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EltaMD Uv Physical Tinted Face Sunscreen Spf 41

EltaMD Uv Physical Tinted Face Sunscreen Spf 41

78/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

EltaMD UV Physical Tinted Face Sunscreen is a chemical-free SPF 41 pure mineral formula combining Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide, aimed at sensitive and post-procedure skin. The tint keeps white cast low and the finish is balanced, though the formula feels heavy on skin. It does not commonly sting and has low pore-clogging potential, with okay makeup compatibility. Protection is good. The score of 77.5 is among the highest here, strong for an all-mineral option.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Good 74
  • +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
  • +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
  • 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 75
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’55 Zinc Oxide at #1
  • βˆ’50 Titanium Dioxide at #2
  • βˆ’10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
  • βˆ’15 Pure mineral formula
  • +30 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
  • +70 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
  • +4.5 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Alumina)
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

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

Heavy feel

High 20
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’40 Zinc Oxide at #1
  • βˆ’30 Titanium Dioxide at #2
  • βˆ’10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 93
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’7 Isopropyl Palmitate at #10, heavy comedogenic ester
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

High 33
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Linoleic Acid)
  • βˆ’12 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 20)
  • βˆ’14 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
  • βˆ’23 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 #9, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
  • βˆ’15 Zinc Oxide 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 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Hydrated Silica)
  • ← 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
  • ← 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
  • β†’ 1 Humectant polyols
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 6 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Hydrated Silica)
  • β†’ 3 2 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Stearate)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • ← 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Polyacrylate-13)
  • ← 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 (25)

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 Zinc Oxide

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

    • ↑ 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↑ 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
    • light ← 5 mild sebum absorbent
    • pills ← 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
  2. 2 Titanium Dioxide

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

    • ↑ 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • light ← 2 mild sebum absorbent
  3. 3 Alumina

    Supporting ingredient

  4. 4 Butylene Glycol

    Humectant, pulls water into the skin

    • 1 β†’ nourishing humectant polyol
  5. 5 Citric Acid

    pH adjuster

  6. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  7. 7 Hydrated Silica

    Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish

    • light ← 5 sebum-absorbing powder
    • matte ← 6 sebum-absorbing powder
  8. 8 Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  9. 9 Ci 77491

    Colorant or pigment

    • ↑ 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
  10. 10 Isopropyl Palmitate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 7 heavy comedogenic ester
    • 2 β†’ dewy slippy emollient ester
    • ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
  11. 11 Lecithin

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 14 feeds malassezia
  12. 12 Linoleic Acid

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • ↑ 18 feeds malassezia
  13. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  14. 14 Ethylhexyl Stearate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • 1 β†’ dewy slippy emollient ester
  15. 15 Oleth-3 Phosphate

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
  16. Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  17. 17 Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling

  18. 18 Polyacrylate-13

    Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

  19. 19 Polyisobutene

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

  20. 20 Polysorbate 20

    Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended

    • ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
  21. 21 Water

    Solvent base, the water phase

  22. 22 Quercetin

    Supporting ingredient

  23. 23 Sodium Hydroxide

    pH adjuster

  24. 24 Thioctic Acid

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

  25. Supporting ingredient

Does EltaMD UV Physical Tinted leave a white cast?

White cast is generally low thanks to the tint, even though it uses Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. The finish is balanced.

Is the EltaMD Uv Physical Tinted Face Sunscreen Spf 41 good for sensitive or post-procedure skin?

It is a chemical-free mineral formula that does not commonly sting and has low pore-clogging potential, which is generally why it is aimed at sensitive and post-procedure skin.

Is EltaMD UV Physical Tinted SPF 41 good?

Yes, it scores 77.5 out of 100, among the highest in its set. Protection is good, though the formula feels heavy on skin.

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