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EltaMD UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen 1.7 oz
EltaMD

UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen 1.7 oz

SPF 50+
Our score 84.9 / 100

No fragrance or ethanol; 10% octocrylene adds allergy potential. Light hydrocarbons and dispersants support 15% zinc oxide; residue is untested and no specific health harm is established.

Tone-up Brightening veil from mineral & tone-up formulas; evens out your skin tone. Sensitive & baby fragrance-free, low-irritant, baby-safe gentle formulas. United States
03 The facts, at a glance
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid runs both.
Hybrid
Broad spectrum Covers both UVA and UVB. UVA drives aging and deeper damage; UVB gives you burns.
Yes
Formulation & feel
Texture How it feels going on — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Cream
Finish How it looks once dry: matte, natural, dewy, or glowy.
Natural
Tinted Adds sheer pigment (iron oxides) that masks the white cast common to mineral filters and gives a skin-tone finish.
No
fragrance-free No synthetic perfume added. Not FDA-defined in the US; the EU requires 'Parfum' + the 26 named allergens on the label. 'Unscented' is different — it can hide masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
Yes
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Doesn't mean fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl — those are emollients.
Yes
Where to buy it
Target US In stock
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84.9
Composite score · independent
Ranks #877 of 1759 in the current catalogue. No fragrance or ethanol; 10% octocrylene adds allergy potential. Light hydrocarbons and dispersants support 15% zinc oxide; residue is untested and no specific health harm is established.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%. That's the recipe.
The score breakdown
UV protection How hard it blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 84
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 65
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 84
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity plus how biodegradable the UV filters and surfactants are. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, and how it actually feels on skin. 82
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 90
02 Composition · key UV filters 2 filters resolved
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
Octocrylene Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Zinc Oxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 23 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 2 MINERAL FILTER 1 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 3
Octocrylene Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time. · Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Water· Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. ·Coco-caprylate/Caprate·Isohexadecane·Butylene Glycol·Isododecane·Phenoxyethanol·Polyhydroxystearic Acid·Triethoxycaprylylsilane·Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6·Acacia Senegal Flower/Stem Extract·Polysilicone-11·Xanthan Gum·Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate· Ethylhexylglycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer· Squalane Plant emollient; skin-mimicking. ·Disodium EDTA·Polysorbate 60· Sodium Hyaluronate Hyaluronic acid — humectant. ·Sorbitan Isostearate
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Octocrylene LEGACY FILTER Octocrylene — degrades to benzophenone over time.
02 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
03 Water Water
04 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
05 Coco-caprylate/Caprate Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
06 Isohexadecane Isohexadecane
07 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
08 Isododecane Isododecane
09 Phenoxyethanol Phenoxyethanol
10 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid
11 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Triethoxycaprylylsilane
12 Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6 Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
13 Acacia Senegal Flower/Stem Extract Acacia Senegal Gum
14 Polysilicone-11 Polysilicone-11
15 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
16 Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Vitamin C Ester (THD Ascorbate)
17 Ethylhexylglycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
18 Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
19 Squalane ACTIVE Plant emollient; skin-mimicking.
20 Disodium EDTA Disodium EDTA
21 Polysorbate 60 Polysorbate 60
22 Sodium Hyaluronate ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
23 Sorbitan Isostearate Sorbitan Isostearate