EltaMD is the sunscreen brand dermatologists' offices hand out, and in Canada it is sold through clinics and authorized retailers rather than on a pharmacy shelf. The Canadian face range is deliberately small: three formulas, two of them also in a tinted version, five tubes in all. This guide walks through each one, explains what EltaMD does differently, and gives you a short decision path so you can choose the right tube for your skin without reading five product pages.
Quick answers
- Which EltaMD sunscreens are available in Canada?
- Five face sunscreens: UV Clear SPF 46 ($85), UV Clear Tinted SPF 46 ($88), UV Daily SPF 40 ($83), UV Daily Tinted SPF 40 ($83) and UV Physical Tinted SPF 41 ($87). UV Clear and UV Daily are 48 g tubes; UV Physical is 85 g.
- Which EltaMD sunscreen is the most popular?
- UV Clear SPF 46. It is oil-free, contains 5 percent niacinamide, and suits the widest range of skin, including oily, breakout-prone and redness-prone skin.
- Which EltaMD is mineral only?
- UV Physical SPF 41, with 9 percent zinc oxide and 7 percent titanium dioxide. UV Clear and UV Daily pair zinc oxide with octinoxate, a chemical filter.
- Which EltaMD is best for dry skin?
- UV Daily SPF 40. It is a moisturizing lotion with hyaluronic acid that can replace a morning moisturizer.
- Where can I buy EltaMD in Canada?
- From dermatology and medical aesthetic clinics, and from authorized online retailers. Your Skin Solution is an authorized Canadian retailer; we ship from Canada in Canadian dollars with free shipping on orders over $99.
- Is the Canadian EltaMD range the same as the US one?
- No. The Canadian line-up is narrower and some product names, sizes and shades differ from what US websites describe. The five sunscreens in this guide are the Canadian versions.
What EltaMD is, and why clinics stock it
EltaMD is an American skincare company whose reputation rests almost entirely on sunscreen. The brand built its name in dermatology and plastic surgery offices, where staff needed a daily SPF that patients would actually keep wearing: fragrance-free, oil-free, light enough for oily skin, and bare enough for skin that had just been through a procedure. That is still the whole pitch. EltaMD does not sell a sunscreen that promises a glow or a tan; it sells formulas built around transparent zinc oxide that disappear on the skin and do not sting.
Three things define the range. Every face sunscreen uses 9 percent micronized zinc oxide as its base filter. Every one is fragrance-free, paraben-free and, by the brand's description, non-comedogenic. And each formula is aimed at a specific skin type rather than trying to be everything: oily and breakout-prone (UV Clear), normal to dry (UV Daily), sensitive and mineral-only (UV Physical). If you know your skin type, you can usually name your EltaMD before reading the back of the tube.
The Canadian range at a glance
| Product | Filters | Key feature | Tint | Water resistant | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV Clear SPF 46 | 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate | 5 percent niacinamide, oil-free | No | No | Oily, breakout-prone, redness-prone | $85, 48 g |
| UV Clear Tinted SPF 46 | 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate | As UV Clear, plus iron oxides | Sheer | No | The same skin, worn without foundation | $88, 48 g |
| UV Daily SPF 40 | 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate | Hyaluronic acid, moisturizing base | No | No | Normal, dry, combination | $83, 48 g |
| UV Daily Tinted SPF 40 | 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate | As UV Daily, plus iron oxides | Sheer | No | Dry or post-procedure skin, worn alone | $83, 48 g |
| UV Physical SPF 41 | 9 percent zinc oxide, 7 percent titanium dioxide (mineral only) | Mineral only, antioxidants, largest tube | Sheer | 40 minutes | Sensitive, post-procedure, active days | $87, 85 g |
What every EltaMD sunscreen has in common
Transparent zinc oxide, 9 percent. This is the thread through the whole range. Zinc oxide is the broadest single UV filter, covering UVB and all of UVA, and EltaMD uses a micronized grade that reads nearly clear on the skin. The brand then pairs it with a second filter to lift the SPF: octinoxate in UV Clear and UV Daily, titanium dioxide in UV Physical.
Fragrance-free, paraben-free, non-comedogenic. Every face sunscreen in the Canadian range carries all three descriptions from EltaMD. There is no scented EltaMD and no EltaMD aimed at a tan.
Broad-spectrum, SPF 40 to 46. All five sit above the SPF 30 floor most dermatologists suggest for daily wear, and all are labelled broad-spectrum. In Canada, sunscreens are regulated by Health Canada as drugs or natural health products, so the SPF on a Canadian tube has been reviewed for the Canadian market; this is one reason the Canadian range and labels do not always match what you read on US sites.
Short, legible ingredient lists. Compared with much of the category, EltaMD formulas are restrained. If a sunscreen has ever stung, pilled or clogged you, the short list makes it easier to work out why, and easier to find one that does none of those things.
The five sunscreens, one by one
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
- Filters 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate
- Key ingredients 5 percent niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
- Feel Oil-free, lightweight, clean finish
- Size and price 48 g, $85
The best known EltaMD, and the one we would suggest if you are unsure. The 5 percent niacinamide is a real dose, included to help visibly even skin tone and reduce the look of blemishes and redness over time, and the oil-free base disappears on oily and combination skin. It is the sunscreen for people who gave up on sunscreen because everything felt greasy. Dry skin should pair it with a moisturizer underneath. Shop UV Clear SPF 46
EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
- Filters 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate
- Key ingredients As UV Clear, plus iron oxides
- Feel Oil-free, light wash of colour
- Size and price 48 g, $88
Identical to UV Clear with iron oxides added for a sheer, warm tint. It evens the look of the skin without the coverage of a foundation, takes the edge off any pale cast on deeper skin tones, and the iron oxides absorb some visible light, which is why tinted sunscreens are often suggested for skin prone to dark marks. Choose this if you wear sunscreen with nothing on top. Shop UV Clear Tinted SPF 46
EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40
- Filters 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate
- Key ingredients Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, petrolatum and dimethicone base
- Feel Moisturizing lotion, satin finish
- Size and price 48 g, $83
UV Daily is for skin that runs normal to dry, and for anyone who wants their morning to be one step shorter. The base is a genuine moisturizing lotion with hyaluronic acid to draw water in and petrolatum and dimethicone to hold it, so it can replace a day cream outright. EltaMD describes the hyaluronic acid as helping skin feel smoother and helping reduce the appearance of fine lines, which is the hydration effect you notice the same day. On oily skin it will feel like too much by lunch. Shop UV Daily SPF 40
EltaMD UV Daily Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF 40
- Filters 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate
- Key ingredients As UV Daily, plus iron oxides
- Feel Moisturizing lotion, light wash of colour
- Size and price 48 g, $83
The tinted UV Daily, at the same price as the plain version. Same moisturizing base, same hyaluronic acid, with a sheer tint that evens the look of skin. EltaMD also positions this one for skin after a procedure, where a bare, fragrance-free formula with a little colour is welcome; follow your clinic's instructions on when sunscreen can go back on. Shop UV Daily Tinted SPF 40
EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum Tinted SPF 41
- Filters 9 percent zinc oxide, 7 percent titanium dioxide, mineral only
- Key ingredients Iron oxides, alpha lipoic acid, quercetin
- Feel Oil-free, semi-matte, light universal tint
- Water resistance 40 minutes
- Size and price 85 g, $87
The outlier in the range: no chemical filter, no niacinamide, no hyaluronic acid, just two mineral filters, a sheer tint and two antioxidants in an oil-free base. It is the EltaMD for sensitive skin, for the weeks after a procedure, and for anyone who sweats, because it is the only face sunscreen in the range rated water resistant. It is also the largest tube at 85 g, which makes it the best value per gram. The full UV Physical guide covers it in detail. Shop UV Physical SPF 41
How to choose in three questions
- Do you want mineral filters only? If yes, UV Physical SPF 41, and you are done. If no, or you do not mind, go to the next question.
- Is your skin oily, or dry? Oily, combination or breakout-prone skin: UV Clear SPF 46. Normal, dry or tight skin: UV Daily SPF 40. If you honestly do not know, ask whether you apply a moisturizer every morning without thinking; if you do, UV Clear, if you do not, UV Daily.
- Will you wear anything on top of it? Foundation or tinted moisturizer on top: the untinted version. Nothing on top: the tinted version. The protection is the same either way.
Two common situations. Sweaty commute, gym at lunch, or a day outdoors: UV Physical, because it is the only water-resistant option. Just had a peel, laser or microneedling: UV Physical or UV Daily Tinted, on your clinic's timing. The UV Clear vs UV Daily comparison goes deeper on the most common decision.
Tinted or untinted
Three of the five tubes are tinted, so the question comes up constantly. The tint in every EltaMD comes from iron oxides, the same pigments used in mineral makeup, in a single sheer shade designed to blend across a wide range of skin tones rather than match one. It is a wash of warmth, not coverage; it will not hide a blemish, and nobody will mistake it for foundation.
Choose tinted if you wear sunscreen as your only face product, if you have noticed a pale or grey cast from mineral sunscreens before, or if you have dark marks you would like to look more even through the day. Choose untinted if you apply foundation over it, if you share the tube, or if you want an invisible finish on the neck and chest. The SPF, the filters and the base are the same in both.
Where EltaMD sits in your routine
Sunscreen is the last skincare step in the morning and the first thing on before makeup. A typical EltaMD morning looks like this: cleanse, vitamin C or your morning serum, moisturizer if you are using UV Clear or UV Physical, then sunscreen. With UV Daily, the moisturizer step usually drops out. Use about a quarter teaspoon for the face, carry it onto the ears, hairline and neck, and give it a minute to settle before makeup. Our simple morning routine lays out the full order with amounts.
Reapply every two hours in direct sun and after sweating or towelling; on an office day, a morning application and one top-up before you leave the building is the realistic standard. If you use a retinol at night, daily SPF is the step that protects the work the retinol is doing. This is why SPF outranks every other step, including through a Canadian winter, when UV is lower but never gone and snow reflects a good share of it back at you.
EltaMD pairs well with any medical-grade routine. It is a common morning SPF for people on ZO Skin Health, SkinCeuticals, Alastin or Vivier, because it adds nothing active beyond the niacinamide in UV Clear and does not compete with the serums underneath. If you would rather stay within one brand for sunscreen, our ZO sunscreen comparison covers that range.
Buying EltaMD in Canada
EltaMD is distributed in Canada through dermatology and medical aesthetic clinics and through authorized retailers. It is not sold in drugstores. Three practical points for Canadian buyers:
- The Canadian range is its own thing. The five sunscreens above are what is sold here. Product names, tube sizes, shades and some SPF values on US websites and in US reviews can differ, so compare the Canadian tube, not the American listing.
- Ordering from the US is rarely worth it. By the time duties, brokerage and shipping are added, a US order usually costs more than the Canadian price, takes longer, and leaves you with a product labelled for a different market.
- Buy from an authorized retailer. Sunscreen degrades with heat and age, and an authorized retailer receives stock directly from the Canadian distributor. We are an authorized Canadian retailer of EltaMD. Orders ship from Canada, in Canadian dollars, with free shipping over $99 and samples in every order.
We are an authorized Canadian retailer of EltaMD. Free shipping on orders $99+, and samples with every order.
Shop EltaMDFrequently asked questions
Which EltaMD sunscreen should I buy first?
UV Clear SPF 46 if your skin is oily, combination or breakout-prone, which covers most people who ask. UV Daily SPF 40 if your skin is dry. UV Physical SPF 41 if you want mineral filters only or need water resistance.
Is EltaMD a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
Both, depending on the product. UV Physical is mineral only (zinc oxide and titanium dioxide). UV Clear and UV Daily are hybrids that pair zinc oxide with octinoxate, a chemical filter. None of the Canadian range contains oxybenzone or avobenzone.
Does EltaMD leave a white cast?
The untinted versions are sheer and read clear on light to medium skin; a faint pale cast is possible on deeper skin tones. The three tinted versions use iron oxides to offset that, which is the simplest fix.
Is EltaMD good for acne-prone skin?
UV Clear SPF 46 is the one EltaMD positions for skin prone to breakouts and rosacea-type redness. It is oil-free, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic by the brand's description, and contains 5 percent niacinamide.
Can I use EltaMD under makeup?
Yes, all five. UV Clear and UV Physical dry to a clean or semi-matte finish; UV Daily is more emollient and makes a good base for dry skin. Let any of them set for a minute before foundation.
Which EltaMD is water resistant?
Only UV Physical SPF 41, rated for 40 minutes. UV Clear and UV Daily are not rated, so reapply them as soon as you have sweated or dried off.
Why does the Canadian EltaMD differ from the US version?
Sunscreens are regulated separately in Canada by Health Canada, and EltaMD's Canadian distributor carries a narrower range. Names, sizes, shades and some labelled details differ, so a US review may not describe the tube you buy here.
Is Your Skin Solution an authorized EltaMD retailer?
Yes. We are an authorized Canadian retailer of EltaMD and receive stock through the Canadian distributor. We ship from Canada in Canadian dollars, with free shipping on orders over $99 and samples with every order.
How should I store sunscreen?
Cool and out of direct sun. A tube left in a hot car or on a sunny windowsill loses effectiveness faster. Use it within the period marked on the tube, and replace any sunscreen that has separated or changed smell.
Filter percentages, ingredient positioning and directions are as published by EltaMD. Prices are current as of 22 October 2026 and may change. Descriptions refer to visible, cosmetic change. Individual results vary. This article is general information, not medical advice. Speak with your dermatologist or skincare professional about what suits your skin, and follow your clinic's instructions for post-procedure care.