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A longtime user swears by EltaMD UV Clear: no sunscreen smell, forgettable once on and never caused breakouts, though it is pricey where they live.
“I've sworn by eltaMD UV clear for years. No sunscreen smell, once it's on I forget about it, and it never caused breakouts for me the way some other sunscreens have.”
Their pick under makeup because it feels like a primer.
“i stick with my eltamd uv clear for makeup bc it feels like a primer.”
Their go-to sunscreen for about eight years; it helped them repair their skin barrier and remains key to their routine.
“EltaMD Clear spf has been my go to for about 8 years. It helped me fix my skin barrier back then”
Was their only sunscreen while living in the US; light lotion texture, unscented, never broke them out or stung their eyes.
“It has a light lotion texture and salicylic acid, no scent, never broke me out or burned my eyes.”
Calls EltaMD UV Clear the best sunscreen they've used: it keeps their rosacea at bay, absorbs well, leaves no white cast and isn't greasy.
“elta MD UV Clear SPF 46: the BEST sunscreen I’ve ever used. It helps keep my rosacea at bay, absorbs well, and doesn’t leave a white cast.”
A user loves EltaMD UV Clear but it pills over every moisturizer they've tried.
“I love my EltaMD sunscreen, but I have yet to find a moisturizer that won’t cause it to pill.”
A long-time user has looked for years for something comparable to EltaMD UV Clear, valuing its soothing zinc oxide for damaged skin.
“I think the special things about UV Clear are 1) its high level of zinc oxide”
Gives them small itchy bumps that improve when they skip it for a few days.
“Now using elta MD UV clear, it’s aggressively fine but still making me have small itchy bumps and it always gets better when I don’t use it for a few days.”
After years of loving UV Clear, it started giving them red spots every time they used it; the reaction stopped when they switched, possibly due to its niacinamide.
“EltaMD uv clear started giving me a reaction a few years after I started using it and loving it. I started getting these red bloody spots on my face when I used it.”
Calls EltaMD UV Clear their holy-grail everyday sunscreen.
“EltaMD UV Clear. It’s my holy grail for every day use.”
EltaMD UV Clear broke this user out, while UV Daily has worked for years.
“The clear one was too much and broke my skin out as well.”
Very expensive but otherwise perfect, and works under makeup.
“I use Elta MD UV clear. It is expensive AF but perfect otherwise.”
Never a fan of the original SPF 46: it pilled and felt a little heavy.
“I was never a fan of the original UV Clear SPF46 either. It pilled and felt a little heavy.”
Pills badly on them despite their best efforts to hack it.
“EltaMD UV Clear is another popular one that pills so much despite my best efforts to hack it.”
Used it on and off; it once felt calming but lately burns slightly on application.
“lately I’ve noticed that it burns slightly when applied, whereas before it was almost calming on my skin.”
Wore it exclusively for years and preferred its texture to other US sunscreens, before switching to Korean SPFs.
“When I first started wearing EltaMD UV Clear, I felt like it has a far superior texture/feel to most other American SPF options”
A long-time EltaMD UV Clear fan now gets burning and redness with it since starting retinol.
“Ive always loved Elta MD UV Clear but since starting retinol, my skin burns and goes so red.”
Doesn't sting their eyes; goes on like a light moisturizer, now their favourite.
“last summer I tried EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 and found it doesn't sting my eyes.”
A user calls EltaMD UV Clear their absolute favorite sunscreen.
“Ella MD UV Clear is my absolute favorite!”
A sensitive, acne-prone user finds EltaMD UV Clear a little pricey but loves how it feels.
“Elta MD UV Clear. A little pricey, but it feels nice and my sensitive acne-prone skin loves it.”
After a month-long trial, EltaMD UV Clear gave this acne-prone user whiteheads.
“EltaMd uv Clear 46- comparable to DRMTLGY in look and it causes whiteheads”
A user likes how EltaMD UV Clear blends without feeling like a layer, but has to avoid its niacinamide.
“I like how the Elta sunscreen feels as it blends easily without feeling like an extra layer is on my face”
A user loves EltaMD UV Clear's non-greasy finish, but daily use breaks them out every time they retry it.
“I love the non-greasy finish and feel of EltaMD UV Clear, but with consistent daily use it breaks me out”
Liked it but was always sensitive to the smell, so replaced it with an unscented EltaMD sunscreen.
“despite liking the Clear version, I was always sensitive to the smell.”
The reformulated version made their skin oily and shiny; they wish they had known about the change.
“Recently bought Elta UV Clear because it was on sale. Didn't know it was reformulated.”
In love with the untinted version for years, though it is pricey and a bottle lasts only a few weeks.
“For a few years, I’ve been in love with the EltaMD UV clear SPF 46 (I use the untinted)–it has checked all my boxes”
Burned, dried them out and gave itchy red splotches all over.
“Eltamd UVclear burned, dried me out, and gave me itchy red splotches all over”
Loves it enough to order it to France despite about 60 euros with shipping and taxes.
“I live in France and order Elta md uv clear that I looove”
Another sunscreen is their only safe one; this one even broke them out.
“Second this. It’s the only sunscreen that doesn’t break me out. Eltamd UV clear even broke me out.”
Wanted to love it, but it stings their face.
“I wanted to love Elta MD UV Clear but it stings my face :(”
A user bought EltaMD UV Clear from three sources and all smelled bad.
“I have gotten it from a med spa, and directly Elta Md and Amazon all 3 smell the same. So bad!”
Their favorite for years on very sensitive, acne-prone skin until they heard reviews of a formula change.
“I have been using the EltaMD UV clear sunscreen for years and it was my favorite. I have very sensitive and acne prone skin.”
After a year, a brown-skinned acne-prone user finds EltaMD UV Clear helps their acne but leaves them oily with a white cast.
“It works well with acne-prone skin. One issue with it is, that my face looks oily after use and it leaves a white cast as well.”
The tinted version has replaced foundation for them.
“Elta MD UV clear. Formulated for acne prone skin. I use the tinted version, and I will never be without it! It has replaced foundation for me.”
A years-long EltaMD UV Clear user got a bottle straight from EltaMD that smelled terrible.
“this last bottle that I purchased (directly from EltaMD) smelled terrible”
Their personal favorite; their acne-prone daughter finds it very calming and healing.
“The Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46 is not cheap but my personal favourite. My daughter has quite acneic skin and she’s found it very calming”
Older than 36 months. These may describe an earlier version.
A years-long UV Clear user loves its finish and feel but now thinks it aggravates chin breakouts and causes a neck rash.
“I've been using the Eltamd uv clear spf 46 for years and loveee the finish and how it makes my skin feel, but recently I realized I think it aggravates breakouts”
A user got an allergic-reaction-like rash from EltaMD UV Clear.
“EltaMD UV Clear made me have an allergic reaction-like rash too unfortunately”
Their holy grail: weightless, matte and clear.
“My holy grail is Elta MD 46 Clear. It’s weightless, matte, and like the name says, clear.”
Cannot use UV Clear because it burns, while the Daily one is their daily bestie.
“I can’t use the clear one cause that shit burns but the daily one is my daily bestie”
Really likes it but it pills no matter how long they let other products dry.
“I currently use Elta MD UV Clear which I do really like however it pills no matter how long I let the rest of my products dry.”
EltaMD UV Clear never caused this user any skin problems.
“Elta MD clear never caused any problems with my skin.”
This user had no adverse reactions to EltaMD UV Clear.
“I love the elta md physical and have not had adverse reactions to it but I also didn’t with the UV clear”
Better texture and more nourishing than their previous sunscreen, but not water resistant.
“Elta MD has better texture, more nourishing to the skin, but is NOT water resistant.”
Really likes this sunscreen as part of their routine.
“I really like the Elta MD UV clear sunscreen too.”
Recommends it as hydrating, with no white cast, safe near the eyes, and it locks in skincare.
“I recommend EltaMD UV clear because it's hydrating, doesn't leave a white cast, can be used near my eyes, and locks in my skincare.”
EltaMD UV Clear was this user's first sunscreen success, with a slight white cast on medium skin.
“My first success with sunscreen was EltaMD UV Clear. The downside is a little bit of a white cast on my medium skin tone.”
Seconds the recommendation: it has niacinamide and is very easy to apply.
“Second that! It has niacinamide, too and is very easy to apply.”
Used to swear by it for no white cast, but it felt greasy on their oily skin and accentuated acne scars.
“I shy away from this because it pronounces my acne boxcar and icepick scars.”
Prefers it over the CeraVe AM lotion.
“Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46! I prefer it over the Cerave personally”
Resisted at first, then gave in and calls it amazing with no regrets.
“I resisted Elta MD for so long due because I have a few I like for $15 or under, but I recently gave in and have no regrets! It’s amazing.”
Loves it but it sometimes pills and can sting their eyes if applied too close.
“I love the Elta md uv clear but it pills sometimes and can sting my eyes sometimes if I apply too close”
Really didn't like it: smelly, sticky and left a white cast.
“Before i was using Elta MD UV clear (with niacinamide) and really didn't like it. I found it pretty smelly, sticky, and it left a white cast on my face.”
Five-plus years of use and nothing but praise.
“I’ve been using it for 5+ years and cannot say enough good things about it!”
Very pleased after a few months on combination acne-prone skin: moisturising without feeling oily.
“started using Elta MD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 and I have been so pleased with it! I also have combination acne-prone skin”
A user calls EltaMD UV Clear a holy grail but can't keep paying its price.
“Truly Elta is a HG, periodt, but it's literally $25, for 1.7 oz and I cannot spend that money.”
Broke out horribly on dry acne-prone skin and switched to another SPF moisturizer.
“I broke out horribly from that Elta UV Clear sunscreen a few months ago. I switched to Josie Maran”
This user is happy with untinted EltaMD UV Clear: no white cast, no breakouts, and no heavier than their moisturizer.
“I just switched to the untinted clear zinc Elta MD and am happy with it. No white cast, doesn’t break me out”
Really good and doesn't break out their acne-prone skin, but expensive.
“Elta MD clear is really good but also quite expensive. It doesn't break me out and I'm acne prone.”
Changed their life: not greasy, doesn't burn, even on the eyelids, after being unable to wear sunscreen.
“Honestly changed my life, I couldn't wear sunscreen at all before. This one isn't greasy and doesn't burn. I even put it on my eyelids”
Excellent; they wear it under BB cream and powder.
“Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46. It’s excellent. I wear it under bb cream + powder.”
Nothing but problems with pilling and balling up, especially over moisturizer.
“I have had nothing but problems with it pilling and balling up.”
Likes many things about it, but it starts pilling halfway through applying a full 1/4 teaspoon.
“About half-way through application, the sunscreen starts to pill on parts of my face, and it's a total drag.”
Tested on neck and lower face; by day two it felt irritated with redness where applied.
“On the second day, however, it felt a bit irritated after a few hours and I noticed redness on the areas I applied the sunscreen to.”
Dried them out and felt pilly and filmy on their fair, sensitive skin.
“recently tried eltamd uv clear- it dried me out and was pilly/filmy on me.”
A fan, though the price has risen from about $20 to $33 on Amazon.
“FAN of Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46 here too ! The price has gone up so much over the last 2 years though. It's sold for $33 now on amazon”
Their holy grail and the only facial sunscreen that did not make them break out after extensive patch testing.
“HG Product: Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46. The only facial sunscreen I've ever tried that:”
The first sunscreen they actually enjoy using, applied daily.
“sunscreen and it's the first sunscreen I actually enjoy using.”
Loved how light it felt, but about a week in they had a horrible cystic breakout on their chin.
“It feels so light going on, which isn't what I'd experienced of sunscreens before. About a week after starting it, I had a horrible cystic breakout on my chin.”