Focused Guide · Choosing inside the sunscreen line by three printed axes: hybrid against fully mineral filters, daily wear against water resistance, and oil free lightness against built in moisture.

EltaMD Sunscreen Line Guide: UV Clear vs UV Daily vs UV Physical vs UV Sheer

The four untinted and mineral anchors of the EltaMD sunscreen line compared on filters, finish and water resistance, so the pump or tube you pick is the one your skin and your days actually need.

No. 1

The Selection

4 listings that answer this brief.

No. 1

EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

The Sensitive Skin Default

The oil free pump lotion the brand positions for sensitive, blemish prone faces

Oil free and fragrance free, with niacinamide beside its zinc and octinoxate, positioned by the brand for sensitive and blemish prone skin. The starting point unless a specific need below overrules it.

Suits

Sensitive and blemish prone skin that wants a sheer, untinted daily lotion with no greasy residue

Skip if

You need water resistance for swimming or sport, or you want a fully mineral filter list

Size: 1.7 fl oz (50 ml) pump
Format: Oil free, fragrance free untinted lotion sunscreen
Key ingredients: Zinc oxide 9.0 percent, octinoxate 7.5 percent, niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate
Use: Final step of the morning routine on face and neck, worn alone or under makeup
Sun protection: Broad Spectrum SPF 46; not water resistant

View on AmazonPremium listing verified: Official EltaMD storefront listing (From EltaMD) on Amazon; manufacturer EltaMD and part number 02500 as printed in product details; CP Skin Health Group brand content on the listing

No. 2

EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40

The Moisturizing One

The moisturizing sibling, with hyaluronic acid for normal to dry skin

The same filter pairing softened by hyaluronic acid. Choose it when sunscreens generally leave your normal or dry skin tight by midday.

Suits

Normal, dry and combination skin that wants sunscreen and light moisture arriving in one pump step

Skip if

Your skin is oily and shine prone, or you need water resistance

Size: 1.7 fl oz pump
Format: Sheer, moisturizing untinted lotion sunscreen
Key ingredients: Zinc oxide 9.0 percent, octinoxate 7.5 percent, hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate)
Use: Morning moisturizer and sunscreen in one step on face and neck
Sun protection: Broad Spectrum SPF 40; not water resistant

View on AmazonPremium listing verified: Official EltaMD storefront listing (From EltaMD) on Amazon; manufacturer EltaMD and model number 02289 as printed in product details

EltaMD UV Physical Broad Spectrum SPF 41 lightly tinted face sunscreen 3 oz tube

No. 3

EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41 Tinted

The Mineral One

The fully mineral, lightly tinted tube for extra sensitive skin

Zinc and titanium only, matte and lightly tinted, with 40 minutes of water resistance. Choose it when chemical filters are the thing you are avoiding, and accept the tint's light shade band as the price.

Suits

Extra sensitive skin and anyone who wants mineral only filters, a matte finish and a tint that works as quiet cast control

Skip if

Your skin tone is deep, since the light tint is a single fair to medium shade, or your skin is dry and flaky, where a matte mineral texture can cling

Size: 3 oz (85 g) tube
Format: Lightly tinted, matte, fully mineral tube sunscreen
Key ingredients: Zinc oxide 9.0 percent, titanium dioxide 7.0 percent
Use: Morning face and neck sunscreen over moisturizer; blend carefully at the hairline and jaw
Sun protection: Broad Spectrum SPF 41; water resistant 40 minutes

View on AmazonPremium listing verified: EltaMD brand listing shown under Premium Beauty on Amazon, ships from Amazon; manufacturer EltaMD as printed in product details

No. 4

EltaMD UV Sheer Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+

The Active One

The active day tube: the highest SPF in the line and 80 minutes of water resistance

The highest zinc load in the line at 15 percent, SPF 50+, and 80 minutes of water and sweat resistance. Choose it for sport, swimming and long outdoor days, in a face and body tube.

Suits

Outdoor, sport and humid weather wearers who need water resistance and a sheer finish on face and body, and anyone who wants the line's highest SPF

Skip if

You want a fully mineral formula, since octocrylene sits beside the zinc here, or a pump format, since this one is a squeeze tube

Size: 1.7 fl oz (48 g) tube
Format: Ultralight untinted face and body lotion sunscreen, sheer then matte finish
Key ingredients: Zinc oxide 15 percent, octocrylene 10 percent, sodium hyaluronate, squalane, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (vitamin C)
Use: Apply liberally 15 minutes before sun exposure; reapply after 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, immediately after towel drying, and at least every 2 hours
Sun protection: Broad Spectrum SPF 50+; water resistant 80 minutes

View on AmazonPremium listing verified: Official EltaMD storefront listing (From EltaMD) on Amazon; manufacturer EltaMD and item model number 390205025367 printed in the product details; active ingredients 15 percent zinc oxide and 10 percent octocrylene printed on the listing

No. 2

Questions, Answered

UV Clear or UV Daily: what actually differs?

The moisture brief. Both print zinc oxide 9 percent with octinoxate 7.5 percent, but UV Daily builds hyaluronic acid moisture into the formula and rates SPF 40, while UV Clear stays oil free and fragrance free at SPF 46 with niacinamide for blemish prone skin. Dry or normal skin, Daily; oily, combination or blemish prone skin, Clear.

Is UV Physical better because it is fully mineral?

Different, not better. Its zinc and titanium only list suits extra sensitive skin and anyone avoiding chemical filters, and it adds light water resistance. The costs are a single light tint that excludes deeper tones and a matte texture that can cling to dry flakes. The hybrid pumps wear sheerer on more faces, which for a daily product is its own kind of better.

Widen the lens in the full Best EltaMD Products 2027: The Sunscreen Authority, Ranked ranking, or return to the EltaMD hub.

No. ·

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