Community favorite TrendingDerm favorite

UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46

The dermatologist-office staple for acne- and rosacea-prone skin: light, fragrance-free and niacinamide-boosted, at a premium price.

8.0

Great

Beauty score

#2 of 8 sunscreen

Community

—/10

Format: Sunscreen lotion
Size: 1.7 oz
Typical price: $46.00
Price tier: Prestige

SPF 46· HybridFragrance-freeUV protection Redness Soothing Acne marks Irritation-free

Made for: Acne-prone skin · Sensitive skin · Oily skin · Combination skin · Dry skin

Key ingredients:Zinc oxide Chemical UV filters Niacinamide Hyaluronic acid Vitamin E

Check price on Amazon Shop on TikTok Shop2634 sold

Also at

Brand site$46.00 BLBluemercury

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Last reviewed November 2, 2026 by our editors · How we score

The verdict

The dermatologist-office staple for acne- and rosacea-prone skin: light, fragrance-free and niacinamide-boosted, at a premium price.

EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 is a lightweight, oil-free hybrid face sunscreen pairing 9% zinc oxide with 7.5% octinoxate and 5% niacinamide. It is fragrance-free, paraben-free and non-comedogenic, and dermatologists quoted in press reviews regularly recommend it for acne-prone, rosacea-prone and sensitive skin. Testers describe a whipped, fast-drying texture that sits well under makeup. Caveats: it is not water resistant, it contains octinoxate, which some shoppers avoid, and $46 for 1.7 oz is expensive.

Best for

Acne-prone or rosacea-prone skin that reacts to fragrance
Daily office wear under makeup
Fair to medium skin tones (or the tinted version for deeper tones)

Why it’s trending

Byrdie's best overall sunscreen for acne-prone skin (updated May 2026)

Source

What we love

Fragrance-free, oil-free and non-comedogenic for acne- and rosacea-prone skin
5% niacinamide and hyaluronic acid on top of zinc oxide
Light texture that sits well under makeup
Widely recommended by dermatologists

Worth knowing

Expensive for 1.7 oz
Not water resistant
Contains octinoxate, a filter some shoppers and 'clean' standards avoid
EltaMD says the untinted version works best on fair to medium skin tones

How it scored

The breakdown.

Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.

8.0Great

Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.

Results30%8.4
Testers and dermatologists report clear, non-irritating daily protection that does not clog pores or leave a gray cast, though it is not water resistant.
Formula & ingredients20%8.2
Zinc oxide plus octinoxate gives broad coverage, and 5% niacinamide adds a calming, tone-evening extra in a fragrance-free, non-comedogenic base; octinoxate is a dated filter some users avoid.
Texture & experience15%8.0
Byrdie's tester describes a whipped texture that dries within about 30 seconds and layers under makeup; a faint chlorine-like scent is the main quibble.
Value20%6.4
At $46 for 1.7 oz it is far pricier per ounce than drugstore options that offer similar protection.
Community love15%8.8
A long-running dermatologist favorite: Byrdie names it the best sunscreen for acne-prone skin, and dermatologists quoted by The Strategist say they recommend it constantly.

Beauty profile

Inside the bottle.

Texture

Lightweight, oil-free lotion that the brand says layers under makeup

Format

Sunscreen lotion

Finish

Natural

Sun protection

SPF 46· Hybrid

Fragrance

Fragrance-free

Size

1.7 oz / 48 g

Key ingredients

Ingredient encyclopedia →

What’s in it: Zinc oxide 9.0% and octinoxate 7.5% as actives, plus 5% niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, tocopheryl acetate and lactic acid. Not water resistant: the label says to use a water-resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating.

How to use

Apply liberally to face and neck 15 minutes before sun exposure and reapply at least every 2 hours; use a water-resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating.

Free from (brand-stated)

fragrance
parabens
oil

Claims & certifications

Fragrance-free
Paraben-free
Non-comedogenic

Full ingredient list (INCI)17 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand

Active: Octinoxate 7.5%,
Zinc Oxide 9.0%. Inactive: Water,
Cyclopentasiloxane,
Niacinamide,
Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate,
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer,
Butylene Glycol,
Phenoxyethanol,
Polyisobutene,
Triethoxycaprylylsilane,
Tocopheryl Acetate,
PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether,
Oleth-3 Phosphate,
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate,
Lactic Acid,
Sodium Hyaluronate,
Phosphoric Acid.

Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.

Official product page

Creator video reviews

Watch it in action.

Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.

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Price & value

Is it worth it?

Typical price

$46.00

for 1.7 oz / 48 g

DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury

About 21% more than the typical sunscreen we review. Our value score: 6.4/10 for a prestige pick.

Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.

Where to buy

Check price on Amazon Shop on TikTok Shop2634 sold Buy from the brand$46.00 BLSee it at Bluemercury

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money

Community

What members noticed.

Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.

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Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.

Highlighted: what it’s built to do.

Discussion

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FAQ

Good questions.

Is EltaMD UV Clear mineral or chemical?

It is a hybrid. The active ingredients are 9.0% zinc oxide (mineral) and 7.5% octinoxate (chemical).

Is it good for acne-prone skin?

EltaMD positions it for acne-prone skin: it is oil-free, fragrance-free and labeled non-comedogenic, and it contains 5% niacinamide. Reviewers with breakout-prone skin commonly report it does not clog their pores, though individual reactions vary.

Is UV Clear water resistant?

No. The directions say to use a water-resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating, so it is best for everyday wear rather than the beach or workouts.

Will it leave a white cast?

EltaMD says the untinted version works best on fair, light, medium-light or medium skin tones. Even so, a Byrdie tester reported zero white cast and a dermatologist quoted by The Strategist said it does not leave a gray hue; a tinted version is also sold.

Sources we checked (10)