Expert consulted: 
Sunscreen is the one skincare product I absolutely can’t leave the house without. I’m constantly on the lookout for sunscreen brands that aren’t sticky, greasy, or irritating (and ones that don’t have off-putting smells).
A few months back, I mentioned my quest to Danusia Wnek, the senior chemist in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Beauty & Personal Care Lab. She mentioned that she loved the facial sunscreen from EltaMD—and when she tells me her favorites, I listen. (It’s also a brand that’s been recommended to me by dermatologists.)
Five months later, I’m obsessed with the EltaMD sunscreen.
EltaMD has options for almost every skin type, and if you have sensitive skin that’s prone to breakouts, Wnek recommends the UV Clear sunscreen. “There are a few products I purchase time and time again, and EltaMD UV Clear Sunscreen is one of them,” says Wnek. “Unlike many other facial sunscreens I have tried in the past, this sunscreen has such an elegant cream-like texture, and it doesn’t irritate my temperamental acne-prone skin.”
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Sunscreen
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Sunscreen
| SPF | 46 |
| Active Ingredients | Zinc Oxide, Niacinamide |
| Water Resistant | No |
If you, like me, experience constant redness on your cheeks, the green-tint sunscreen is the way to go. I like this so much that I use it often instead of a green-tint primer under my makeup, because the fewer products I have to use, the better. I have also worn this on days when I want to go without makeup entirely, but don’t want to feel self-conscious about my red cheeks, forehead, and chest.
EltaMD UV Skin Recovery Red Color Correcting Green Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50
EltaMD UV Skin Recovery Red Color Correcting Green Tint Broad Spectrum SPF 50
| SPF | 50 |
| Active Ingredients | Zinc Oxide |
| Water Resistant | No |
It provides SPF 50 protection, leaves my skin feeling smooth, and is fragrance-free. I used it the other day at the beach, and my friend commented on how nice and glowy my skin looked within minutes of application. A few drops of the product are enough to give me full coverage for up to two hours.
As someone on a budget, I also appreciate that a little goes a long way. This small-but-pricey bottle feels like an indulgence, but it lasted me all summer long. Plus, I wore it to multiple baseball games and even the U.S. Open and didn’t get a sunburn on my cheeks, so this felt like a quality investment that I will continue to buy over and over again.
If you have different skin concerns, EltaMD has a variety of products for various dermatological needs. And they’re available at Amazon, so you can conveniently get them shipped to you.
Danusia (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty and Personal Care Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and a M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. Danusia has over 15 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and performance testing. The number one skincare rule she lives by: never go to bed with makeup on.
