreen Ingredient the FDA Has Approved in 20 Years

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the FDA just approved a brand-new chemical UV filter for sunscreens sold here in the US, and dermatologists are genuinely losing it over it.

The ingredient is called bemotrizinol, and here's the magic: unlike our current go-to UVA blocker (avobenzone), which isn't photostable and can break down and cause skin irritation when exposed to sunlight, bemotrizinol protects against both UVA and UVB rays on its own and is photostable, breaking down more slowly for better protection. Translation: your SPF actually works harder for you, even if you're a little late to reapply.

It's not new to the world, either. Bemotrizinol has been widely used in European and Asian sunscreens for decades, so it comes with serious safety receipts. And the glow-up doesn't stop there: because it's transparent on skin and doesn't need to be mixed with as many other filters, it should lead to more aesthetically pleasing, less greasy formulas.

Keep an eye out this September, when products with bemotrizinol start hitting shelves. Your future skin says thank you.