EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 Face Sunscreen
74/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 Face Sunscreen is a chemical and mineral face sunscreen pairing Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate with Zinc Oxide. It has a balanced finish with no noticeable white cast and feels lightweight, and it is gentle, commonly without stinging the eyes, plus low risk for clogging pores. With a 74.4/100 score and good protection, it is a solid everyday face sunscreen, well suited to sensitive and breakout-prone skin.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
60
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #1, UV filter
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +1 Label claims (SPF 46)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #1 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Sensitizing preservatives (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)
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White cast
Low
87
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Zinc Oxide, 9% declared
- +1 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
π₯
Eye sting
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 9% declared
- +2 Volatile silicone at #4, flashes off
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Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Oleth-3 Phosphate)
π
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #2, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Light
LightNourishing
- β 5 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Sodium Hyaluronate at #18, hyaluronic family
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 4 Volatile carriers flash off, leaving a dry finish
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 5 Primer-style base, volatile silicones and dimethicone slip
- β 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- β 15 High mineral load at #2 greys under foundation
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βSkincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Niacinamide
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (19)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 18 UV protection
- β 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 14 9% declared
- β 8 9% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 15 High mineral load greys under foundation
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3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Volatile silicone, flashes off for a light finish
- light β 5 volatile carrier, flashes off
- matte β 4 volatile carrier, flashes off
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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Supporting ingredient
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Supporting ingredient
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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17 Lactic Acid
pH adjuster
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 2 β nourishing hyaluronic family
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Supporting ingredient
Does EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 leave a white cast?
No, it is rated low for white cast despite containing Zinc Oxide, and it has a balanced finish, so it should not leave a visible film.
Is EltaMD UV Clear good for acne-prone skin?
Yes, it is a strong match. It is rated low for pore-clogging risk, gentle, and unlikely to sting the eyes, making it a popular choice for sensitive and breakout-prone skin.
Is it mineral or chemical?
It is a hybrid, pairing the chemical filter Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate with mineral Zinc Oxide. It scores 74.4/100 with good protection.