Rate My SPF

EltaMD UV Physical Broad-spectrum SPF 41

EltaMD UV Physical Broad-spectrum SPF 41

79/100 overall score

Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Good 74
  • +33 Titanium Dioxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
  • +41 Zinc Oxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
  • βˆ’1 UVA2 coverage saturated
  • +1 Label claims (SPF 41)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

High 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 94
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’6 Sensitizing preservatives (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Low 76
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’14 Zinc Oxide, 9% declared
  • βˆ’18 Titanium Dioxide, 7% declared
  • βˆ’10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
  • βˆ’15 Pure mineral formula (16% total declared)
  • +28.5 Iron-oxide undertone, partial masking
  • +4.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina, Hydrogen Dimethicone)
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Low 62
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’8 Zinc Oxide, 9% declared
  • βˆ’20 Titanium Dioxide, 7% declared
  • βˆ’10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 83
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’17 Isopropyl Palmitate at #4, heavy comedogenic ester
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

High 28
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Linoleic Acid)
  • βˆ’18 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20)
  • βˆ’9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
  • βˆ’33 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate, Oleth-3 Phosphate)
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

Medium 40
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’40 Iron-oxide pigments at #20, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
  • βˆ’15 Titanium Dioxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
  • βˆ’5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Light
LightNourishing
  • ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
  • ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate)
  • β†’ 8 2 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • ← 4 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylate-13)
  • ← 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
  • ← 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant

Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.

How we rate water resistance β†’

Full ingredient list (24)

What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. 1 Titanium Dioxide

    Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↑ 18 7% declared
    • ↑ 20 7% declared
    • ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
    • light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
    • pills ← 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
  2. 2 Zinc Oxide

    Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↑ 14 9% declared
    • ↑ 8 9% declared
    • light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
  3. 3 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  4. 4 Isopropyl Palmitate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 17 heavy comedogenic ester
    • 4 β†’ dewy slippy emollient ester
    • ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
  5. 5 Ethylhexyl Stearate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • 4 β†’ dewy slippy emollient ester
  6. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • matte ← 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
  7. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  8. 8 Alumina

    Supporting ingredient

  9. 9 Polyacrylate-13

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  10. 10 Butylene Glycol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

  11. 11 Polyisobutene

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  12. 12 Polysorbate 20

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 18 feeds malassezia
  13. 13 Hydrogen Dimethicone

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  14. 14 Lecithin

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  15. 15 Linoleic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
  16. 16 Thioctic Acid

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  17. 17 Quercetin

    Supporting ingredient

  18. 18 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  19. 19 Oleth-3 Phosphate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  20. 20 Ci 77491

    Colorant or pigment

    • ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
  21. 21 Citric Acid

    pH adjuster

  22. 22 Sodium Hydroxide

    pH adjuster

  23. 23 Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  24. Supporting ingredient

← all products