Okay, so this new filter. It’s called bemotrizinol, also known as Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine. But, don’t worry, we can just call it BEMT. Simply put: BEMT stays stable longer and gives better broad-spectrum protection than any sunscreen filter currently approved in the U.S. Having this ingredient in our arsenal will allow us to provide more elegant sunscreens—and that’s important, because poor skin feel and white cast are some of the most common reasons people say they don’t apply sunscreen often enough.

If you’re the type to stuff your suitcase with sunscreen when traveling abroad, you may have already experienced the benefits of BEMT: In the European Union, it’s found in La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios line of sunscreens, the most popular—and my personal favorite—of which is Anthelios UVMune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF 50. BEMT is also used in the original, Japanese version of Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen SPF 50.

The manufacturer of BEMT, DSM-Firmenich, has been working to get this filter—which they’ve branded as Parsol Shield—approved in the U.S. for around 20 years, which is just about how long it’s been safely used in other countries. The total cost to bring the ingredient to the market was estimated at a whopping $20 million, according to the company.

If all continues to go as planned, we might see new sunscreen products with BEMT on the U.S. market in the later half of 2026. But in the meantime, here’s what else had us buzzing at the 2025 Sunscreen Symposium.

1. New and improved ingredients beyond filters are coming—like film formers, which enhance water resistance and ensure even application. Other existing organic actives— you probably know them as “chemical filters” —could also be getting a makeover. One particularly interesting poster prepared by biotech startup Skinosive showed that modification of an existing UVA filter could improve how well it sticks to the surface of skin, providing exceptional long-wear properties. (The filter, sadly, is not yet available in the US.) Zinc oxide-based formulations—aka mineral sunscreens—continue to grow in popularity due to consumer demand, as evidenced by just how many scientists are working to minimize the white residue associated with those types of products.