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If you've ever avoided reapplying American sunscreen because it leaves a white cast or you still somehow still get burned anyway, you're not alone.

Some Americans are even bringing back sunscreen from abroad, lugging French bottles in their suitcases or paying extra fees to get Asian sunscreens shipped internationally.

But Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just proposed a simpler solution: Why not just make US sunscreens better?

"US sunscreens are far behind the rest of the world," the representative said in a TikTok video with Charlotte Palermino, a licensed esthetician.

In the video, Ocasio-Cortez noted that she traveled to South Korea earlier this year, and noticed how "far advanced" the rest of the world is in terms of sunscreen formulas — and felt that Americans deserve better products, too.

Ocasio-Cortez — citing Insider's previous reporting — pointed out that the FDA regulates sunscreen as a drug rather than a cosmetic product, making the approval process for new UV filters much slower than in other countries.

In the video, Ocasio-Cortez said that there are things the US can do to change this FDA rule.

"Congress has not been very aware of this issue," she said, explaining the lack of action to fix it.

"Really, it's not too corny — please contact your member of Congress," she said. She noted that Congress members who sit on the Energy and Commerce committee in particular have some jurisdiction over the FDA.

When calling, she suggested asking members to push for looser FDA restrictions on sunscreen and more funding for public research.

Dr. Ellen Gendler, a dermatologist practicing in New York City, previously told Insider that US sunscreens are "very good" at blocking UVB rays — the ones that cause sunburn.

But, Gendler said, when it comes to protecting against UVA rays (which penetrate the skin more deeply and might be more harmful than UVB rays), our sunscreen formulas are lacking.

It's why you can still tan a lot when wearing sunscreen; plus, UVA rays are also linked to skin cancer.

Due to more relaxed regulations, countries like France, South Korea, the UK, Japan, and Australia all have more protective sunscreens that also boast smoother application.

Gendler's favorite international sunscreen is La Roche Posay's SPF 50 Anthelios UVMune 400, which uses Mexoryl 400, an advanced version of one of the best UVA-blocking ingredients. She stocks up on it every time she's in France because the American version of the same sunscreen can't use that ingredient.