EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 Oil-Free Face Sunscreen, 1.7 oz

EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46 is an oil-free, fragrance-free face sunscreen made for sensitive and acne-prone skin. It's the EltaMD most people know, and plenty of dermatologists recommend it. It is also not a mineral-only sunscreen, which matters if you're pregnant and trying to stick to mineral filters.

What's in it

The active ingredients are 9% zinc oxide, a mineral filter, and 7.5% octinoxate, a chemical filter. The formula also has niacinamide, which helps calm redness, and hyaluronic acid. It goes on sheer, without the white cast that pure zinc formulas often leave.

Is EltaMD UV Clear pregnancy safe?

The American Academy of Dermatology suggests a mineral sunscreen in pregnancy, meaning zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or both. Those two are also the only filters the FDA proposes to recognize as safe and effective. For octinoxate, the FDA says it needs more data, and it's careful to add that this doesn't mean octinoxate is unsafe.

So if you've been wearing UV Clear, there's no reason to panic. But if you'd rather stay mineral-only while pregnant, EltaMD UV Physical SPF 41 is the one to choose. It uses zinc oxide and titanium dioxide alone, with a sheer tint.

Whichever you pick, wear it every day. Melasma is driven by pregnancy hormones and triggered by sun, and daily sunscreen does more to prevent it than any cream.

Why women love it

• Oil-free: a light finish that suits acne-prone and combination skin
• Niacinamide: helps with redness and sensitive skin
• Fragrance-free: helpful if pregnancy has made you sensitive to scent
• No white cast: sheer enough to wear alone or under makeup
• 1.7 oz pump: small enough for a purse or diaper bag

Best for

• Acne-prone or sensitive skin that breaks out under heavier sunscreens
• Daily wear under makeup
• Postpartum and everyday use, or in pregnancy if you're comfortable with a hybrid formula
• Not the pick if you want mineral-only in pregnancy. Choose EltaMD UV Physical SPF 41 instead

Comparing options? Our guide to pregnancy-safe sunscreen covers five mineral sunscreens for face and body, including tinted ones for melasma.

Mindy's guide to pregnancy-safe skin care products walks through a five-step routine and compares both EltaMD sunscreens. For more, browse our pregnancy-safe skincare collection.