FDA approves BASF's sunscreen active ingredient for use in the U.S.
Last update on Jun 29, 2026
U.S. formulators developing sun care products have a new broad-spectrum UV filter to evaluate. Bemotrizinol (BEMT), marketed by BASF as Tinosorb® S, has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a sunscreen active ingredient, the new UV filter the FDA has approved in 27 years.
Developed by Ciba Specialty Chemicals and later integrated into BASF through acquisition, the filter is now available to the U.S. sunscreen market, broadening the sun protection options available to American consumers. According to BASF, Tinosorb S is among the most effective UV filters available.
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Broad-spectrum coverage and photostabilization
Known chemically as Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Tinosorb® S is, according to BASF, a highly efficient broad-range UVB and UVA filter with a long history of use globally. With FDA approval now in place, BASF adds Tinosorb® S to its innovative portfolio of sun care products and further expands its personal expertise and technology in the United States.
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"Tinosorb® S represents decades of BASF innovation in photoprotection," said Brandon Crist, vice president, business management at BASF Personal Care Americas. "Following this FDA approval, we are proud to introduce this advanced UV filter to the U.S. market, providing formulators a new opportunity to deliver the high‑performance, broad‑spectrum sun protection that today's consumers demand."
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BASF reports that Tinosorb® S was specifically designed to deliver strong and reliable broad-spectrum UV protection, covering the entire UVB and UVA range. With absorption peaks at approximately 310 nm and 340 nm, it provides protection across the wavelengths most responsible for skin damage and premature aging. The supplier describes it as a globally recognized benchmark for efficacy and photostability, noting that it maintains its performance even under intense sunlight exposure.
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According to BASF, in addition to its primary UV protection function, Tinosorb® S also serves as a photostabilizer within sunscreen formulations for more photo-unstable UV filters. It helps stabilize ingredients such as avobenzone, improving the durability and effectiveness of UVA protection in complex formulations. The company states, in the U.S., where options for strong UVA protection are limited, Tinosorb® S supports sunscreen formulas in achieving a critical wavelength above 370 nm, when combined with avobenzone or Z-COTE® zinc oxides to provide broad-spectrum protection.
According to BASF, thanks to its large molecular structure, Tinosorb® S exhibits low percutaneous absorption, which it reports reduces the risk of irritation. According to the supplier, this attribute makes it particularly well-suited for high‑performance sunscreens designed for sensitive skin, reinforcing its role as a trusted and proven solution in modern sun care formulations.
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