For the first time in over 20 years, the FDA approved a brand-new sunscreen active ingredient in the U.S.: Bemotrizinol.
That's a pretty big shake-up in the sunscreen world.
So... is it the next best thing? Or just another chemical filter with unanswered questions?
Let's get muddy.
The Good
Bemotrizinol is a chemical UV filter that's already been used in Europe and Asia for years. It provides broad-spectrum protection, meaning it helps protect against both UVA rays (the ones responsible for premature aging and pigmentation) and UVB rays (the ones that cause sunburn).
One reason the FDA approved it is because of its larger molecular size, which appears to result in lower absorption through the skin compared to many other chemical sunscreen filters.
On paper, that's definitely a step in the right direction.
The Part That Made Us Raise an Eyebrow
It's still a chemical sunscreen filter.
When we dug into the available research, we found one published U.S. human safety study evaluating Bemotrizinol.
The study reported, "one moderate and few mild treatment-emergent adverse events were found."
Another important detail? That study was funded by DSM Nutritional Products AG, a company that manufactures and sells Bemotrizinol.
Industry-funded research isn't automatically bad, but we always think it's worth knowing who paid for the science. Then we looked into something else that's important to us...
What About the Reef?
We searched for studies looking at how Bemotrizinol affects coral reefs and marine ecosystems.
We found zero. That doesn't necessarily mean it's harmful but it also doesn't mean it's safe. It simply means the research isn't there.
At SUNMUD, that's not enough for us.
Why We're Still Team Zinc
We'll stick to what has scientific research behind it. Our sunscreen uses 100% non-nano zinc oxide, a mineral UV filter that sits on the surface of your skin instead of relying on chemical absorption.
It's truly broad-spectrum, effective, and backed by research supporting its safety for coral reefs.
We're always excited to see sunscreen technology evolve, and it's great that the FDA is finally updating a system that hadn't changed in decades. But new doesn't automatically mean better.
We'll keep following the science, asking questions, and choosing ingredients we feel confident putting on both your skin and into the ocean.
👉 Choose broad-spectrum mineral protection with SUNMUD Sunscreen → Shop SUNMUD
References:
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2026, June 9). FDA Expands Sunscreen Options for the First Time in 20 Years. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-expands-sunscreen-options-first-time-20-years
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2026). Final Administrative Order OTC000039: Amendment to OTC Monograph M020.
• Turner, C. W., et al. (2025). Modernizing U.S. Sunscreen Regulations: How Newer UV Filters Improve UVA Protection. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12332967/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
• Dermatology Times. (2026). FDA Accepts Addition of Bemotrizinol as First New Sunscreen Ingredient in 20 Years.
