The first sun filter approved by the FDA in 18 years.¹ A breakthrough technology in sun protection. Mexoryl™ SX is contained in Anthelios SX, Anthelios 15 and Anthelios 40 products only.

MEXORYL™ SX is the most effective FDA-approved organic filter designed to protect against short UVA rays (maximum absorption at 344nm) with high photostability, a key factor in sunscreen protection efficacy. This high photostability means the sunscreen will maintain a higher UVA protective ability longer and not degrade as quickly as other FDA approved UVA filters when exposed to the sun.

Photostability means the ability to stabilize under sunlight. The process of photostability is a key factor in sunscreen protection efficacy. High photostability means the sunscreen will maintain a higher UVA protective barrier.

When UVA and UVB inorganic protective filters were first introduced using cosmetically acceptable concentrations, they provided minimal protection against UVA rays. Though the UVA ray filter molecule Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) was approved for drug store and apothecary use in 1992, it was discovered that when used by itself, Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) degrades when exposed to the sun, thereby reducing its UVA protection efficacy.

MEXORYL™ SX, now available in the US, is photostable on its own and is the most effective FDA-approved organic filter designed to protect against short UVA rays. Formulations containing MEXORYL™ SX and L’Oreal’s patented photostable association of Octocrylene and Avobenzone provide complete broad spectrum UV protection, with a high level of protection across the UVA spectrum - particularly short UVA rays in the range of UVA 320-340nm.

MEXORYL™ SX protects the skin by absorbing the energy of the sun’s short UVA rays. MEXORYL™ SX acts as a normal filter, but becomes highly energized by absorbing the energy of a UV photon. MEXORYL™ SX protects against UVA photons penetrating your skin, deactivates and releases the absorbed energy to the environment as harmless energy, then repeats the process over and over.