EltaMD UV Restore Tinted Broad-spectrum SPF 40 Facial Sunscreen
81/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
EltaMD UV Restore Tinted is an SPF 40 mineral facial sunscreen using zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, with a tint that keeps white cast low and the finish balanced. It does not tend to sting and reads as low pore-clogging, though it sits a touch heavier on the skin than the lightest formulas. Protection is good for daily wear at SPF 40. Scoring 81 out of 100, it is a well-regarded tinted mineral option for everyday use.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
74
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +33 Titanium Dioxide at #2, UV filter (UVA1 +5)
- β1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 40)
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White cast
Low
81
- +100 Starting score
- β42 Zinc Oxide, 15% declared
- β7 Titanium Dioxide, 2% declared
- β10 Zinc Oxide + Titanium Dioxide together
- β15 Pure mineral formula (17% total declared)
- +51.8 Tinted formula, pigment masks the cast
- +2.2 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +1.4 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
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Heavy feel
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β30 Zinc Oxide, 15% declared
- β10 Titanium Dioxide, 2% declared
- β10 Both minerals in the top 3, dual mineral paste
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Fungal acne
High
17
- +100 Starting score
- β24 2 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Oleate)
- β9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Lecithin)
- β50 5 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate)
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Fabric stains
Medium
40
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Iron-oxide pigments at #34, makeup-like collar marks (washable)
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- β5 Both minerals present, heavier deposit
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 2 Titanium Dioxide at #2, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Glycerin at #16, the anchor humectant
- β 1 1 strong humectants (Saccharide Isomerate)
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
- β 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- β 4 2 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate)
- β 1 1 emollient lipids (Squalane)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 2 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
- β 0.5 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- β 7.5 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation (tinted)
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Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate water resistance βFull ingredient list (34)
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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Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 41 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 42 15% declared
- β 30 15% declared
- β 15 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
- light β 5 mild sebum absorbent
- pills β 7.5 High mineral load greys under foundation (tinted)
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Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 33 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 7 2% declared
- β 10 2% declared
- light β 2 mild sebum absorbent
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3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 β nourishing light emollient
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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12 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
16 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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19 Xanthan Gum
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Botanical extract
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
22 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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27 Lecithin
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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28 Pullulan
Supporting ingredient
-
29 Dimethicone
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 12 feeds malassezia
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33 Mica
Colorant or pigment
-
34 Iron Oxides
Colorant or pigment
- β 40 makeup-like collar marks (washable)
Does EltaMD UV Restore Tinted SPF 40 leave a white cast?
No, white cast is low. It is a mineral sunscreen, but the tint offsets the cast that zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can leave, finishing balanced.
Is this mineral or chemical, and is the EltaMD UV Restore Tinted Broad-spectrum SPF 40 Facial Sunscreen good for acne-prone skin?
It is a pure mineral sunscreen using zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. It reads as low pore-clogging and non-stinging, though it feels a touch heavier than the lightest formulas. Patch test first.
Is it a good sunscreen?
Yes, it scores 81 out of 100, with good broad-spectrum protection at SPF 40 and a well-rated tinted mineral finish for daily wear.