Ears perked up in beauty communities across America when the FDA finally approved the first new UV filter in 20 years; and apparently, brands couldn’t wait to introduce bemotrizinol (BEMT) into the market. One such pioneer is La Roche-Posay who, earlier this month, debuted its Anthelios UV Defense Sunscreen SPF50, powered by the intelligent sunscreen filter. La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVDefense SPF 50 Why We Love It: La Roche-Posay is back again with another stellar sunscreen.
UVDefense is here—the first of the brand’s sunscreen offering with the newest UV filter, BEMT. Known for its ability to protect against UVA and UVB rays, the ingredient pairs a few other filters with the brand’s Cell-Ox Shield technology, which provides antioxidant protection against environmental stressors. This is all scientific speak to say it delivers some of the most advanced protection against the effects of sun damage.
And of course, all of this is mixed into a white cast-free milky serum that’s suitable for all skin types. Key Ingredients: Aboenzone 3%, bemotrizinol 2%, homosalate 11%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 5% Type: Chemical Texture: Lotion Size: 1.7 fl. oz. To start, it’s helpful to understand exactly why BEMT is being hailed as such a significant advancement in the sunscreen space.
On its efficacy, it works to protect skin not only from the UVB rays that cause skin cancer, but also the UVA rays that cause premature skin aging and hyperpigmentation. As board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, MD puts it, BEMT is noteworthy because it expands the range of ultraviolet filters available to American sunscreen manufacturers. From a dermatologist’s perspective, that is particularly valuable because patients are more likely to use sunscreen consistently when they enjoy wearing it.” That’s not to say that BEMT alone makes an SPF feel better to wear: “Existing FDA-approved filters can be combined to achieve broad-spectrum protection,” board-certified dermatologist Sejal Shah, MD says.
La Roche-Posay is already quite familiar with the ingredient—its teams have been formulating with it internationally for years, per Steve Lynch, associate vice president of skincare development and scientific valorization, North America at L’Oréal Groupe. So when the brand set out to introduce the ingredient to wide-eyed American customers, it sought to balance the UV filters and the rest of the formula into something with excellent protection, stability, and textural characteristics. Anthelios UVDefense promises broad-spectrum protection in a lightweight, wearable formula—powered by a number of chemical UV filters you might already expect—avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene—plus, BEMT, of course.
Chemical sunscreens, as we know, are universally-loved for their sensorial appeal; and this one lives up to those expectations. It offers weightless wear and the milky texture we’ve come to expect from the brand’s Anthelios range. Expect zero white cast, no pilling, a natural finish, and almost-instant absorption into skin—so excellent, I loved it from the moment I started massaging it into my skin.
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