6


ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE COVER STORY: DSM-FIRMENICH


PARSOL® Shield FDA-approved: A new era for US sun protection


For decades, the US sun care market has evolved under a unique tension: rapidly shifting consumer expectations on one side, and a relatively static set of approved UV filters on the other. While beauty routines have become more sophisticated—prioritizing sensorial elegance, daily usability, and multifunctional performance— the regulatory framework has often limited how far formulators and brands could innovate.


That reality is now changing With the FDA approval of PARSOL® Shield, the first new sunscreen active in more than 25 years enters the US market, introducing a new level of technical capability and creative freedom for brands. More importantly, it signals a broader reset— one that aligns US sun care more closely with global innovation trends and evolving consumer expectations. As the President and CEO of the Personal Care


Products Council (PCPC) Tom Myers emphasised: “We applaud FDA for advancing this long-awaited decision.” Consumer awareness around sun exposure has


never been higher. Beyond sunburn, consumers increasingly understand the links between UV radiation, premature aging, and long-term skin health risks. At the same time, expectations around product experience have fundamentally shifted. Today’s sunscreen must do more than


protect—it must integrate seamlessly into skincare routines, feel lightweight, work across diverse skin tones, and support everyday wear. This convergence of health awareness and


PERSONAL


JULY 2026 VOL 27 ISSUE 7


its broad-spectrum protection performance, but the pathway taken to bring it to market. Its approval reflects years of scientific substantiation, regulatory engagement, and close alignment with the FDA’s evolving standards. The process included the first Maximal Usage


Trial conducted under updated FDA guidelines and the submission of a Tier 1 Monograph Order Request—marking a new benchmark for how sunscreen innovation can be introduced into the US regulatory system. This milestone is widely recognized across


Colour cosmetic pigments: the present and the future


Boosting SPF performance for improved protection


SUN CARE


NEW ERA FOR US


FDA adds bemotrizinol to list of permitted sunscreen ingredients


beauty expectations has created a clear need: higher-performing UV filters that enable both advanced protection and elevated product design. As noted by David Andrews, Ph.D., chief


science officer at Environmental Working Group: “This is a great day for American consumers and everyone who has fought to improve sunscreen options and close the UVA protection gap in US sunscreens”. What sets PARSOL® Shield apart is not only


stakeholders, regulators and scientists alike. The significance of this milestone lies in the journey: a rigorous, science-led approval process guided by an entirely in-house strategy at dsm-firmenich, under the leadership of Industry Regulatory Affairs experts, Jochen Klock and Carl D’Ruiz. The result is more than a new ingredient—it is


proof that scientific rigour, regulatory compliance, and meaningful innovation can coexist within the US framework. For years, the global sunscreen landscape has been uneven. Markets outside the US have had access to a broader range of UV filters, enabling more advanced formulations and more sophisticated product experiences. In contrast, US brands have operated with a narrower toolkit, often facing formulation trade-offs and limitations on sensorial performance.


PARSOL® Shield plays a critical role in closing that gap As Jochen Klock, Sr. Director, Global Regulatory Affairs, Beauty & Care, explains, “This approval closes a longstanding innovation gap in the US sunscreen market and establishes a modern scientific and regulatory benchmark for what advanced sun protection can look like”. By enabling access to a new generation of UV


technology, the approval reinforces the idea that the US market can once again be a leader in sun care innovation—not an outlier. From a formulation standpoint, PARSOL®


Shield introduces meaningful benefits. It is positioned as a highly efficient broad-spectrum UV filter, delivering strong UVB and UVA performance even at relatively low concentrations. This efficiency has direct implications for


formulators. Lower concentration requirements can reduce formulation complexity, while compatibility with both organic and inorganic filters enables greater flexibility. Strong photostability further supports consistent protection over time.


Formulation and sensorial design Equally important is the impact on sensorial


PERSONAL CARE MAGAZINE July 2026 www.personalcaremagazine.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72