EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46

EltaMD

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 is a sunscreen. Our analysis of its 15 ingredients (12 low-risk) rates it Excellent (91/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Sunscreen
Ingredients
15
Low-risk
12
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States
SPF
46 · blocks 97.8% UVB

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe Minimal Ingredients

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 5/2
Good for dry skin
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate Butylene Glycol Sodium Hyaluronate Cyclomethicone Lactic Acid
Caution for dry skin
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether Oleth-3 Phosphate
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin No data
Sensitive Skin 2/3
Good for sensitive skin
Zinc Oxide Tocopheryl Acetate
Caution for sensitive skin
Butylene Glycol Lactic Acid Phenoxyethanol

Ingredients list

15 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (6)
All15 Skin Conditioning10 Humectant4 Viscosity Controlling4 Fragrance3 Surfactant2 Preservative2 Emulsifying2 Binding2
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
2
3
Zinc Oxide
(Bulking Agent, Cosmetic Colorant, Skin Protecting, Sunscreen Agent)
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Oily Skin
2
A
Cyclomethicone
(Antistatic Agent, Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling)
Silicone
Silicone
1
A
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing)
1
B
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient)
1
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Polyisobutene
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling)
1
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
A
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
3
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning)
Bad for Oily Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
4
B
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
2
Oleth-3 Phosphate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
4
6
B
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
(Preservative)
1
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
(Binding Agent, Binding)

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Zinc Oxide
Skin Protecting
Cyclomethicone
Emollient, Humectant
Niacinamide
Skin Conditioning
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
Skin Conditioning, Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning, Humectant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning

Benefits

Fungal-acne (Malassezia) safe
Good for dry skin

Concerns

Contains paraben
Contains silicone
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Niacinamide
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningSmoothing
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Skin conditioningEmollient
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion stabilising, Viscosity controlling
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Emulsion stabilisingViscosity controlling
Polyisobutene
Binding agent, Film forming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Binding agentFilm formingViscosity increasing agentBindingViscosity controlling
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 EmulsifyingSurfactant
Oleth-3 Phosphate
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 EmulsifyingSurfactant
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Binding agent, Binding
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Binding agentBinding
Zinc Oxide
Bulking agent, Cosmetic colorant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 2–3 Bulking agentCosmetic colorantSkin protectingSunscreen agent Good for Oily Skin
Cyclomethicone
Antistatic agent, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Antistatic agentEmollientHair conditioningHumectantSolventViscosity controlling Silicone
Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningHumectant Good for Dry Skin
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant, Skin conditioning
Potentially comedogenic - can block poresRead moreShow less
EWG 3 AntioxidantSkin conditioning Bad for Oily Skin
Lactic Acid
Exfoliant, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B ExfoliantFragranceHumectantPh adjusterSkin-conditioning agent -humectantSkin conditioningBuffering agent Bad for Sensitive Skin
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Preservative
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 4–6 CIR B Preservative

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Morning only: Apply as the last step of your AM routine, after moisturiser, and reapply every ~2 hours of sun exposure.
  • 2 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Niacinamide 2–5% (up to 10%)

Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.

Niacinamide

AHA (acid exfoliant) 5–10% (OTC)

OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.

Lactic Acid

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

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