EltaMD UV Clear
The sunscreen dermatologists hand out most often. It is a zinc-and-chemical hybrid with 5% niacinamide, built for skin that breaks out or flushes.
Reviewed by Dr. Schwarz, MD · Dermatologist
A dermatologist’s take
Recommend.
This is the sunscreen I recommend most often for oily, acne-prone and rosacea-prone skin. It is light and matte, so it does not leave the film that makes people give up on daily sunscreen. Apply a full quarter-teaspoon; most people use far less and get a fraction of the SPF 46. On deep skin tones, buy UV Clear Deep Tinted instead.
Pros
- No added fragrance
- Good fit for oily skin
Cons
- Untinted formula can leave a white cast on deeper skin tones
Skin fit
Who is it best for?
Oily Skin
Good fitIt dries matte and holds that for a few hours, which is unusual for a zinc sunscreen. Blotting paper lifts the shine without disturbing the film underneath.
Acne
Okay fitAcne treatments make skin burn faster — retinoids thin the outer layer and acids strip it — so sunscreen matters more here, not less.
This one is oil free and does not block pores, and the niacinamide lowers oil production slightly instead of adding to it.
Rosacea
Okay fitRosacea skin has blood vessels that dilate too easily, and both heat and UV set them off. Zinc oxide handles UV at the surface, and the base has no fragrance and no alcohol to sting.
Niacinamide at 5 percent is in the formula specifically for redness.
Melasma
Okay fitDaily sunscreen is the treatment for melasma, not an extra. The plain version stops UV but not visible light, which drives melasma too, so the tinted version is the one to buy here.
The iron oxides are the part that blocks visible light.
Dry Skin
Poor fitIt finishes matte and is built for oily skin. Dry skin will want a moisturizer underneath, or EltaMD UV Daily instead.
Feel & smell
What does it feel like?
Lotion
A thin, fluid lotion that spreads easily and dries matte in about a minute. It does not feel like sunscreen once it is on.
No fragrance and no sting, and it sits under makeup without rolling if you give it that minute to set. The untinted version leaves a white cast on deeper skin tones, and EltaMD says so themselves. The tinted version helps to a point, and for deep skin the separate UV Clear Deep Tinted is the one to look for.
UV filters
UV filter type
- Mineral
- Hybrid
- Chemical
Combines mineral and chemical UV filters.
Filter type describes the formula, not its protection level.
Inside the formula
What do the main ingredients do?
How this formula works.
A sunscreen filter does one of two jobs. Mineral filters like zinc oxide sit on the surface and scatter and absorb UV before it reaches living cells. Chemical filters like octinoxate soak into the very top layer, take in UV energy and release it as heat. This one uses both, which is how it reaches SPF 46 while staying thin enough to disappear.
Full clinical explanation
A sunscreen filter does one of two jobs. Mineral filters like zinc oxide sit on the surface and scatter and absorb UV before it reaches living cells. Chemical filters like octinoxate soak into the very top layer, take in UV energy and release it as heat. This one uses both, which is how it reaches SPF 46 while staying thin enough to disappear.
Calling it a mineral sunscreen is the most common mistake made about it. It is a hybrid, and if you are avoiding chemical filters on purpose, this is not the product you think it is.
The rest of the appeal is what it leaves out. Oil free, fragrance free, non-comedogenic, plus niacinamide at 5 percent for oil and redness. That is why it suits skin that breaks out or flushes. The sunscreen that protects you is the one you actually wear.
Full ingredient list · 15 ingredients
Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide 9.0% Sunscreen Octinoxate 7.5% Sunscreen Inactive ingredients: Purified water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Niacinamide, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactic Acid, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN Labeling RM8518 Box UC UV Clear 1.7oz
All ingredient roles
Sodium Hyaluronate
A form of hyaluronic acid. Its molecule is large, so it stays on the surface and holds water there.
Phenoxyethanol
The preservative. It stops bacteria and mold from growing in the product.
Use & results
How to use it.
How much
About a quarter teaspoon for the face, a nickel-sized blob. SPF 46 is measured at a set thickness, and using less does not scale down gently — it drops the real protection sharply.
Where
Face, ears, neck and hairline. Let it set a minute before makeup.
Reapply
Every two hours outdoors, and after sweating or swimming. Over makeup, a powder or stick sunscreen is the practical way to top up.
What to expect
It works the moment it is on and stops when it comes off, so there is nothing to build up to. Breakouts are uncommon. If you see a white cast, the tinted version is the fix.
Price spectrum
Where does the price fall?
Paying more doesn’t guarantee better results. A good buy is a formula with the right ingredients, strength and texture for your skin. Use price per ounce to compare cost, then weigh it against the pros and cons above.
The product line
Which EltaMD product should you choose?
EltaMD’s sunscreens differ in finish, tint, moisturizing feel and filter combination. The names are easy to confuse, so compare the exact version. The best fit is one you can apply generously and wear consistently, with a tint and texture that work for your skin.
UV Clear
The untinted original. Oil-free and matte, with niacinamide, built for skin that breaks out or flushes.
UV Clear Tinted
The same formula with iron oxides. The tint cancels the cast and screens visible light, which matters for melasma.
UV Daily Tinted
A dewier base with hyaluronic acid, also tinted. Pick it if your skin is dry rather than oily.
UV Daily
The same dewy base without the tint.
More about the lineup
EltaMD's daily sunscreens share the same zinc-plus-chemical filter approach. The choice is how heavy the base is, and whether you want a tint.
Alternatives
If it didn’t work for you
EltaMD UV Clear Tinted
The same formula with iron oxides. The tint cancels the white cast and blocks visible light, which matters for melasma or dark marks.
Read the review →EltaMD UV Daily
The same two filters in a richer, dewier base with petrolatum and hyaluronic acid. Pick it if your skin is dry rather than oily.
Read the review →
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Light Fluid Facial Sunscreen
An SPF 60 chemical fluid that spreads like water and leaves no cast on any skin tone. Better if a zinc sunscreen looks ashy on you.
Read the review →Questions
Before you buy
Is EltaMD UV Clear a mineral sunscreen?
No. It is a hybrid — zinc oxide and octinoxate, a chemical filter.
Does EltaMD UV Clear leave a white cast?
The untinted version can on medium-to-deep skin. The Tinted version helps to medium-deep; for deep skin, use UV Clear Deep Tinted.
Is EltaMD UV Clear good for acne-prone skin?
Yes. Oil-free, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, and the niacinamide helps breakouts and redness.
What is the SPF of EltaMD UV Clear?
SPF 46, broad-spectrum.
Why is EltaMD UV Clear more expensive than drugstore sunscreen?
You are paying for the light feel, the niacinamide and the finish. Cheaper broad-spectrum options work — the one you will wear is the one that protects you.
Sources
Sources and further reading
Keep exploring
Keep exploring.
EltaMD UV Clear Tinted
EltaMD UV Daily
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Light Fluid Facial Sunscreen
Acne
Rosacea
Dry Skin
Melasma
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Sunscreen SPF 70
Cetaphil Mineral Stick
Heliocare
ROUND LAB Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen
