We assess that "EltaMD - UV Facial Broad-Spectrum SPF 30+" can provide reliable sun protection based on the ingredient list. We love that it can protect from both UVA and UVB rays (not all sunscreens with SPF ratings give UVA protection. UVA rays do not cause sunburn, but still damage our skin and lead to early aging).

Its formula is also hydrating, so you might not need an additional moistruizer during the day. This product prevents early signs of aging by protecting against sun damage (all broad spectrum sunscreens do that).

Sunscreen filters

This sunscreen uses a mixture of both mineral and organic (so-called "chemical") UV filters. Here are the organic filters this product uses: octinoxate. As for the mineral filters, this sunscreen uses zinc oxide.

Irritation risk

It contains some common irritants, including those without a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of it to be medium. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here

You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.

Price

The product retails from 23.99$ up to 39.99$ in the United States.

For a detailed price comparison: click here.

What can the product work for?

Does not work for

Anti-blemish
Exfoliation

Sun protection

This product offers a good level of protection against both UVB and UVA rays.

This sunscreen uses organic (so-called "chemical") sunscreen filters. Organic, or "chemical" filters usually provide reliable sun protection and rarely leave a white cast. Sunscreens with organic filters can sting eyes.

zinc oxide 7%

Irritation risk:

UVA I protection: UVA II protection: UVB protection: Photo stable: Ingredient type Mineral

A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant

ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate 7.5%

Irritation risk:

UVA I protection: UVA II protection: UVB protection: Photo stable: Ingredient type Organic

Octinoxate. When used in higher concentrations, works as a sunscreen protecting the skin from UVB rays. When used in lower concentration, helps to preserve the product formulation. Is shown to be harmful to coral reefs - consider avoiding bathing in coral reef areas when wearing a product with this ingredient. It can be irritating

Anti-aging

What does the product description say?

Antioxidant that reduces free radicals to help diminish the visible signs of aging Full Ingredients List

Source: Bluemercury

This product can help prevent early signs of skin aging because it offers a good level of broad spectrum sun protection. Sun damage is the main cause of premature skin aging, and protecting your skin from the sun is the best anti-aging strategy.

Moisturizing

What does the product description say?

Retains moisture and improves skin feel by reducing flaking and restoring supplenessTocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E).

Source: Bluemercury

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: sodium hyaluronate, butylene glycol.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: dimethicone, glyceryl stearate.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: petrolatum

petrolatum 6.8% - 8.3%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

One of the most effective and the most studied occlusive ingredients that creates a protective layer on top of the skin preventing moisture loss

sodium hyaluronate 0.8% - 1.2%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin

dimethicone 3.3% - 4.1%

Irritation risk:

Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH

A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish

Evens skin tone

This product offers broad spectrum sun protection. It means that it can prevent hyperpigmentation and help keep the skin tone even (sun damage is the main factor causing age spots, darkening of post-acne marks and other discolorations).

Anti-blemish

What does the product description say?

This miracle worker refines pores and exfoliates while it deep cleans your skin.

Source: Walmart

Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.

Exfoliation

What does the product description say?

This miracle worker refines pores and exfoliates while it deep cleans your skin.

Source: Walmart

This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.

Honesty check

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Can it cause trouble?

User reviews (1)

Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

dimethicone 3.3% - 4.1%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Moisturizing, Mattifying

A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish

ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate 7.5%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Sun protection

Search top rated products by actives

Potential irritants

ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate 7.5%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Sun protection

iodopropynyl butylcarbamate 0.01% - 0.02%

Irritation risk:

A preservative. Can be irritating

Comodogenic ingredients

isopropyl palmitate 5.9% - 7.2%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High

Works for: Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a thicker product consistency

oleth-3 phosphate 0.3% - 0.6%

Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High

Works for: Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together

All ingredients

ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate 7.5%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Sun protection

zinc oxide 7%

Irritation risk:

Works for: Sun protection

A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant

water 45% - 55%

Irritation risk:

Plain old water

Ingredient list view

Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, Zinc oxide, Water, Petrolatum, Isopropyl palmitate, Unknown, Glyceryl stearate, Cetearyl glucoside, Dimethicone, Peg-100 stearate, Hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, Polyisobutene, Peg-7 trimethylolpropane coconut ether, Sodium hyaluronate, Tocopheryl acetate, Polyether-1, Citric acid, Oleth-3 phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene glycol, Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane

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Price
WIMJ similarity score		52%	44%	44%	43%	41%	41%	40%	39%	39%	39%
SPF	SPF 30	SPF 40	SPF 30	SPF 50	SPF 40	SPF 50	SPF 43	SPF 50	SPF 50	SPF 30	SPF 50
Key ingredients	petrolatum dimethicone +3 more	Common: petrolatum zinc oxide +1 more Other: butyloctyl salicylate butyrospermum parkii butter +2 more	Common: petrolatum dimethicone Other: paraffinum liquidum cera microcristallina +5 more	Common: sodium hyaluronate zinc oxide +2 more Other: niacinamide lactic acid +6 more	Common: dimethicone sodium hyaluronate +2 more Other: panthenol cyclopentasiloxane +1 more	Common: dimethicone ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate +2 more Other: butyloctyl salicylate hydrated silica +2 more	Common: sodium hyaluronate zinc oxide +1 more Other: panthenol cocos nucifera oil +2 more	Common: dimethicone ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate +1 more Other: algae extract algae extract +10 more	Common: dimethicone ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate +1 more Other: niacinamide polygonum aviculare extract +11 more	Common: dimethicone ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate +1 more Other: beeswax copernicia cerifera wax +3 more	Common: ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate sodium hyaluronate +1 more Other: niacinamide lactic acid +2 more
Irritancy	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY MEDIUM	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW	IRRITANCY LOW
Potential Irritants	iodopropynyl butylcarbamate Has skin benefit? ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? +6 more	tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate Has skin benefit? bht Has skin benefit? +2 more	parfum Has skin benefit? caprylic/capric triglyceride Has skin benefit? +5 more	ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? disodium edta Has skin benefit? +6 more	iodopropynyl butylcarbamate Has skin benefit? ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? +6 more	alcohol Has skin benefit? ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? +10 more	hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer Has skin benefit? oleth-3 phosphate Has skin benefit? +2 more	zinc sulfate Has skin benefit? alcohol Has skin benefit? +14 more	ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? sorbic acid Has skin benefit? +11 more	propylene glycol Has skin benefit? ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? +7 more	benzyl alcohol Has skin benefit? ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? +11 more
All ingredients	ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? zinc oxide Has skin benefit? +20 more	titanium dioxide Has skin benefit? zinc oxide Has skin benefit? +19 more	petrolatum Has skin benefit? paraffinum liquidum Has skin benefit? +18 more	zinc oxide Has skin benefit? ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? +25 more	zinc oxide Has skin benefit? ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? +22 more	ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? titanium dioxide Has skin benefit? +40 more	zinc oxide Has skin benefit? tin Has skin benefit? +21 more	homosalate Has skin benefit? ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? +42 more	homosalate Has skin benefit? ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? +39 more	ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate Has skin benefit? zinc oxide Has skin benefit? +27 more	water Has skin benefit? zinc oxide Has skin benefit? +25 more

PRODUCT REVIEW

EltaMD UV Facial Broad-Spectrum SPF 30+

Works for:

Doesn't work for:

Can it cause trouble?

Key actives

Cheaper alternatives

Product summary

Sunscreen filters

Irritation risk

Price

What can the product work for?

Works for

Does not work for

Sun protection

Anti-aging

What does the product description say?

Moisturizing

What does the product description say?

Evens skin tone

Anti-blemish

What does the product description say?

Exfoliation

What does the product description say?

Honesty check

How honest is this product?

Buy now

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UK Retailers

Can it cause trouble?

Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

User reviews (1)

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Ingredients & concentrations

All ingredients

Key Actives

Potential irritants

Comodogenic ingredients

All ingredients

Ingredient list view

Sources