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The New Sunscreen Everyone's Talking About in Colorado Springs: Bemotrizinol (And What to Actually Use This Summer)
This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.
If you've been anywhere near skincare social media lately, you've probably seen dermatologists buzzing about a name you've never heard before: bemotrizinol. In June 2026, the FDA approved it as a new sunscreen ingredient — the first new one added to the U.S. sunscreen list in over twenty-five years. That's a big deal in the skincare world, and it's worth understanding what the excitement is actually about, and what it means for your skin this summer.
For anyone searching for bemotrizinol sunscreen in Colorado Springs, here's what you actually need to know before your next appointment.
What Is Bemotrizinol, and Why Is Everyone Talking About It?
Bemotrizinol has quietly been used in sunscreens across Europe and Asia for decades, offering strong protection against both UVA and UVB rays with a lightweight, more cosmetically elegant feel than a lot of older chemical filters. It's also sometimes labeled by its trade name in international products, so if you've traveled abroad and picked up a sunscreen with unfamiliar ingredient names on the back, there's a real chance you've already used it without knowing. American sunscreen options have lagged behind international formulas for years, largely because our approved ingredient list hasn't been updated in a generation — so its approval is being treated as a genuine milestone in an industry that doesn't get many of them.
Here's the part that matters most practically, though: even though it's approved, bemotrizinol-based sunscreens aren't expected to actually appear on U.S. shelves until later this summer at the earliest, since manufacturers still need time to formulate, test, and release new products. So while it's an exciting development to watch, it's not something you can walk into a store and buy yet — which means the real question for right now isn't "should I switch to bemotrizinol," it's "what should I actually be using this summer while I wait."
Bemotrizinol Sunscreen in Colorado Springs vs. Zinc Oxide: Why Zinc Oxide Wins for Now
That answer is zinc oxide. Zinc oxide is a mineral (physical) sunscreen filter, meaning instead of absorbing UV rays the way chemical filters do, it sits on top of the skin and reflects them away. A few reasons it's especially well suited for summer, and especially for freshly treated skin:
It's gentle. Mineral sunscreens tend to be far less likely to cause irritation, stinging, or breakouts than chemical formulas — which matters a lot when your skin has just been treated, whether that's a fresh wax, a facial, or any other service that leaves skin more reactive than usual.
It works immediately. Chemical filters typically need 15–20 minutes to start working after application, since they have to absorb into the skin first. Zinc oxide starts protecting the moment it's applied, which is exactly what you want when you're stepping outside right after an appointment and don't have time to wait around.
It's broad-spectrum. Zinc oxide covers both UVA and UVB rays effectively on its own, without needing to be paired with anything else to close protection gaps — something a lot of older chemical filters can't claim.
It's better for sensitive or reactive skin. Because it sits on top of the skin rather than being absorbed, zinc oxide is generally the gentler option for anyone dealing with redness, sensitivity, or skin that's recently been treated in any way.
None of this means sunscreen prevents all sun damage on its own — it's one part of a broader approach to protecting your skin, alongside things like seeking shade during peak hours and limiting direct exposure when possible. But of the options actually available to you this summer, a good zinc oxide formula is the smartest, gentlest choice.
A Colorado Springs Consideration: Altitude Matters
Living at altitude changes the sunscreen math a little. UV exposure increases with elevation — roughly 4-5% more UV intensity for every 1,000 feet above sea level. At Colorado Springs' elevation, that adds up to meaningfully more UV exposure than the same sunny day would deliver somewhere close to sea level, even when the temperature outside doesn't feel especially hot. That's part of why "it's not that sunny out" isn't a reliable gauge for whether sunscreen is worth applying here — the intensity is often higher than it feels.
Why This Matters Even More After Waxing
Here's where this connects directly to what's happening at Soluna Vee Spa this month: waxing just launched for the summer season, and freshly waxed skin is temporarily more vulnerable to the sun than skin that hasn't just been treated. Hair removal opens up the follicle and can leave skin slightly more reactive for a short window afterward — which means sun exposure right after a wax has more potential to cause irritation, uneven pigmentation, or discomfort than it would on untreated skin.
Practically, that means the same appointment that gets you smooth for summer should also come with a sunscreen plan — especially for areas that'll actually be seeing the sun, like legs, underarms, or anywhere exposed by a swimsuit. It's an easy step to skip in the rush of a busy day, but it's also one of the simplest ways to protect the results you just paid for.
A simple rule worth adopting this season: if you waxed it, protect it. Freshly waxed skin and unprotected sun exposure are a rougher combination than most people realize, and it's a completely avoidable one with the right product on hand. This is especially true if you've booked the Brazilian Recovery Ritual™, since that treatment is specifically designed to calm and soothe skin post-wax — pairing it with the right sunscreen the same day just extends that same gentle, protective approach into the hours after you leave the studio, rather than undoing the calming work with unprotected sun exposure.
What to Actually Look For
When shopping for a zinc oxide sunscreen this summer, a few things worth checking on the label:
"Non-nano" or "broad-spectrum" zinc oxide, which confirms it's providing both UVA and UVB coverage
Fragrance-free formulas, especially for freshly treated or sensitive skin — fragrance is one of the more common irritants in sun care and can be an unnecessary risk right after a service
SPF 30 or higher, reapplied roughly every two hours if you're actually outside for extended periods, and immediately after swimming or heavy sweating
Soluna Vee Spa carries COOLA's Classic Body Organic SPF 50, fragrance-free — a zinc oxide-forward option that fits exactly this need, available at your next visit so you're not scrambling to find one on your own.
Summer Fun, Smart Skin
Colorado Springs summers are made for being outside — pool days, hikes up in the foothills, patio brunches, weekend trips to the lake. None of that has to come with a trade-off if your sunscreen routine is dialed in. The goal isn't to hide from summer, it's to enjoy it without your skin paying for it later.
A few easy habits that pair well with a fresh wax and a good zinc oxide sunscreen: keep a travel-size bottle in your bag or car so reapplication is never a "I forgot it at home" situation, apply generously rather than sparingly (most people use far less than the amount actually needed for the SPF on the label to work as intended), and treat sunscreen as the last step before you walk out the door, not an afterthought once you're already at the pool.
Quick Questions, Quick Answers
Can I use my regular sunscreen after a wax? Yes, but a fragrance-free, zinc oxide-based one is the gentler choice for freshly treated skin specifically.
Is bemotrizinol available anywhere yet? Not in the U.S. as of this summer — it's approved, but products still need to be formulated and released, so zinc oxide remains the best available choice for now.
Do I need sunscreen on cloudy days? Yes — UV rays pass through cloud cover, and at Colorado Springs' altitude, that exposure adds up faster than it feels like it should.
Will bemotrizinol replace zinc oxide once it's available? Probably not entirely — the two actually work well together, with bemotrizinol's chemical UVA/UVB coverage complementing zinc oxide's physical barrier. Once bemotrizinol products hit shelves, the sunscreens combining both may end up being the strongest option available. For now, though, zinc oxide alone remains the reliable choice.
The Bottom Line
Bemotrizinol is a genuinely exciting development, and it's worth keeping an eye on as it starts appearing in products later this year — it may well end up being a meaningful upgrade for American sunscreen options. But for the summer you're actually living in right now — especially with waxing freshly on the calendar and Colorado Springs' altitude working against you — zinc oxide is the tried-and-true, gentle, effective choice available today. Pair your wax with the right SPF, and you get to actually enjoy summer skin instead of babying it. That's the real headline here: better options are coming, and until they arrive, you're not missing out by sticking with what already works.
It's a good problem to have, honestly — an industry getting better options instead of the same handful of filters that have been standard for decades. Keep an eye out for bemotrizinol products later this year, and in the meantime, enjoy the summer you've got, freshly waxed and properly protected.
Book Your Summer Wax
Waxing is live now at Soluna Vee Spa in Colorado Springs, including the signature Brazilian Recovery Ritual™.
Book your appointment, and don't forget the sunscreen on your way out.
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Soluna Vee Spa is a private, appointment-only studio in Colorado Springs — no crowded waiting rooms, no rushed treatments, just real attention to what your skin and body actually need.
Soluna Vee Spa
3230 E Woodmen Rd, Suite 6, Colorado Springs, CO 80920 (inside Luxe Cosmetic Studios)
(719) 297-3637
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