EltaMD Skincare Guide: Which Sunscreen to Buy and What to Skip

EltaMD is an American sunscreen-first skincare brand owned by Colgate-Palmolive, which agreed to buy it in December 2017. It is best known for UV Clear SPF 46, a lightweight zinc oxide and octinoxate sunscreen with niacinamide that many people with acne-prone or rosacea-prone skin wear daily. Most of its face sunscreens list between $38 and $50 at Dermstore as of November 2026.

Before you spend that much on a bottle, you can scan its barcode or label with the ingredient scanner in Pori to check the formula against your skin type. Pori reads ingredients; it does not diagnose skin conditions.

This guide covers who makes EltaMD, which sunscreen suits which skin, what to skip, and how it compares with La Roche-Posay, Supergoop and CeraVe. We compared published ingredient lists, Drug Facts labels, brand claims and listed prices; we did not test these products on skin. Prices are Dermstore listings as of November 2026 unless we say otherwise.

Who owns EltaMD?

Colgate-Palmolive owns EltaMD. On December 18, 2017, Colgate announced that it would buy two professional skin care brands, EltaMD and PCA Skin, in separate deals with undisclosed terms. It described EltaMD as a physician-dispensed sun care brand and said the two brands together had estimated 2017 net sales of about $100 million. The deals were expected to close in the first quarter of 2018, and Colgate said it would keep running the brands independently.

The name on today's US labels reflects that. On DailyMed, the National Library of Medicine's database of drug labels, every EltaMD sunscreen is listed under CP Skin Health Group, Inc., with Swiss-American CDMO, a contract manufacturer in Carrollton, Texas, registered as the maker. EltaMD grew up in dermatologists' offices, which is why you still see it sold at skin clinics alongside online retailers. Dermstore's listing carries a "#1 Dermatologist Recommended" banner; that is a brand claim, and the listing does not show the survey behind it.

What is EltaMD known for?

Sunscreen. Almost the whole range is built around zinc oxide, the mineral UV filter that covers both UVA and UVB light. Some formulas pair it with a chemical filter such as octinoxate or octisalate to thin the texture, and some use zinc oxide with titanium dioxide only. The bases are fragrance-free, and the face formulas add skin-care ingredients: niacinamide and lactic acid in UV Clear, petrolatum and sodium hyaluronate in UV Daily.

The brand also sells cleansers, moisturizers, serums and a Laser Balm for skin after procedures. Those are less distinctive, and much pricier per ounce than drugstore equivalents. If you only buy one EltaMD product, make it a sunscreen.

Which EltaMD sunscreen is best for my skin?

All of these are broad-spectrum and fragrance-free. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, so each one clears that bar. Pick by skin type and finish.

UV Clear SPF 46: oily, acne-prone and rosacea-prone skin

This is the bottle EltaMD is famous for. Its Drug Facts list zinc oxide 9% and octinoxate 7.5% in a light, oil-free lotion with niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid) and a little lactic acid. The brand calls it non-comedogenic and aims it at skin prone to acne, discoloration and rosacea. Dermstore's listing shows 5% niacinamide in an image caption and a brand study of 37 people over 12 weeks; treat both as brand claims. It comes untinted, tinted and deep tinted. EltaMD also sells UV Clear Acne Blemish-Prone and Oil Balancing SPF 50 ($49), with the same two filters, for very oily skin.

UV Daily SPF 40: normal to dry skin

UV Daily uses the same two filters at the same strengths as UV Clear, in a richer base that lists petrolatum second and adds sodium hyaluronate. It works as a moisturizer and sunscreen in one step for skin that feels tight by midday. Its label makes no water-resistance claim, so switch to a water-resistant sunscreen for swimming or sweaty days. UV Daily Hydration+ SPF 50 ($45) is the higher-SPF option, with zinc oxide 11% and octisalate 5% in a base that also contains petrolatum.

UV Physical SPF 41: mineral only

If you want no chemical filters at all, UV Physical uses zinc oxide 9% and titanium dioxide 7%. It is tinted with iron oxides, which hide the white cast that zinc can leave and add some protection from visible light. The label tells you to reapply after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating. The catch is that it comes in one universal shade, which can look ashy or orange on some skin tones. Our guide to mineral sunscreens for sensitive skin compares other zinc options.

Are EltaMD sunscreens mineral or chemical?

Most of them are hybrids. UV Clear, UV Daily, UV Daily Hydration+ and UV Sport combine zinc oxide with one or two chemical filters, so they are not purely mineral. UV Physical, UV Pure SPF 47 and UV AOX Elements SPF 50 use only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. That matters if a chemical filter has irritated your skin before or if you simply prefer mineral protection. Our explainers on zinc oxide sunscreen and chemical sunscreen filters cover the trade-offs.

Whatever you pick, the SPF on the label assumes a full layer. That is roughly a teaspoon for the face and neck; see how much sunscreen to use.

What else does EltaMD make?

• Skin Recovery Amino Acid Foaming Cleanser: $38 for 5 oz. A gentle foaming wash.
• AM Restore and PM Restore moisturizers: $51 each for 1.7 oz.
• Skin Recovery line: Essence Toner ($46), Serum ($72), Light Moisturizer ($56) and a green-tinted UV Skin Recovery SPF 50 ($51) aimed at redness.
• Barrier Renewal Complex: $67 for 1.7 oz.
• Laser Balm: a petrolatum skin protectant meant for skin after cosmetic procedures.

These products may feel lovely, but the ingredient lists hold few surprises for the price. Use your own clinician's aftercare instructions after any procedure.

What should I skip from EltaMD?

• The serums and creams if budget is tight. A $72 serum or a $67 barrier cream costs several times more than a fragrance-free drugstore moisturizer with ceramides. Spend on the sunscreen you will wear every day instead.
• Octinoxate formulas if a chemical filter has bothered you. Choose UV Physical or UV Pure instead of UV Clear or UV Daily.
• UV Daily on a very oily face. Its petrolatum base can feel heavy. UV Clear is the lighter pick.
• Tinted versions in the wrong shade. If you can, try a sample before buying a full bottle.
• Unofficial sellers. At this price, counterfeits are worth avoiding; buy from your dermatologist's office or a retailer that sells the brand directly.

How does EltaMD compare with La Roche-Posay, Supergoop and CeraVe?

La Roche-Posay is the closest drugstore rival for sensitive skin. Toleriane Double Repair UV uses avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene, so it leaves no white cast, but it has no zinc oxide. Read our Toleriane Double Repair UV review and the La Roche-Posay guide.

Supergoop Unseen wins on invisibility and makeup grip. It also uses chemical filters only, so very reactive skin may prefer EltaMD's zinc formulas. See our Supergoop Unseen review.

CeraVe AM SPF 50 is the budget hybrid. It pairs zinc oxide 7% with homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene and costs less than half as much. If UV Clear is out of reach, it is the closest cheap swap; our CeraVe guide has the details.

Where can I buy EltaMD in the US?

EltaMD is sold through dermatologists' offices and online at Dermstore and on eltamd.com. Target also lists the brand, often below list price. Dermstore shows an HSA/FSA-eligible option on UV Clear. Prices move with sales, and two-packs bring the per-bottle cost down a little: Dermstore listed the UV Clear duo at $88 in November 2026. Compare other options in our sunscreen catalogue, and see best sunscreen for acne-prone skin if breakouts are your main worry.

Is EltaMD worth the price?

For one product, often yes. UV Clear is a well-made, fragrance-free zinc hybrid that many people with acne or rosacea tolerate, and a sunscreen you like enough to wear daily is worth paying for. The rest of the range is harder to justify on ingredients alone. If you have persistent acne, rosacea or a reaction to sunscreen, a board-certified dermatologist can help; you can find one near you.