✦Cult Confidential picks every product independently. If you shop through our links, we may earn a small commission, but it never decides what makes the list.
Europe's favourite sunscreen brand has finally brought its secret weapon to America. Here's everything you need to know about La Roche-Posay's first US Anthelios with BEMT, and whether it lives up to the hype.
For years, the La Roche-Posay Anthelios you could buy in Paris wasn't the one you could buy in New York. European versions used filters the US hadn't approved, and beauty editors stocked up on them at French pharmacies like contraband. One of those filters was bemotrizinol, or BEMT.
In June 2026, the FDA finally approved it. A few months later, La Roche-Posay launched Anthelios UVDefense Sunscreen SPF 50, the brand's first US face sunscreen made with BEMT. Here's what's inside, who it's for, and how it compares with the other BEMT sunscreens now available in the US.
✦ Quick facts
Protection: broad-spectrum SPF 50, PA++++
Key filter: bemotrizinol (BEMT)
Texture: lightweight, milky, invisible finish
Skin types: all, including sensitive
Free from: fragrance, parabens, oxybenzone and octinoxate
Shop on AmazonWhy everyone's talking about it
BEMT is the first new sunscreen filter approved in the US in more than 25 years. It protects against both UVA and UVB rays, it's very stable in sunlight and it doesn't leave a white cast. Most importantly, it strengthens UVA protection, the part of the spectrum linked to wrinkles, dark spots and premature ageing, and the area where US sunscreens have lagged behind Europe and Asia for decades. Read our full explainer on what BEMT is and why it matters.
La Roche-Posay knows this filter better than almost anyone. The brand has been formulating with it for years in Europe, where it says Anthelios is the number one suncare brand. So when BEMT was approved in the US, Anthelios was always going to be one of the first to use it.
Our goal is simple: make sun protection something people want to wear every day.
Grace Riggenbach, General Manager, La Roche-Posay U.S.
The new formula carries the PA++++ rating, the highest grade on the Asian UVA rating system. SPF only tells you how well a sunscreen protects against UVB rays and sunburn; the PA rating tells you how well it protects against UVA. Seeing four plus signs on a US sunscreen is still rare.
What's inside
Here's where it gets interesting. BEMT isn't the only filter in this sunscreen. La Roche-Posay combines it with four other FDA-approved filters:
Homosalate UVB filter
11%
Octocrylene UVB filter
6%
Octisalate UVB filter
5%
Avobenzone UVA filter
3%
Bemotrizinol (BEMT) UVA and UVB filter
2%
That 2% is worth knowing about. US rules allow up to 6% BEMT, and some formulas use more: Ultra Violette's upcoming Fave Screen contains 5%. A lower percentage doesn't make it a weaker sunscreen, since the SPF 50 and PA++++ ratings measure the whole formula. But if you're specifically buying it for the BEMT, it's fair to say this is a blend rather than a BEMT-led formula.
There's a clever reason for the combination, though. Avobenzone is a great UVA filter, but it breaks down in sunlight. BEMT is extremely stable and is known to help stabilise avobenzone, so the two work better together than either does alone.
Beyond the filters, it contains the brand's Cell-Ox Shield antioxidant complex with senna alata, a tropical leaf extract, plus extracts the brand calls Litchiderm and Exo-P. Together, La Roche-Posay says they offer up to 16 hours of antioxidant and anti-pollution protection. It's also fragrance-free, paraben-free, allergy-tested and non-comedogenic.
How it feels on the skin
This is where Anthelios UVDefense really shines. It's a light, milky fluid that absorbs quickly and dries down invisibly, with no white cast. In the brand's consumer study of 171 people, 94% said it felt weightless and blended invisibly, even on sensitive skin, and it promises hydration for up to 24 hours. NBC News describes it as a lightweight, milky face sunscreen.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
✓ Love it if you have
✦Sensitive or easily irritated skin
✦Normal to dry skin
✦A deeper skin tone and hate white cast
✦A love of European sunscreens
✕ Skip it if you want
✦A fully mineral or chemical-free formula
✦A completely matte finish for very oily skin
✦The highest possible amount of BEMT
✦A water-resistant sunscreen for swimming
If you're oily or acne-prone, Ultra Violette Unblock Screen is the better BEMT pick, thanks to its soft-matte finish. You'll find both in our guide to the best BEMT sunscreens.
How to use it
Apply it generously as the last step of your morning routine, about 15 minutes before going outside, and reapply at least every two hours. It works alone or under makeup. Use about two finger-lengths for your face and neck, which is more than most people think. Not sure where it fits? Here's what order to apply skincare.
Our verdict
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVDefense is the BEMT sunscreen most people will be happy with. It has the elegant, weightless texture Anthelios is famous for in Europe, top-tier UVA protection, no white cast and a gentle, fragrance-free formula for sensitive skin.
It's not a pure BEMT formula: with 2% BEMT alongside four other chemical filters, it's an evolution of the classic Anthelios rather than a revolution. But for everyday wear, it's one of the easiest, most comfortable sunscreens you can buy in the US right now.
Our verdict
The European Anthelios, finally made in America.
Best for sensitive, normal and dry skin that wants strong UVA protection with zero white cast.
Comparing your options? See every BEMT sunscreen in our guide to the best BEMT sunscreens in the US, or read our review of Neutrogena's BEMT sunscreens.
Frequently Asked Questions
✦Does La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVDefense contain BEMT?
Yes. Anthelios UVDefense Sunscreen SPF 50 contains 2% bemotrizinol (BEMT), alongside avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene. It's La Roche-Posay's first US face sunscreen made with BEMT.
✦Is La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVDefense good for sensitive skin?
Yes. La Roche-Posay says it's suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. It's fragrance-free, paraben-free, allergy-tested and non-comedogenic.
✦Does Anthelios UVDefense leave a white cast?
No. It has a lightweight, milky texture that absorbs quickly and dries down invisibly, so it suits all skin tones.
✦What does PA++++ mean?
PA is a rating system used in Asia to measure protection against UVA rays, which cause premature ageing. PA++++ is the highest rating. SPF, on the other hand, measures protection against UVB rays and sunburn.
✦Is the US Anthelios the same as the European version?
Not exactly. US and European sunscreens follow different rules and use different combinations of filters, so the formulas differ. With BEMT now approved in the US, the American Anthelios is much closer to its European counterparts than before.
✦How often should I reapply it?
Reapply at least every two hours when you're outdoors, and more often after swimming or sweating. Apply it about 15 minutes before going outside.
Have you tried the new Anthelios yet? Tell us in the comments.
✦
Our promise
Why trust Cult Confidential
Cult Confidential exists to separate the hype from the holy grails. We don't take money to feature products, and we don't trust a product just because it has a big campaign behind it. Our picks are the formulas we actually reach for, cross-checked against what thousands of real buyers say after weeks of daily wear. If a product only performs in a press release, it doesn't make our files.
