EltaMD UV Skin Recovery Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Face Sunscreen
74/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
EltaMD UV Skin Recovery Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is a pure mineral face sunscreen relying on zinc oxide. It has a balanced finish with a low white cast, feels lightweight, and is generally low on the pore-clogging scale, while working okay under makeup. With moderate rated protection and a score of 74.4 out of 100, it is a gentle all-mineral choice aimed at sensitive or recovering skin.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Moderate
43
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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White cast
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- β28 Zinc Oxide, 12.9% declared
- β8 Pure mineral formula (12.9% total declared)
- +3.6 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
- +2.3 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
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Heavy feel
Low
82
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Zinc Oxide, 12.9% declared
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Fungal acne
Medium
53
- +100 Starting score
- β45 5 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate)
- β2 1 ubiquitous fatty ingredients (Behenic Acid), weak Malassezia signal
- +0 Dimethicone at #3, a safe base that does not feed Malassezia
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Fabric stains
Low
85
- +100 Starting score
- β15 Zinc Oxide at #1, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Moisture
Hydrating
LightNourishing
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Glycerin at #23, the anchor humectant
- β 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
- β 0.5 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetearyl Alcohol)
- β 8 Ceramide barrier lipids with cholesterol/phytosphingosine partners
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate)
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Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 4 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 #1 greys under foundation
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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 (40)
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 28 12.9% declared
- β 18 12.9% 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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2 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 β nourishing light emollient
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- matte β 2 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
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8 Taurine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
-
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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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- 0.5 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
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13 Arginine
pH adjuster
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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16 Oleth-20
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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23 Glycerin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing the anchor humectant
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24 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
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Botanical extract
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27 Glycine
Protein, peptide or amino acid, conditions and hydrates skin
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28 Lactic Acid
pH adjuster
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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33 Behenic Acid
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 minor malassezia feeder
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34 Ceramide NP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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35 Cholesterol
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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37 Ceramide NS
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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38 Ceramide EOP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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39 Ceramide AP
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
Is EltaMD UV Skin Recovery mineral or chemical?
It is pure mineral, relying on zinc oxide as its only UV filter.
Does the EltaMD UV Skin Recovery Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Face Sunscreen leave a white cast?
It is rated low for white cast despite being all-mineral, with a balanced, lightweight finish.
Is it good for sensitive or acne-prone skin?
It is aimed at sensitive and recovering skin and is low on the pore-clogging scale, so it is generally a gentle, acne-friendly choice.