News Flash

L'Oreal USA gets FDA approval for new sunscreen formula

24 Jul '06

4 min read

L'Oreal USA, the US subsidiary of global beauty company L'Oreal SA, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new sunscreen formula containing Mexoryl SX, a unique organic filter that is highly protective against short UVA waves. It is the first time the FDA has approved a new sunscreen filter since 1988.

Mexoryl SX is owned by L'Oreal, and is only available in L'Oreal products. It is the first and only sun filter available in the US in a photo-stable form designed to protect the skin from the harmful short UVA waves (320-340 nms) of the sun. UVA waves (320-400 nms) account for up to 95 percent of the UV radiation that reaches the Earth's surface.

Mexoryl SX is particularly effective against short UVA waves. Unlike other filters that offer UVA protection, Mexoryl SX is photo-stable, meaning it does not degrade when it is exposed to the sun for long periods of time. It was first patented by L'Oreal in 1982, and is now sold in the company's products in Europe, Asia, Canada and Latin America.

"Mexoryl SX is owned by L'Oreal, and is only available in L'Oreal products. It is the culmination of many years of research and testing," said Alan Meyers, Senior VP of Research and Development at L'Oreal USA. "We are pleased that the FDA has approved L'Oreal USA's use of Mexoryl SX in a new sunscreen formula. We now have the tools to give US consumers very high UVA protection as well as broad-spectrum sun protection."

Mexoryl SX, which particularly covers short UVA waves, has been approved as part of a new L'Oreal USA daily moisturizing cream with sunscreen that also contains Octocrylene and Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) -- ingredients that offer coverage against, respectively, UVB waves and long UVA waves. When combined with a traditional UVA filter that provides protection against the longer UVA waves, formulations containing Mexoryl SX provide complete broad-spectrum sun protection.

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