EltaMD Uv Shield Broad-Spectrum Spf 45
71/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
EltaMD UV Shield Broad-Spectrum SPF 45 is a chemical-leaning sunscreen pairing Zinc Oxide with Octinoxate. It has a dewy finish and stays lightweight with low white cast, but the slip makes it a poor makeup base. It does not commonly sting and is low on pore-clogging risk. Protection is good for the SPF 45 level, and with a score of 71.4/100 it is a solid choice when worn on its own rather than under cosmetics.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
60
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +1 Label claims (SPF 45)
β’οΈ
Health safety
High
64
- +100 Starting score
- β36 Octinoxate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
94
- +100 Starting score
- β6 Sensitizing preservatives (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)
π»
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 #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Low
87
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 9% declared
- β5 Cetearyl Alcohol at #6, rich gel-network thickener
π΄
Comedogenic
Low
83
- +100 Starting score
- β17 Isopropyl Palmitate at #4, heavy comedogenic ester
π
Fungal acne
High
17
- +100 Starting score
- β30 1 polysorbate/sorbitan emulsifiers that feed Malassezia (Polysorbate 60)
- β38 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate, Oleth-3 Phosphate)
- β5 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Cetearyl Glucoside), weak Malassezia signal
- β10 2 different Malassezia-feeding families high in the list
π
Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- β 8 2 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Stearate)
π
Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- β 2 Gel polymers prone to pilling under friction (Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer)
- β 2 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 15 High mineral load at #1 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¨ 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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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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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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3 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 17 heavy comedogenic ester
- 4 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 24 feeds malassezia
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 4 β dewy slippy emollient ester
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- β 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 30 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 5 minor malassezia feeder
-
Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
13 Polyether-1
Supporting ingredient
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
17 Citric Acid
pH adjuster
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
Does EltaMD UV Shield work under makeup?
Not ideally. Its makeup base rating is poor because of the dewy finish, so it tends to wear best on its own rather than under cosmetics.
Is the EltaMD Uv Shield Broad-Spectrum Spf 45 a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
It is a chemical-leaning hybrid, pairing Zinc Oxide with the chemical filter Octinoxate.
Is it a good sunscreen?
It scores 71.4/100 with good SPF 45 protection. It is lightweight, low on white cast and does not commonly sting, making it a solid standalone sunscreen.