EltaMD Uv Sport Sunscreen Lotion Spf 50
71/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
EltaMD UV Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 is a water-resistant style lotion built on Zinc Oxide alongside the chemical filters Octinoxate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate. It commonly wears with low white cast and a balanced finish, sits in the medium range for weight, and is generally gentle without stinging. It is reported to be low on pore-clogging but works poorly as a makeup base. Scoring 71.2/100 with good protection, it suits active, outdoor use more than everyday wear under cosmetics.
Ingredient & SPF scores
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UV protection
Good
64
- +41 Zinc Oxide at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +18)
- +18 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- β5 UVB coverage saturated
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
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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)
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White cast
Low
87
- +100 Starting score
- β14 Zinc Oxide, 9% declared
- +1 Coated minerals (Triethoxycaprylylsilane)
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Eye sting
Low
75
- +100 Starting score
- β16 Octinoxate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
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Heavy feel
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- β8 Zinc Oxide, 9% declared
- β12 Cera Alba at #4, wax film
- β5 Hydrogenated Castor Oil at #10, butter/occlusive fat
- β18 Mineral suspended in a dense emollient base (strong)
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Comedogenic
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- β7 Isopropyl Palmitate at #12, heavy comedogenic ester
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Fungal acne
Medium
63
- +100 Starting score
- β14 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Hydrogenated Castor Oil)
- β23 2 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Isopropyl Palmitate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate)
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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
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 5 Zinc Oxide at #1, mild sebum absorbent
- β 1 Humectant polyols
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Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 1 slippy emollient esters (Isopropyl Palmitate)
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Makeup base
Poor
PillsPrimer
- β 6 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
- β 15 High mineral load at #1 greys under foundation
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Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 water-locking waxes
- +12 Label claims water resistance (sport / 40-80 min)
Full ingredient list (18)
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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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 12 wax film
- β 7 wax water lock
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Humectant, pulls water into the skin
- 1 β nourishing humectant polyol
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Chelator, binds stray metal ions to keep the formula stable
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Plant oil, an emollient
- β 5 butter/occlusive fat
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 7 heavy comedogenic ester
- 2 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 14 feeds malassezia
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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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15 Water
Solvent base, the water phase
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Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Supporting ingredient
Is EltaMD UV Sport mineral or chemical?
It is a combination sunscreen leaning on older chemistry. It uses Zinc Oxide alongside the chemical filters Octinoxate and Ethylhexyl Salicylate.
Does EltaMD UV Sport work under makeup?
It is reported to perform poorly as a makeup base, so it is better suited to bare skin and outdoor or sport use. For makeup days a lighter daily formula is generally a better fit.
Is EltaMD UV Sport SPF 50 any good?
It scores 71.2/100 with good protection. It is a solid, sport-oriented SPF 50 lotion, strongest for active outdoor wear rather than under cosmetics.