Why your sunscreen is finally getting a major upgrade

Summary

Podcast Summary: Short Wave — "Why your sunscreen is finally getting a major upgrade"

Date: June 12, 2026
Hosts: Regina Barber, Emily Kwong (not present in this episode)
Guest: Maria Godoy (NPR Health Correspondent)
Specialist Sourced: Dr. Heather Rogers (Dermatologist, American Academy of Dermatology Spokesperson)

---

Main Theme and Purpose

This episode dives into a landmark regulatory development in skincare: for the first time in nearly three decades, the FDA has approved a new sunscreen ingredient for use in the U.S. Maria Godoy joins host Regina Barber to discuss why this approval took so long, what makes the new ingredient (bimetrizinol) significant, and what this means for sunscreen users in America moving forward.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The New Ingredient: Bimetrizinol

• What is Bimetrizinol?
  • A chemical UV filter already used for years in European and Asian sunscreens, commonly known as Tinosorb S.
  • In the U.S., it will appear under the name "Parcel Shield" (trademarked by the company that received approval).
  • “[Bimetrizinol] is a chemical UV filter that’s been used in sunscreens in Europe and Asia for a long time. Often it’s also sold under the name Tinnisorb S. Here, you’ll see it as Parcel Shield.” – Maria Godoy [00:41]

Why the U.S. Lagged Behind

• U.S. approval process is much longer and more expensive than elsewhere.
  • "In Europe, they treat sunscreens as cosmetics and it’s also expensive. So companies…gave up because it just costs way too much. In fact, it took 20 years to get this new ingredient approved here." – Maria Godoy [01:32]
  • Stringent safety and efficacy data are required in the U.S.
  • The high bar has kept innovative ingredients out of the American market, compared to Europe and Asia.

Sunscreen 101: UVA vs. UVB

• Differences and Risks:
  • UVA = Aging (“A for aging”), UVB = Burning (“B for burning”). Both contribute to skin aging and cancer. [04:26]
  • Notably, UVA rays can penetrate windows, causing aging damage even indoors or while driving.
  • Maria recalled an illustrative photo: a truck driver with asymmetrical facial aging from UVA exposure through a window.
    • “If you don’t care about cancer, be vain and wear sunscreen for that reason.” – Maria Godoy [05:30]

Types of Sunscreen and Their Trade-Offs

• Mineral (Physical) Sunscreens

  • Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide; act by forming a physical barrier.
  • White “cast” upon application, challenging for people with darker skin.
    • “If you’re a person of color, zinc is going to make you look pale white or ashy, which really makes it hard to use on a regular basis.” – Regina Barber [06:47]

• Chemical Sunscreens

  • Absorbed into the skin; often more transparent and aesthetically pleasing.
  • Historically, U.S. chemical filters only protected against either UVA or UVB, needing combinations for broad-spectrum. This sometimes made formulas greasier.
  • Bimetrizinol does both UVA and UVB protection in one filter, which is more desirable. [07:38]
  • Chemical sunscreens can irritate the skin and eyes, especially when sweating.

What Makes Bimetrizinol a Game-Changer

• Broad-Spectrum Coverage in One Molecule

  • Simplifies formulation; less greasy, more effective.
  • Highly photostable — breaks down more slowly in the sun compared to older chemical filters, so protection lasts longer (though you should still reapply).
    • “Bimetrizinol breaks down more slowly when exposed to the sun… you just get a little more protection that way.” – Maria Godoy [08:32]

• Safety Profile

  • Past concerns with chemical filters like oxybenzone (possible hormone disruption), but so far no proven harm.
  • Bimetrizinol is the only chemical UV filter in U.S. sunscreens that the FDA has designated “generally recognized as safe and effective" (GRASE). Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, both minerals, are the other two with this designation.
    • “Bimetrizinol, this newly approved ingredient, is the only chemical UV filter for sunscreens in the US that has been designated by the FDA as generally recognized as safe and effective.” – Maria Godoy [09:43]
  • Its larger molecule means it sits on the skin’s surface and is less readily absorbed — mitigating concerns about systemic effects.

Practical Impact and Availability

• When will it be on shelves?
  • Expected to launch in U.S. products late August or early September 2026.
    • “They expect the first products with this ingredient to hit US shelves in late August or more likely early September... this year.” – Maria Godoy [10:10]

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “It hits like really every box for us that we have been waiting for as dermatologists and consumers.” – Dr. Heather Rogers, as quoted by Maria Godoy [01:10]
• “If you don’t care about cancer, be vain and wear sunscreen for that reason.” – Maria Godoy [05:30]
• “Bimetrizinol breaks down more slowly when exposed to the sun… you just get a little more protection that way.” – Maria Godoy [08:32]
• “Bimetrizinol, this newly approved ingredient, is the only chemical UV filter for sunscreens in the US that has been designated by the FDA as generally recognized as safe and effective.” – Maria Godoy [09:43]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:41 – Introduction of bimetrizinol and its global background
• 01:32 – Why U.S. sunscreen approvals take so long
• 04:26 – UVA vs. UVB: how they damage skin, mnemonic tips, and the famous truck driver photo
• 06:18 – Physical vs. chemical sunscreen: function, pros, and cons
• 07:38 – The benefit of new chemical filters (bimetrizinol’s dual protection, less greasy, more photostable)
• 08:49 – Safety concerns over chemical sunscreens and bimetrizinol’s FDA status
• 09:54 – Unique properties of bimetrizinol: molecule size, skin absorption
• 10:10 – Timeline for U.S. consumers to purchase new sunscreen products

---

Style and Tone Notes

• The conversation is light, energetic, and slightly humorous, with accessible scientific explanations and relatable anecdotes.
• Host and guest share sunscreen enthusiasm and stress practical advice: wear sunscreen daily, protect against both cancer and aging, and remember to reapply.

---

Summary Takeaway

After decades of waiting, American consumers and dermatologists will soon get access to more advanced, effective, and user-friendly sunscreens thanks to bimetrizinol. This globally trusted UV filter delivers broad-spectrum protection with improved aesthetics and safety, promising healthier skin and marking a breakthrough in U.S. skincare options.

---

For the full science-packed discussion and lively banter, listen to the episode via Short Wave.

Transcript

[Advertisement Narrator]

This message comes from US bank simplify how you do business with Business Essentials, a powerful combination of no monthly maintenance fee checking and card payment processing. Deposit products are offered by U.S. bank National association member FDIC.

[Regina Barber]

You're listening to Short Wave from NPR. Until this week, the United States hadn't approved a new sunscreen ingredient in almost 30 years. That changed when the FDA approved a new chemical UV filter for US Sunscreens on Tuesday. NPR health correspondent Maria Godoya is here to tell us all about it. Hey, Maria.

[Maria Godoy]

Hi, Gina.

[Regina Barber]

So what is this ingredient that just got approved?

[Maria Godoy]

Yeah, it's called bimitrizinol and it's a chemical UV filter that's been used in sunscreens in Europe and Asia for a long time. Often it's also sold under the name Tinnisorb S. Here you will see it as Parcel Shield. That's the trademark name for it from the company that got it approved for sale in the U.S. i talked about this with Dr. Heather Rogers. She's a dermatologist in Seattle and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology. And she says she is psyched about this new ingredient.

[Regina Barber]

It hits like really every box for us that we have been waiting for as dermatologists and consumers. I love sunscreen, so I'm really excited about this. We actually did an episode last year on why US Sunscreens have lagged behind European and Asian ones. And part of the reason was that there's different regulations for how sunscreen is approved in the U.S. yeah, that's right.

[Maria Godoy]

I absolutely love sunscreen too. Use it every day of the year. And you're right, it's a long process, partially because in the US There's a higher bar for proving that they're safe and effective. In Europe, they treat sunscreens as cosmetics and it's also expensive. So companies in the past have looked to get new sunscreen ingredients approved here, but they gave up because it just costs way too much money. And in fact, it took 20 years to get this new ingredient approved here. And millions and millions of dollars

[Regina Barber]

today on the show. Why approve this new sunscreen now after a 20 year wait? Plus how it works? I'm Regina Barber and you're listening to Short Wave, the science podcast from N. Foreign.

[Advertisement Narrator]

This message comes from Edward Jones, where they believe rich is more than caring about the latest and greatest. It's also about taking care of what gives your life meaning. That's why your dedicated financial advisor meets you where you are with personalized financial strategies that help protect what matters. So you can preserve your progress while creating a path forward. The key to being rich is knowing what counts. Let's find your rich together. Edward Jones, Member, SIPC this message comes

[Sponsor Narrator]

from NPR sponsor Shopify. No idea where to sell? Shopify puts you in control of every sales channel. It is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Whether you're a garage entrepreneur or IPO ready, Shopify is the only tool you need to start, run and grow your business without the struggle. Once you've reached your audience, Shopify has the Internet's best converting checkout to help you turn them from browsers to buyers. Go to Shopify.com NPR to take your business to the next level today.

[Advertisement Narrator]

This message comes from Progressive Insurance. You're listening to this podcast, so you've got a curious mind. Did you know that drivers who switch and save with Progressive save over $900 on average? Visit progressive.com and get a quick quote with discounts that are easy to come by Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. National average 12 month savings of $946 by new customers surveyed who save with Progressive between June 2024 and May 2025. Potential savings will vary.

[Regina Barber]

Follow us to make sure you never miss a new episode. New ones drop every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Okay, Maria, we're talking about the newly FDA approved sunscreen ingredient Bemitrizinol. And to understand it, I think we need a little sunscreen 101. Sunscreen's main purpose is to protect against two types of UV rays, UVA and UVB. These are different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, but that's probably not helpful for people. So Maria, break down what's the difference between both of them?

[Maria Godoy]

Okay, so what I use this heuristic, which is uva. Those are the longer wavelengths and they're responsible for aging. So A, for aging, like premature aging, uvb, they're shorter wavelength and those are the ones responsible for, you know, burning basically. B, for burning a freej. Okay.

[Regina Barber]

But they actually both kind of affect both things, right? It's a little bit more complicated than that.

[Maria Godoy]

Yeah. They can both cause skin cancer basically. Yeah. Yeah. And you know, uva, one thing is about it is that people don't realize that it can come through windows. That's one reason you should be wearing sunscreen. And if you're driving. So Heather Rogers actually has this photo on her website that was originally published in the New England Journal of Medicine and it shows this man who was a professional truck driver for nearly three decades and the left side of his face that Was exposed to UVA rays through his window. Looked at least 20 years older than the right side of his face. So the damage is real. Folks wear sunscreen.

[Regina Barber]

You know, I've seen this image before. It's, it's. It's terrifying.

[Maria Godoy]

Yeah. If you don't care about cancer, be vain and wear sunscreen for that reason.

[Regina Barber]

That's what I do it for. But both kinds of radiation, uva, UVB are linked to skin cancer. Right. So, like, you want to wear sunscreen to protect against UVA and UVB rays, which makes a sunscreen broad spectrum.

[Maria Godoy]

Right, right, exactly. Because, you know, your sunscreens, you know, and there's a few ways you can get that broad spectrum protection. So mineral or physical sunscreens or chemical sunscreens, those are the options we have. Heather Rogers, who we heard from earlier, told me they both absorb UV radiation and release it as harmless heat. That's the primary way they work. Mineral or physical sunscreens are bigger particles, and they form a protective layer on your skin. And so another thing they do is they physically reflect and scatter UV rays.

[Regina Barber]

So those are the ones with things zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

[Maria Godoy]

Yeah, exactly. Those are minerals. You know, in their pure form, they're white powders. And so when you apply it, they often leave what people call it a white cast. You know, it depends on the formulation and the SPF level. But you'll often hear people complain that their mineral sunscreens don't blend super well. So, you know, they might not be as likely to wear them because they don't want to look funny. And Heather Rogers says that's a problem. You want people to wear sunscreen, particularly

[Regina Barber]

if you're a person of color. Zinc is going to make you look pale white or ashy, which really makes it hard to use on a regular basis. But benetrizanol is different, right?

[Maria Godoy]

Yeah. So it's a chemical UV filter. It's a chemical sunscreen, what we call chemical sunscreens. And they work a little different because

[Regina Barber]

they get absorbed into your skin. Right. Instead of, like sitting on top of your skin.

[Maria Godoy]

Yeah, Right. So they blend super evenly. And so you end up with something that's transparent on your skin. And the plus side of chemical sunscreens is they don't make people look super ghostly pale. But one downside is, for a lot of people, they can be more irritating. I don't know about you, Gina, but I've always actually avoided chemical sunscreens because I sweat a lot in the heat, which is when you're Going to be wearing sunscreen the most. Although I wear it all the time. And anyway, when I sweat, it gets in my eyes. And that burns.

[Regina Barber]

Yeah. When I've noticed the more I reapply, the more it gets into my eyes.

[Maria Godoy]

Yeah, exactly. So I always use mineral for that reason. Plus the chemical sunscreen options we've had in the U.S. until now, the UV filters only protect against either UVA or UVB. So in order to get that broad spectrum protection, they have to combine them. And sometimes that can make for a greasier formula because these are soluble liquids, and the more you combine, the greasier they get. That's what one cosmetic chemist told me. But belmotresinol, this new ingredient that just got approved, has UVA and UVB protection all in one. So that's another bonus.

[Regina Barber]

Yeah, I remember Heather from earlier saying that it just checked every box. So is that why it makes it better or is there even more?

[Maria Godoy]

But wait, there's more.

[Regina Barber]

Gina.

[Maria Godoy]

So another issue with chemicals, sunscreen ingredients in the US is that, you know, like the UV filters, some of them can start to break down when they're exposed to uv.

[Regina Barber]

That's why you have to reapply. Right, Right.

[Maria Godoy]

They're not very, what's called photo stable. But bimitrizinol breaks down more slowly when exposed to the sun. Heather. Roger says you just get a little more protection that way.

[Regina Barber]

So if you go a little longer than hours to reapply your sunscreen, there will be more protection left. But you always still should reapply.

[Maria Godoy]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah, definitely reapply. It just gives you a little bit more protection.

[Regina Barber]

But, you know, so when it comes to chemical sunscreen, there also has been a lot of talk. You know, there's worries that it might disrupt hormonal pathways. You know, sunscreen might not be good for you. Where does that fear come from?

[Maria Godoy]

Yeah, so there have been studies have shown chemical sunscreens can be absorbed in humans and found in blood and breast milk and urine, though they haven't been shown to be harmful or cause cancer in humans. You know, I should note, when it comes to a chemical UV filter called oxybenzone, there are some concerns that it may act as a hormone disruptor in humans, but more research is needed. That's why the FDA has called for more safety data on sunscreen and chemical filters. And actually, belmotresinol, this newly approved ingredient, is the only chemical UV filter for sunscreens in the US that has been designated by the FDA as generally recognize as safe. And effective.

[Regina Barber]

Wow.

[Maria Godoy]

Yeah. The other two sunscreen ingredients that have that same designation are the mineral ones, so zinc oxide, titanium dioxide.

[Regina Barber]

What about bimmetrizenol? Makes it different from the other chemical sunscreens?

[Maria Godoy]

Well, you know, it's bigger molecule size.

[Regina Barber]

It.

[Maria Godoy]

So it kind of sits more on the surface of the skin, doesn't absorb very easily into the bloodstream at all. So that's really not a concern.

[Regina Barber]

Okay.

[Maria Godoy]

Yeah.

[Regina Barber]

When am I going to be able to get this new sunscreen? I'm excited.

[Maria Godoy]

I am, too. I asked dms, which is the company that, that got Metresanol through the FDA approval process, and they told me they've been talking with various sunscreen manufacturers in the US and, you know, they expect the first products with this ingredient to hit US shelves in late August or more likely early September.

[Regina Barber]

This year.

[Maria Godoy]

Yeah, this year.

[Regina Barber]

Wow. That's pretty soon.

[Maria Godoy]

Yeah. Come on, sunscreen.

[Regina Barber]

Maria Godoy, thank you so much for coming on Short Wave and bringing us the story.

[Maria Godoy]

Oh, it's truly my pleasure. Because, you know, I love sunscreen.

[Regina Barber]

We both do. This episode was produced by Rachel Carlson and edited by a showrunner, Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. Jimmy Keeley was the audio engineer. I'm Regina Barber. Thank you for listening to Shore Wave from npr.

[Sponsor Narrator]

This message comes from. Midi Health CEO Joanna Strober shares the personal experience that led her to start a virtual care platform for women in perimenopause and menopause.

[Joanna Strober]

I was having anxiety, I had gained weight, I wasn't sleeping. And my primary care doctor never once said that perhaps I was in perimenopause and that all these things could be related to my hormones. So I had a really tough time for quite a while, and a friend recommended that I try a concierge doctor. She prescribed hormones for me, a combination of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. And I felt very relieved that I had this care. And I also had a lot of sadness that I had spent such a long period of time going through this and not getting the right care. And so essentially, what we really want to do at MITI is democratize access to this type of care.

[Sponsor Narrator]

MIDI Health committed to helping women in midlife with perimenopause and menopause care. Accessible via telehealth [e-mail] this message comes from Rosetta Stone. New Rosetta Stone Sapphire combines their trusted immersion method with the latest innovations in technology to help you learn faster and personalize your lessons. They have helped millions learn languages for over 30 years. Take your language skills to the next level with Rosetta Stone Sapphire. Get unlimited access to all 25 Rosetta Stone languages, plus all the new Sapphire learning tools. Visit rosettastone.com NPR and receive 20% off today. This message comes from Mint Mobile. If you're tired of spending hundreds on big wireless bills, bogus fees and free perks, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop [e-mail] Switch taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.