Product

EltaMD UV Daily

EltaMD's sunscreen for normal-to-dry skin. Same filters as UV Clear, but a richer, dewier base built to moisturize rather than mattify.
At a Glance
Recommended

UV Daily and UV Clear use the same two filters, zinc oxide 9% and octinoxate 7.5%. The difference is the base. UV Clear is oil-free and matte; UV Daily contains petrolatum and dimethicone, so it hydrates and finishes dewy, with hyaluronic acid added.

So the choice is simple: oily or acne-prone skin, take UV Clear; dry or mature skin, take UV Daily. The sun protection is comparable; the feel is not.

The SPF is 40 here versus 46 in UV Clear. That difference is not clinically meaningful, and both are well above the SPF 30 minimum dermatologists ask for.

Key facts

Key activeZinc oxide 9% + octinoxate 7.5% (SPF 40)
TextureLightweight but dewy lotion
Best forNormal to dry, mature, or dehydrated skin
Approximate price$37–45

How it works

UV Daily and UV Clear get confused constantly. They use the same two filters — zinc oxide 9% and octinoxate 7.5%. The difference is entirely in the base.

UV Clear is oil-free and matte. UV Daily is not — it contains petrolatum and dimethicone, so it hydrates and finishes dewy. It also carries hyaluronic acid.

So the choice is simple: oily or acne-prone skin, take UV Clear. Dry or mature skin, take UV Daily. The sun protection is comparable; the feel is not.

SPF 40 here versus 46 in UV Clear. That difference is not clinically meaningful — both are well above the SPF 30 floor dermatologists ask for.

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. White cast: This is untinted and uses some zinc oxide, so a slight cast is possible; the Deep Tinted version helps if that is a concern.
Who should be careful+

Too rich for oily skin. The dewy finish reads as shiny by midday if you run oily. That is what UV Clear is for.

Contains petrolatum, so it is not oil-free. Fine for most people, but worth knowing if you are acne-prone.

Same white cast and octinoxate notes as UV Clear. There is a Deep Tinted version of UV Daily as well if you need it.

Questions people ask+
Is this mineral or chemical?Both. It uses zinc oxide and octinoxate.
How is it different from UV Clear?Same filters, richer base. UV Daily is dewy and hydrating; UV Clear is matte and oil-free.
Is it good for oily skin?Not really. It finishes dewy. Choose UV Clear.
Is SPF 40 enough?Yes. It is well above the SPF 30 minimum.
What SPF is it?SPF 40.
Full ingredient list+

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

Inactive ingredients: water, petrolatum, isopropyl palmitate, dimethicone, cetearyl alcohol, oleth-3 phosphate, phenoxyethanol, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, polyisobutene, cetearyl glucoside, polyether-1, butylene glycol, PEG-7 trimethylolpropane coconut ether, sodium hyaluronate, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, tocopheryl acetate, triethoxycaprylylsilane

References+

1. Limited Edition UV Daily Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 40 | EltaMD (https://eltamd.com/products/uv-daily-broad-spectrum-spf-40) — Confirms UV Daily is SPF 40 with active filters Octinoxate 7.5% and Transparent Zinc Oxide 9.0%, and that its base contains sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid), petrolatum, and dimethicone for a moisturizing/dewy finish. 2. UV Clear SPF 46 Sunscreen for Acne-Prone Skin | EltaMD (https://eltamd.com/products/uv-clear-broad-spectrum-spf-46) — Confirms UV Clear uses the same two filters (Zinc Oxide 9.0%, Octinoxate 7.5%), is SPF 46, and is oil-free/marketed for acne-prone skin. 3. Sunscreen FAQs (https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/sunscreen-patients/sunscreen-faqs) — Supports the claim that SPF differences at the high end are not clinically meaningful: SPF 30 blocks about 97% of UVB and higher SPFs block only slightly more. 4. How to select a sunscreen (https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/shade-clothing-sunscreen/how-to-select-sunscreen) — Supports the SPF 30 floor claim: the American Academy of Dermatology recommends selecting a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. 5. Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun (https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/sunscreen-how-help-protect-your-skin-sun) — Supports that broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB and that SPF measures level of sunburn protection, underpinning that both products offer comparable sun protection above the recommended SPF floor.