A surprising sunscreen booster may be hiding at your favorite bar
By Mckenzie Beard
Published on May 2, 2026.
A new study suggests that a byproduct of beer production could make sunscreens more effective at blocking harmful ultraviolet B rays, which are responsible for sunburns. The finding could be significant as studies have shown that many products on store shelves don't deliver the level of protection they claim. Concerns are also growing over potential risks to human health and the environment. Scientists in Brazil are exploring whether “spent hops” could serve as a natural, eco-friendly additive that could help sunscreen better block harmful UVB rays. To test the idea, researchers added an extract from spent hops to a water-based sunscreen formula and found it increased the product’s SPF from about 54 to 178. However, further studies are needed to confirm the idea.
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