This EltaMD Sunscreen review is brought to you by my own curiosity. I have used the EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 broad-spectrum face sunscreen for over a year now.
So far, it has been the best facial sunscreen I have ever used.
I really enjoy how:
- lightweight it is
- the fact that it doesn’t leave a white cast on my skin
- And how it doesn’t have that gross sunscreen smell (we all know that smell)
Here’s the catch.
I loved this product and currently plan to repurchase it. However, I’ve never taken a close look at the ingredients and EWG score. (EWG is a third-party nonprofit company that rates the safety and toxicity of cosmetic products and ingredients).
By the end of this sunscreen review, we will have a better understanding of why EltaMD is so popular, the ingredients, and the EWG score.
I’ll also discuss my experience with the product and share if I plan to repurchase it or not.
Why EltaMD Sunscreen So Popular?
Good Marketing and Celebrity Exposure
One driving factor is that many celebrities and influencers swear by this sunscreen. This is how I heard about EltaMD in the first place. This sunscreen has been featured in too many get-ready-with-me videos to count. It is repeatedly touted as a go-to nonirritating sunscreen that is gentle on the skin and effective.
Sunscreen Lotion
The EltaMD sunscreen is also known as a sunscreen lotion. This is due to the hydrating components in the formula. Both niacinamide (vitamin B3) and hyaluronic acid are components of the formula. These are superstar ingredients known to restore plumpness to the skin, in the case of niacinamide. And to act as a humectant, in the case of hyaluronic acid.
Humectants are ingredients that help retain moisture in the skin. The oil-free component of the EltaMD sunscreen makes it feel more like a lotion than a sunscreen. For this reason, the lightweight formula comes highly recommended for sensitive and acne-prone skin.
EltaMD has Both Chemical and Mineral Properties
The EltaMD active ingredients include 9% Zinc oxide (a mineral ingredient) and 7.5% Octinoxate (a chemical ingredient). While many consumers are on one side of the mineral vs. chemical sunscreen debate, the EltaMD formula somehow lands in a diplomatic middle zone by using both types of ingredients.
Chemical vs. Mineral Sunscreen
This debate is something I focused on in prepping for this EltaMD sunscreen review. To me, the main difference was that mineral sunscreen tended to have a strong odor and chemical sunscreen didn’t.
Turns out the difference is a little more nuanced.
Zinc Oxide
I have since learned that Zinc oxide is a safer ingredient compared to chemical ingredients (big shock there). Zinc sits on top of the skin and works to reflect or block the sun. It also has a low rate of absorption into the body, if at all, compared to chemical formulas.
Octinoxate
Chemical sunscreens use ingredients like Octinoxate, in the case of EltaMD, and work by sinking into the skin and absorbing the sun’s harmful UV rays. The rays are then released as heat or energy from the skin. This neutralizing process is obviously more complex than the reflective properties of Zinc.
Recent studies have found that Octinoxate is absorbed into the skin at a much higher rate than was previously thought. One 2019/2020 study found that Octinoxate appears in the blood 16 times higher than the FDA recommends. This is is an issue because the absorption of Octinoxate in the blood can negatively impact the endocrine system.
EWG had a detailed write-up about Octinoxate and similar ingredients. The article laid out the not so glamorous truth about many active chemical ingredients. And readers were encouraged to choose a mineral sunscreen instead.
Environmental Concerns
On top of the biological concerns associated with Octinoxate and other similar ingredients, these chemical compounds have also been pegged as potentially hazardous to coral reefs. The scientific data is largely inconclusive due to the lack of comprehensive testing. This notion is enough for Hawaii to ban all chemical sunscreens
The marketing of ‘reef safe’ sunscreens is a great pitch, but according to this well-balanced Consumer Reports article, that pitch is simply that, a sales pitch. The reality of chemical sunscreen’s impact on marine life is yet to be confirmed by scientists.
EltaMD Sunscreen Ingredients
This list of ingredients is from the EltaMD website. Be sure to check the packaging of the actual product for the most up-to-date labeling and ingredients list.
We’ve already discussed most of the active ingredients: Zinc Oxide, Niacinamide (vitamin B3), Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), and Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E).
Here’s the list of inactive Ingredients: Purified Water, Cyclomethicone, Niacinamide, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lactic Acid, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane.
EWG Rating
The overall EWG rating for the EltaMD sunscreen is a 3. While this rating is barely in the yellow on the scale, there is a note to seek a product with fewer toxic ingredients in the EWG review. The ranking mainly notes allergies, toxicity to non-reproductive organs, and basic irritations. Having said that, only 3 of the 30 ingredients are ranked in the cautionary yellow color.
My Experience – EltaMD Sunscreen Review
My experience with the EltaMD sunscreen has been stellar. I am able to use a few pumps to easily cover my face after my morning skincare routine and you can’t even tell I’m wearing sunscreen. This product doesn’t smell, it spreads easily, and doesn’t affect my eyes as some sunscreens have in the past. The formula even works under my eyes and on my eyelids without issue.
My skin type can be classified as dry. This makes the hydrating ingredients in the EltaMD sunscreen an extra perk for me. The sunscreen spreads easily and certainly helps me to stay moisturized throughout the day.
This product has been a part of my daily skincare routine for a little over a year. I have no complaints other than the price point is rather high compared to other sunscreens on the market. A 1.7 ounce bottle runs $39.
EltaMD Sunscreen Where to Buy?
You can find the EltaMD Sunscreen on Amazon for $39 a bottle, or on sale for $26 if you’re lucky. You can also get it from the EltaMD online store and Dermstore. There’s a full list of retailers on the EltaMD website, just know it isn’t sold at Sephora or Ulta.
How Long Does EltaMD Sunscreen Last?
The EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 lasts me 6 months on average based on my last two Amazon orders. This is a lot longer than the average 2 – 3 months I have read from other reviewers using this product. I think my application technique helps the bottle to last longer.
Instead of pumping two generous pumps into my hand and rubbing it between my hands before applying it to my face, I pump tiny amounts of the sunscreen onto my index and middle finger and apply directly to my face using those fingers only. I do this until my whole face is covered.
I’m not sure if that made sense, but I feel like less of the product absorbs into the palm of my hands that I would just end up washing off using the two-hand method. Another thing to note is, I don’t tend to put sunscreen on my neck. I may use a little excess on my neck, but usually I just skip that step.
Do I Plan to Purchase the EltaMD Sunscreen Again?
Now the $39 dollar question. Do I plan to repurchase the EltaMD UV Clear Broad Spectrum Sunscreen again? Honestly, the answer is I don’t think so. Knowing the harms that the chemical ingredient Octinaoxate can cause to the endocrine system has made me reconsider using this product. Especially given the absorption rate into the body. This fact alone makes me want to look elsewhere for a solid mineral-only sunscreen.
Am I happy about this conclusion? Absolutely not. I love this product and was certainly planning to repurchase it. Now I’m not so sure. I just can’t see myself ignoring the studies and the seemingly evident biological risks of using this product on a daily basis.
Thankfully, my last skincare product review didn’t ruin a go-to product for me.
