Out of all the sales that I’ve had on my blog, the EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 is the most bought item from my readers. I checked Amazon’s best selling facial sunscreen and it was there too.
So I wanted to test it out and see why people and dermatologists love it so much.
I looked at the price and gasped. Y’all really be buying this product for that much? I have never spent more than $15 on a sunscreen.
I decided to take the chance to see if it’s worth the investment or not and bought it.
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Who this sunscreen is for
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 sunscreen can be good for any skin type, but it’s created specifically for those with acne-prone, sensitive skin, or those who have rosacea and hyperpigmentation.
It’s also good if you don’t like carrying around bulky sunscreens that spill in your purse or when you want to travel.
This sunscreen is great for daily life like going to school, work, etc. It’s not really good for going to the beach or getting sweaty from exercising. You’ll want to use a water-resistant sunscreen for that.
Some of the ingredients include niacinamide, lactic acid, zinc oxide, and octinoxate. If your skin gets irritated by niacinamide, I don’t recommend you use this product.
It contains both mineral and chemical ingredients. So if you are not fine with that, then this is not the product for you.
Pros:
- No white cast
- Lightweight, easily absorbs compared to regular sunscreens
- For acne-prone skin, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation
- For sensitive skin
- Fragrance-free, paraben-free, oil-free
- Small enough to fit in a travel size bag
- Protects against UVA and UVB
- Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation
Cons:
- It smells like it’s from a doctor’s office
- Small bottle size (1.7 oz)
- It’s a bit pricey, higher end product
My Experience using EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
I have sensitive, dry skin. I have had many skin issues while growing up which included eczema and acne.
This is the first facial sunscreen I used. I grew up in deep poverty and sunscreen was considered a luxury for me, so I often just used the normal store bought ones on my face.
I found those to be too thick and hard to blend into my skin. When I started using the Elta MD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum, I was surprised by how easily it absorbed into my skin.
It was like putting on my facial moisturizer and there was no white cast (I’m medium skin toned, so might not apply for darker skin tones).
My skin has been more sensitive lately and it did not break me out with more acne.
The one thing I don’t like about this product is that it’s small for the price. But thankfully it’s only for the face and not the body, so I don’t end up using it too fast and it is easy to travel with.
How to use this sunscreen
Use this product after you have done your usual skincare routine with face wash and moisturizer. It dried out my face when I directly applied it without first washing my face and putting moisturizer on.
The second time I used it after I did my skincare routine with moisturizer, my face stayed moisturized and it absorbed pretty well. I used the CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion before applying the sunscreen.
Apply it at least 15 minutes before you go outside to your face and neck. I like to put it on the outside of my ears too to protect everything.
Re-apply every 2 hours.
Final Thoughts
After using the EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 product, I felt a facial sunscreen is a must. I’m glad this was my first facial sunscreen and I’d definitely buy it again to put in my backpack when I’m out running errands.
But it’s not going to be something I buy super often because of the price.
I will make the effort of trying more EltaMD sunscreen products and review them in the future, along with other sunscreen brands.
I heard the EltaMD UV Daily Face Sunscreen Moisturizer with Hyalornic Acid is better for those with dry skin, so I’m going to try that next as an alternative.
