Product

EltaMD UV Clear Tinted

The same formula as EltaMD UV Clear, with iron oxides added for a sheer tint. The tint cancels the white cast — up to a point.

At a Glance

Recommended

This is the same zinc-and-octinoxate formula as UV Clear, with iron oxides added. The tint does two jobs: it cancels the white cast that zinc oxide leaves, and it evens out redness, which helps if you are using this for rosacea.

There is a bonus many people miss. Iron oxides block visible light, not just UV, and visible light drives melasma and post-inflammatory dark marks. So a tinted sunscreen genuinely protects against something the untinted version does not.

It also includes 5% niacinamide in an oil-free base, which suits acne-prone skin. If you were going to wear a light layer of makeup anyway, this can replace it.

Key facts

Key active	Zinc oxide 9% + octinoxate 7.5% (SPF 46)
Texture	Lightweight, tinted lotion; matte finish
Best for	Oily, acne-prone, or rosacea-prone skin that wants light coverage
Approximate price	$41–45

How it works

This is UV Clear with iron oxides mixed in. Same zinc-and-octinoxate hybrid, same 5% niacinamide, same oil-free base.

The tint does two jobs. It cancels the white cast that zinc oxide leaves, and it evens out redness — useful if you are using this for rosacea in the first place.

There is a bonus most people do not know about: iron oxides block visible light, not just UV. Visible light drives melasma and post-inflammatory dark marks. A tinted sunscreen genuinely protects against something the untinted version does not.

If you were going to put on a light layer of makeup anyway, this replaces it.

Everyday habits

How to use it

When: Every morning, as the last step in your skincare.How much: About 1/4 teaspoon for the face. Most people use too little. Where: Face, ears, neck, and hairline. Reapply: Every 2 hours outdoors, and after sweating or swimming. Shade note: This is a sheer-tinted formula. The standard tint suits light through medium-deep skin; for deeper tones, use UV Clear Deep Tinted.

Who should be careful+

One tint is not one tint for everyone. EltaMD scopes this shade to light through medium-deep skin. For deep skin tones it will read ashy or too light.

For deep skin, use UV Clear Deep Tinted instead — a separate product, made for exactly this problem. Do not settle for the standard tint and hope.

The tint is sheer, not coverage. It will not hide a blemish. Set expectations accordingly.

Same octinoxate note as the untinted version, and the same $45-ish price.

Questions people ask+

Is this mineral or chemical?Both. It uses zinc oxide and octinoxate.

Does the tint match deep skin?The standard tint goes to medium-deep. Deeper tones should use UV Clear Deep Tinted.

Does it help with melasma?Yes. The iron oxides block visible light, which drives melasma.

Is it good for acne-prone skin?Yes. It is oil-free with niacinamide.

What SPF is it?SPF 46.

Full ingredient list+

Active ingredients: Zinc Oxide 9.0% Sunscreen Octinoxate 7.5% Sunscreen

Inactive ingredients: purified water, cyclopentasiloxane, nicacinamide, octyldodecyl neopentanoate, butylene glycol, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, polyisobutene, PEG-7 trimethylolpropane coconut ether, sodium hyaluronate, tocopheryl acetate, lactic acid, oleth-3 phosphate, phenoxyethanol, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, isopropyl palmitate, octyl stearate, iron oxides, triethoxycaprylylsilane KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN Labeling 02520A UV Clear Tinted New Artwork

References+

1. Photoprotection against visible light-induced pigmentation (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30428143/) — Confirms that visible light induces skin pigmentation (especially in darker skin) and that iron oxide pigment protects against visible-light-induced pigmentation, backing the claim that iron oxides block visible light and add protection the untinted version lacks. 2. Near-visible light and UV photoprotection in the treatment of melasma: a double-blind randomized trial (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24313385/) — Randomized trial showing an iron-oxide sunscreen that also blocks visible light improved melasma more than a UV-only sunscreen, backing the claim that a tinted sunscreen protects against visible light that drives melasma and outperforms an untinted version. 3. Melasma: Diagnosis and treatment (American Academy of Dermatology) (https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/melasma-treatment) — AAD guidance that sunlight darkens melasma and that dermatologists recommend tinted sunscreens containing iron oxide and zinc oxide, supporting the use of a tinted sunscreen for rosacea/melasma and the white-cast/redness rationale for the tint.