EltaMD UV Clear Tinted
The same formula as EltaMD UV Clear, with iron oxides added for a sheer tint. The tint cancels the white cast — up to a point.
Reviewed by Dr. Schwarz, MD · Dermatologist
A dermatologist’s take
Recommend.
This is UV Clear with iron oxides added, and those pigments do real work: they cancel zinc's white cast and block visible light, which drives melasma and dark marks that plain SPF does not stop. Apply a full quarter-teaspoon. On deep skin tones, buy UV Clear Deep Tinted instead.
Pros
- Good fit for oily skin
Cons
- Single tint will not match every skin tone
- Sheer coverage will not conceal spots
Skin fit
Who is it best for?
Oily Skin
Good fitThe base is oil-free and the finish is matte, so it does not slide off or turn shiny by lunchtime. That is why people who dislike sunscreen keep using this one.
Rosacea
Okay fitRosacea skin flushes easily, and ultraviolet light is a reliable trigger. The iron oxides that make this tint also cancel red, so it takes down the color while it removes the trigger.
It carries 5% niacinamide too, often chosen for flush-prone skin.
Acne
Okay fitAcne-prone skin already produces more oil than the pore can clear, so an oil-free base matters.
Nothing here adds to that, and the tint means you are not layering foundation over a breakout just to hide redness.
Melasma
Okay fitMelasma pigment cells react to visible light, not only ultraviolet, which is why a plain sunscreen often is not enough. Iron oxides block visible light, and they are what makes this version tinted.
For melasma, choose this over the untinted one.
Dry Skin
Poor fitThe finish is matte and built for oily skin. Dry skin will want moisturizer underneath, or UV Daily instead.
Feel & smell
What does it feel like?
Lotion
A thin tinted lotion that spreads easily and dries matte. It does not leave the white cast a mineral-only sunscreen leaves, because the iron oxides cancel it.
The tint is sheer. It evens skin tone and softens redness, and that is all. It will not hide a spot. There is only one shade, scoped to light through medium-deep skin. On deep skin it reads ashy or too light, which is why UV Clear Deep Tinted exists. It sits under makeup without pilling.
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 has two ways to work. Mineral filters such as zinc oxide sit on the surface and block ultraviolet light. Chemical filters such as octinoxate absorb it and release the energy as heat. This one uses both, zinc oxide 9% and octinoxate 7.5%, which is how it reaches SPF 46 while staying thin enough to wear under makeup.
Full clinical explanation
A sunscreen has two ways to work. Mineral filters such as zinc oxide sit on the surface and block ultraviolet light. Chemical filters such as octinoxate absorb it and release the energy as heat. This one uses both, zinc oxide 9% and octinoxate 7.5%, which is how it reaches SPF 46 while staying thin enough to wear under makeup.
The tint is the part worth understanding. Iron oxides are mineral pigments, and they block visible light, which ultraviolet filters do not. Visible light drives melasma and dark marks, so a tinted sunscreen protects against something the untinted version cannot.
The rest of the formula is aimed at skin that dislikes sunscreen: oil-free, matte, 5% niacinamide. If you were going to wear light makeup anyway, this replaces it. The limit is the single shade, which does not work on deep skin tones.
Full ingredient list · 18 ingredients
Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide 9.0% Sunscreen Octinoxate 7.5% Sunscreen Inactive ingredients: purified water, cyclopentasiloxane, nicacinamide, octyldodecyl neopentanoate, butylene glycol, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, polyisobutene, PEG-7 trimethylolpropane coconut ether, sodium hyaluronate, tocopheryl acetate, lactic acid, oleth-3 phosphate, phenoxyethanol, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, isopropyl palmitate, octyl stearate, iron oxides, triethoxycaprylylsilane KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN Labeling 02520A UV Clear Tinted New Artwork
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 alone. Sunscreen is rated at a thicker layer than most people apply, and half the amount does not give you half the SPF — it gives you far less.
Where
Face, ears, the sides and back of the neck, and the hairline. Those are the spots people miss and where damage shows up.
Reapply
Every two hours outdoors, and after sweating or swimming. A tinted sunscreen is easier to top up over makeup than a white one.
What to expect
Nothing you can feel, because sun protection is prevention. Judge it over months, on whether you burn and whether pigment stays put.
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
The untinted version of the same oil-free formula with 5% niacinamide. Choose it if you want no tint.
Read the review →
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50
Also tinted with iron oxides, and sold in four shades rather than one. Fully mineral, so it suits skin that reacts to chemical filters.
Read the review →EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Sunscreen
The same tint in a hydrating base with hyaluronic acid and petrolatum. Better on dry or mature skin.
Read the review →Questions
Before you buy
Is EltaMD UV Clear Tinted mineral or chemical?
Both. It uses zinc oxide and octinoxate.
Does EltaMD UV Clear Tinted match deep skin tones?
The standard tint goes to medium-deep. Deeper tones should use UV Clear Deep Tinted.
Does EltaMD UV Clear Tinted help with melasma?
Yes. The iron oxides block visible light, which drives melasma.
Is EltaMD UV Clear Tinted good for acne-prone skin?
Yes. It is oil-free with niacinamide.
What SPF is EltaMD UV Clear Tinted?
SPF 46.
Keep exploring
Keep exploring.
EltaMD UV Clear
EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Sunscreen
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50
Acne
Rosacea
Dry Skin
Melasma
Peter Thomas Roth Max Mineral Tinted Sunscreen
EltaMD UV Daily
Niacinamide
Lactic Acid
