INGREDIENT · BROAD-SPECTRUM FILTER
Bemotrizinol in sunscreen: what it is and what is known
Bemotrizinol is a sunscreen filter with a long record in Europe, added to the US sunscreen rules in 2026. On labels it goes by a name that is a mouthful. Here is what the safety record says.
You may see it written as
- Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
What bemotrizinol is
Bemotrizinol is the short name for the filter written on labels as bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine. The EU's scientific committee on cosmetics assessed it as a UV light absorber for sunscreen products in an opinion adopted in February 1999.1
A 2023 review notes that the US has few approved broad-spectrum filters, and argues that approving more would help reduce reliance on the more controversial ones.2 That is the context for why a filter with a long record elsewhere gets attention. In June 2026 the US FDA added bemotrizinol to its over-the-counter sunscreen rules at up to 6%, with the order due to take effect on 9 August 2026.3
What the committee found
The committee's summary lists very low absorption through the skin, no sign of irritation, no evidence of sensitisation or photosensitisation, and no evidence of mutagenicity in the data it reviewed. It concluded the filter is safe as a UV light absorber at a maximum of 10%, with no further restrictions.1 The Cosmetics Regulation currently lists it in Annex VI, entry 25, at up to 10%.4
That opinion is from 1999 and is a short summary of data supplied for approval.1 It is a starting point, not the last word.
Allergy reports
A 2020 case report described a patient with eyelid dermatitis who was allergic to bemotrizinol and to several other cosmetic ingredients.5 In a 2010 study, 11 people who believed they were allergic to sunscreen were photopatch-tested, and none reacted to it.6 We found case reports, not studies of how common this allergy is.
Using bemotrizinol with other products
The 1999 opinion sets no conditions beyond the 10% limit.1 In the US, the 2026 order allows it in one product with any other approved filter except PABA and trolamine salicylate.3 In a 2001 lab study it kept avobenzone and octinoxate from breaking down in light; its first author worked for a pharmaceutical company.7 We did not find a source on layering it with other products.
Bemotrizinol in pregnancy and breastfeeding
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Snifff found no pregnancy-specific evidence. The 1999 committee summary lists no evidence of teratogenicity in the data it reviewed,1 which is an old, narrow statement and not a pregnancy study.
Evidence on cosmetic products in pregnancy is limited overall, so ask your doctor or midwife about the specific product you use.8
What you will see on the label
The names to look for are Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine. In Snifff, it reads as Low risk. For the rest of the formula, see what the score means and how to read the list.
As Snifff shows itBis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
Pregnancy and nursing
We found no pregnancy- or lactation-specific evidence for this ingredient.
Wording as it appears in the extension, which can change between releases.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Common questions about bemotrizinol
Is bemotrizinol safe?
The EU safety committee judged it safe as a UV absorber up to 10% in 1999, noting very low skin absorption and no evidence of sensitisation in its data.1 An allergy case report exists, but in a small photopatch study none of 11 people reacted to it.5,6
Is bemotrizinol absorbed through skin?
The 1999 EU committee summary reports very low absorption through the skin, and the committee judged the filter safe as a UV absorber at up to 10%.1
What is the name on the label?
On most ingredient lists, look for Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, its name in the EU Cosmetics Regulation.4 The US sunscreen rules call it bemotrizinol.3
Is bemotrizinol safe in pregnancy?
Snifff found no pregnancy-specific evidence, quoted above. A 1999 EU committee summary lists no evidence of teratogenicity in the data it reviewed,1 which is not a pregnancy study. Ask your doctor or midwife.
WHERE THIS COMES FROM
Sources
- Opinion concerning 2,4-bis-{[4-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-2-hydroxy]-phenyl}-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-(1,3,5)-triazine (Colipa n° S81)Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products, European Commission · 1999 · SCCNFP/0082/98, adopted 17 February 1999
- The effects of UV filters on health and the environmentShetty N, Schalka S, Lim HW, Mohammad TF · Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences · 2023
- Final Administrative Order OTC000039: amending Over-the-Counter Monograph M020, Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use (issued 10 June 2026)US Food and Drug Administration · 2026
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products (consolidated text, version of 1 September 2025)European Union · 2009
- Allergic contact dermatitis to Tinosorb S, Scutellaria baicalensis, and other emerging allergens in cosmeticsLuna-Bastante L, et al. · Contact Dermatitis · 2020
- True photoallergy to sunscreens is rare despite popular beliefShaw T, et al. · Dermatitis · 2010
- Photostabilization of butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (avobenzone) and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate by bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (Tinosorb S), a new UV broadband filterChatelain E, Gabard B · Photochemistry and Photobiology · 2001
- Cosmetic dermatology in pregnancy and lactation: a risk-benefit framework for clinical practiceKovacs T, et al. · International Journal of Dermatology · 2026
This page explains an ingredient. It is not medical advice, and it is not an assessment of any product. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a skin condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist.