UV Active Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+

EltaMD

UV Active Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+

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About this product

The EltaMD UV Active Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+ is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 34 ingredients (31 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). 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
Emulsion
Ingredients
34
Low-risk
31
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
SPF
50 · blocks 98.0% UVB

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

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

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 14/10
Good for dry skin
Ethyl Macadamiate Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylyl Glycol Glycerin Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Polygonum Aviculare Extract Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate Hydrogenated Polyisobutene Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters Jojoba Esters Dimethicone Glyceryl Behenate Lecithin
Caution for dry skin
Sorbitan Olivate Xanthan Gum Glycerin Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate Polyhydroxystearic Acid Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters Glyceryl Behenate Silica Lecithin
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin 0/1
Caution for oily/acne-prone skin
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
Sensitive Skin 5/6
Good for sensitive skin
Zinc Oxide Glycerin Jojoba Esters Hydroxyacetophenone Dimethicone
Caution for sensitive skin
Sodium Chloride Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Glycerin Sodium Benzoate Potassium Sorbate Malic Acid

Ingredients list

34 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (4)
All34 Skin Conditioning21 Emollient12 Emulsifying7 Viscosity Controlling6 Surfactant6 Emulsion Stabilising5 Solvent5 Fragrance5
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
1
3
Titanium/Titanium Dioxide
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying)
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
A
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
1
B
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning)
1
Ethyl Macadamiate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient)
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Sorbitan Olivate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
3
C15-19 Alkane
(Solvent)
1
A
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Sodium Chloride
(Bulking Agent, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
(Binding Agent, Binding)
1
2
A
Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling)
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
4
A
Glyceryl Behenate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
Hydroxyacetophenone
(Antioxidant)
1
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
(Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Emulsifying)
1
B
Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant)
1
A
Disteardimonium Hectorite
(Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent)
1
A
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant)
1
A
Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Skin Conditioning)
1
A
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
3
A
Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning)
Silicone
Silicone
1
A
Sclerotium Gum
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
2
3
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient)
1
A
Pullulan
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Binding)
1
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
(Chelating Agent)
1
A
Jojoba Esters
(Emollient, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
1
Polygonum Aviculare Extract
(Emollient)
3
4
B
Malic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
3
A
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative)
3
A
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking)

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

Mineral UV Filter
Reflects UV rays using mineral barriers.
Antioxidants
Shields skin from free radical damage.
Vitamin E
Protects skin and soothes irritation.
Exfoliators
Removes dead skin cells to smoothe texture.

Benefits

HydratingBoosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
Barrier RepairStrengthen and restore your skin's natural barrier.
Good For Oily SkinBalances oil and helps reduce shine.
Redness ReducingSoothes visible redness and calms irritation.
Scar HealingImproves the look of marks and scars.
Anti-AgingSoftens lines and helps skin look youthful.
BrighteningRestores radiance to dull, tired skin.
Reduces IrritationEases discomfort and supports skin resilience.

Concerns

Contains silicone
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit oily/acne-prone skin
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Titanium/Titanium Dioxide
Cosmetic colorant, Opacifying
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 1–3 Cosmetic colorantOpacifying
Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Emollient, Masking
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmollientMaskingPerfumingSkin conditioningSolvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B EmollientSkin conditioning
Ethyl Macadamiate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioningEmollient
Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioningEmollientEmulsifyingSurfactant
C15-19 Alkane
Solvent
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 Solvent
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningEmollientViscosity increasing agentViscosity controlling
Sodium Chloride
Bulking agent, Masking
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Bulking agentMaskingOral care agentViscosity controlling
Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Binding agent, Binding
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Binding agentBinding
Silica
Abrasive, Absorbent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1–2 CIR A AbrasiveAbsorbentAnticaking agentBulking agentOpacifyingViscosity controlling
TOCOPHEROL
Antioxidant, Fragrance
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AntioxidantFragranceSkin conditioning
Hydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antioxidant
Polyhydroxystearic Acid
Suspending agent - nonsurfactant, Emulsifying
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Suspending agent - nonsurfactantEmulsifying
Polyglyceryl-2 Isostearate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Skin conditioningEmollientEmulsifyingSurfactant
+ 14 more — see the full ingredients list above
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
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Glyceryl Behenate
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A Skin conditioningEmollientEmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Dimethicone
Antifoaming agent, Skin protecting
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Antifoaming agentSkin protectingEmollientSkin conditioning Silicone

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.

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.

Malic 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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