The short version
- Broad-spectrum SPF 46 face sunscreen with two actives: zinc oxide 9.0% and octinoxate 7.5%. It is not labeled water resistant.
- $45.00 on Sep 30, 2026 for the untinted 1.7 oz (48 g) pump, sold by Amazon.com: about $26.47 per ounce.
- The Amazon listing groups several variants under one page. The untinted 1.7 oz is ASIN B002MSN3QQ; tinted versions and a newer SPF 50 variant with a different formula share the page.
Not a cleanser; it comes off with one at night.
Not a serum, though it lists niacinamide as an inactive.
Goes on after moisturizer has settled.
The last morning step, reapplied during the day.
Mornings, as the final layer, then reapplied at least every 2 hours while you are in the sun, as the label directs.
The full label
Actives and percentages below are as printed in the product's Drug Facts listing at DailyMed (label for the 1.7 oz carton), which match the brand page's figures. The inactive list is the one on EltaMD's product page, read Sep 30, 2026. The Amazon listing and the DailyMed file print a different version of that list: the same core ingredients, but in a different order and without phosphoric acid. The box in your hands may match either one.
Zinc Oxide 9.0%, Octinoxate 7.5%
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.
Marked = key ingredient discussed below18 ingredients listed (2 active, 16 inactive)
| Key ingredient | What it is | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Zinc Oxide 9.0% | Mineral UV filter (active) | One of the two filters the FDA's 2021 proposed order would classify as generally recognized as safe and effective [4]. |
| Octinoxate 7.5% | Organic (chemical) UV filter (active) | Allowed under the current monograph; the FDA's 2021 proposal said more data are needed on it [4]. An FDA-run trial found it absorbed into the blood after heavy use of spray products [6]. |
| Niacinamide | Form of vitamin B3 (inactive here) | The brand says the formula has 5%. A lab and skin study reported that nicotinamide increased ceramide production and supported the barrier [7]. |
| Sodium Hyaluronate | Humectant (inactive) | Near the end of the list; a humectant that attracts water. It is not a UV filter. |
What the evidence and the label claims say
What the Drug Facts say. Both actives are listed with the purpose "Sunscreen." The Uses section carries the FDA-standard statement for broad-spectrum sunscreens with SPF 15 or higher [2]. The directions say to apply liberally to face and neck 15 minutes before sun exposure, reapply at least every 2 hours, and use a water-resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating. That last line matters: this formula makes no water-resistance claim, and the brand's own comparison chart marks it "Water Resistant: No" [1].
What "broad spectrum" means. Under FDA rules, a sunscreen can say "Broad Spectrum" only after a lab test. The product must reach a critical wavelength of 370 nm or more, meaning its absorbance covers the UVA range as well as UVB [3]. The SPF number mainly reflects UVB protection. The FDA advises using broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher regularly and as directed, with other sun protection measures [5]. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends SPF 30 or higher [8], which SPF 46 meets.
About the filters. The FDA's current position is a proposal, not a final ruling. In 2021 it proposed that zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are generally recognized as safe and effective, and said octinoxate and ten other filters need more data before that status [4]. Sunscreens containing them remain legally sold under the existing monograph. In an FDA-run clinical trial, 48 healthy adults applied products heavily (to 75% of the body, four times a day) for several days. Octinoxate from the two spray products reached blood levels above the FDA's screening threshold. The authors wrote that this does not mean people should stop using sunscreen [6].
The brand's claims. EltaMD describes UV Clear as oil-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free and non-comedogenic, and its icons add "hypoallergenic." The FDA says "hypoallergenic" has no federal standard or definition [9]. The cap prints "#1 Dermatologist Recommended Professional Sunscreen Brand," which is also the brand's claim. The listing and brand page also make skin-tone claims that this site does not repeat. The niacinamide study we cite was a lab and skin study done by a cosmetics company [7]. At 5% in a sunscreen, niacinamide is best read as a formula ingredient, not a reason to skip a separate step you rely on.
Pick the variation carefully: the one Amazon page covers untinted, tinted and deep tinted versions in several sizes, plus a newer SPF 50 variant with a different formula. This entry covers only the untinted SPF 46 in 1.7 oz. Also, the Amazon "Directions" text differs from the Drug Facts (it says 30 minutes, not 15); follow the Drug Facts on the box. If you swim or sweat, this is not labeled water resistant.
Where it goes in a routine
This order follows the Drug Facts directions; it is not a promise about your skin.
Moisturizer first, then wait
Let your moisturizer settle so the sunscreen spreads as an even layer on top.
If the pump won't dispense
The brand's troubleshooting tips for the airless bottle say to keep the cap on, turn it upside down and tap it firmly 8 to 10 times, then try the pump again.
Apply liberally to face and neck
Do this 15 minutes before sun exposure, as the directions say. Don't skimp: the FDA's SPF test applies sunscreen at 2 milligrams per square centimeter of skin, a generous layer [3].
Reapply at least every 2 hours
More often if you swim or sweat; for that, the label says to use a water-resistant sunscreen instead.
Remove it at night
Cleanse in the evening as usual. For children under 6 months, the label says to ask a physician.
Price and where it is sold
On Sep 30, 2026 the Amazon listing, set to "02 - Untinted (1.7 oz)" (ASIN B002MSN3QQ), showed $45.00 and "In Stock," shipped and sold by Amazon.com. Amazon computed that as $26.47 per ounce. The listing showed a free 30-day refund or replacement window. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants mineral-only actives: this formula also contains octinoxate. The Blue Lizard Sensitive SPF 50 entry covers a zinc oxide and titanium dioxide lotion.
- Anyone planning to swim or sweat heavily: the label makes no water-resistance claim.
- Anyone who has reacted to niacinamide, octinoxate or another listed ingredient before.
Sources
- EltaMD. UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46 product page: active and inactive ingredients, how to use, product comparison. Accessed Sep 30, 2026. link
- DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). EltaMD UV Clear SPF46 label: Drug Facts, directions, carton text. Label version published Jun 6, 2025. Accessed Sep 30, 2026. link
- eCFR. 21 CFR 201.327, labeling and effectiveness testing for OTC sunscreens (broad spectrum test, water resistance statements). Accessed Sep 30, 2026. link
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Questions and answers on FDA's regulatory actions for OTC sunscreen (2021 proposed order). Accessed Sep 30, 2026. link
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun. Accessed Sep 30, 2026. link
- Matta MK, Florian J, Zusterzeel R, et al. Randomized clinical trial of plasma concentrations of sunscreen active ingredients. JAMA. 2020;323(3):256-267. PMID 31961417. link
- Tanno O, Ota Y, Kitamura N, et al. Nicotinamide increases biosynthesis of ceramides as well as other stratum corneum lipids to improve the epidermal permeability barrier. Br J Dermatol. 2000;143(3):524-31. PMID 10971324. link
- American Academy of Dermatology. How to select a sunscreen. Accessed Sep 30, 2026. link
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Hypoallergenic" Cosmetics. Accessed Sep 30, 2026. link
This entry is educational and is not medical advice. Patch test new products, stop using anything that irritates your skin, and ask a dermatologist, pharmacist or other clinician about anything specific to your skin or medications.