EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Face Sunscreen

Elta MD is a dermatologist-recommended mineral sunscreen brand offering lightweight, tinted and clear formulas that provide broad-spectrum protection while improving skin texture and blending invisibly.

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Rankings by Sentiment Analysis

Reddit Rank

Total Upvotes

236

Editorial Summary: Elta MD sunscreens are a fan fave for good reason: they blend nicely, work well for sensitive skin, and come in tinted options that don’t scream sunscreen. But heads up, some people get dryness or pilling if you layer wrong, and it’s kinda pricey. Overall, solid pick if you want reliable sun protection that feels good and looks natural.

Pros

✓Wide range of formulations including tinted and clear options
✓Generally lightweight and blends well with no white cast
✓Contains beneficial ingredients like niacinamide for skin improvement
✓Suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin, non-comedogenic
✓Good for dry to normal skin types, hydrating and matte finishes available

Cons

✗Can pill or flake when layered with certain products
✗May cause dryness or irritation for some users
✗Some report it feels greasy or oily on the skin
✗Pricey compared to other sunscreens
✗Not suitable for all skin tones; some experience white cast or poor blending

Methodology: Analyzed 48 Reddit comments from skincare-focused subreddits between June 2015 and June 2025, synthesizing frequent themes regarding Elta MD sunscreen’s performance, skin compatibility, and user experience.

Asked by Redditors

Does Elta MD SPF tinted moisturizer leave a white cast?

Most users report minimal to no white cast, especially when properly blended, but some with darker skin tones notice slight visibility.

Is Elta MD suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin?

Yes, it is generally non-comedogenic and suitable for sensitive skin; some users found it helpful for melasma and acne.

Can Elta MD be used under makeup?

Yes, but some users experience pilling or flaking when layered with certain gels or makeup, so blending technique matters.

Does Elta MD dry out the skin?

Some users with dry skin report dryness and recommend moisturizing underneath, while others find it hydrating.

Is Elta MD worth the price?

Many users find the price justified due to its effectiveness and skin benefits, though some find it expensive.

Reddit Reviews:

Calculated by the the number of posts or comments that have an opinion on this product

Positive

Neutral

Negative

Me: splash of water, Elta MD spf50 tinted moisturizer. I also slap on eyebrows so as not to scare small children.

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 61

Elta MD clear. It's a little pricey but I have tried every sunscreen on the market and always go back to this. Now have it on amazon auto delivery for the discount!

u/TheAnimasSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 25

Elta MD tinted SPF!

u/Upset-Love-6346Sentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 25

Thank you for your service lol. My complexion is several shades darker than yours and I could only wear this under a full face of makeup. Hero mineral suncreen is great though! Elta MD has a tinted one that is close to your complexion as well

u/you_break_you_buySentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 23

I saw you wanted to try Elta MD. In my experience it pills like CRAZY, even on bare skin!

u/givenchysisterSentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 17

Tie between eltaMD UV sport broad spectrum SPF 50 and ZBlock broad spectrum SPF 30+. The EltaMD is great for exercizing. It's fairly light in texture (especially considering the 9% of Zinc oxide in it!!!) and it doesn't budge. It does leave me feeling a bit greasy, but that's ok for working out. The ZBlock is also perfect for heavy duty workouts. It's thicker and gives me more of a white cast than the EltaMD, but it's not greasy at all. It doesn't move and it doesn't sting (this is the one I trust the most for water sports and have been using it for a while now). Love both products! Use them both on the face and neck.

u/OPSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 16

My holy grail is Elta MD 46 Clear. It’s weightless, matte, and like the name says, clear.

u/DamnGoodMarmaladeSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 14

That specific Elta MD is fantastic! I’ve been using it for years. No visible residue, it doesn’t feel like sunscreen at all, and I swear it has improved my skin.

u/Odd_Seesaw_3451Sentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 13

I tried this and the white cast was only noticeable on me a little bit (I’m very pale), but it flaked weirdly at my hairline and around my eyebrows. It looked really bad, so I’ve decided I’ll just use it on my body until it’s gone, and I won’t buy it again. I’ll stick with the invisible gel, my favorite sunscreen of all time.

u/Jess1rSentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 11

I love it. It blends on with no cast for me.

u/False-Shower-6238Sentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 10

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