In 2006, the FDA approved Mexoryl. No need to smuggle it from France where it was aprooved by the French authorities in 1993.

What's so great about Anthelios with Mexoryl?

Dr. Vincent DeLeo, Chairman, Department of Dermatology, Founding Director, Skin of Color Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt and Beth Israel: "It produces a product which gives us almost perfect protection against sunshine."

Dr. Darrell Rigel, clinical professor of dermatology at New York University: Mexoryl "is the No. 1 individual ingredient in terms of protection from Ultraviolet A radiation."

You want the science? Here: "The UVB range of sunlight is 280 to 320 nanometers, and the UVA range is 320 to 400. Mexoryl sunscreens protect against UV wavelengths in the 290-400 nanometer range. Since Mexoryl doesn't cover the entire UV spectrum, it is usually combined with other active sunscreen agents such as titanium dioxide, avobenzone (stabilized with octocrylene) to ensure broad-spectrum UV protection."

And Mexoryl is convenient: It doesn't degrade in sunlight. One application, and you may be good for 24 hours --- even if you swim or exercise.

Yes, this stuff costs more than creams that protect against sunburn. The thing is, those creams don't offer long-lasting protection against Ultraviolet-A rays (UV-A). And UV-A doesn't cause sunburn --- it causes cancer.