EltaMD UV Clear and UV Daily are the two face sunscreens most people are choosing between, and the confusion is understandable: they use the same two filters at the same percentages. The difference is everything around the filters. UV Clear SPF 46 is oil-free and built around niacinamide for skin that gets congested or flushes easily. UV Daily SPF 40 is a moisturizing sunscreen built around hyaluronic acid for skin that runs normal to dry. Both come plain or tinted. This guide puts the four tubes side by side so you can pick in a few minutes.
Quick answers
- What is the difference between EltaMD UV Clear and UV Daily?
- Both use 9 percent zinc oxide and 7.5 percent octinoxate. UV Clear SPF 46 ($85) is oil-free, lightweight and formulated with 5 percent niacinamide, so it suits oily, breakout-prone or redness-prone skin. UV Daily SPF 40 ($83) is a moisturizing lotion with hyaluronic acid, so it suits normal, dry and combination skin.
- Which EltaMD sunscreen is best for acne-prone skin?
- UV Clear SPF 46. EltaMD describes it as oil-free, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic, and the niacinamide is included to help visibly even skin tone and the look of blemishes.
- Which one is more moisturizing?
- UV Daily SPF 40. Its base includes petrolatum, dimethicone and hyaluronic acid, so it behaves like a light day moisturizer with SPF built in. On dry skin it can replace a separate morning moisturizer.
- Are UV Clear and UV Daily mineral sunscreens?
- They are hybrids. Each pairs a mineral filter (zinc oxide) with one chemical filter (octinoxate). If you want a mineral-only EltaMD, that is UV Physical SPF 41.
- Should I get the tinted or untinted version?
- Tinted if you want a sheer wash of colour with no foundation, or if you prefer no chance of a pale cast. Untinted if you wear foundation over it, or share the tube with someone of a different skin tone. The protection is the same either way.
- Are they water resistant?
- No. Neither UV Clear nor UV Daily carries a water-resistance rating. For sweat or swimming, EltaMD's water-resistant face option is UV Physical SPF 41 (40 minutes).
UV Clear and UV Daily at a glance
Start with the table. If one row already sounds like your skin, skip to that product below.
| Product | Filters | Key ingredient | Feel | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV Clear SPF 46 | 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate | 5 percent niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, vitamin E | Oil-free, lightweight, dries down clean | Oily, combination, breakout-prone or redness-prone skin | $85, 48 g |
| UV Clear Tinted SPF 46 | 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate | Same as UV Clear, plus iron oxides for a sheer tint | Oil-free, lightweight, light wash of colour | The same skin as UV Clear, worn without foundation | $88, 48 g |
| UV Daily SPF 40 | 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate | Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, petrolatum and dimethicone base | Moisturizing lotion, satin finish | Normal, dry and combination skin, anyone who skips moisturizer | $83, 48 g |
| UV Daily Tinted SPF 40 | 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate | Same as UV Daily, plus iron oxides for a sheer tint | Moisturizing lotion, light wash of colour | The same skin as UV Daily, worn without foundation | $83, 48 g |
What the two have in common
It helps to be clear about what is not different, because it is most of the formula.
The filters are identical. UV Clear and UV Daily each use 9 percent transparent zinc oxide, a mineral filter, together with 7.5 percent octinoxate, a chemical UVB filter. EltaMD uses this pairing because micronized zinc oxide covers UVA and UVB without the heavy white cast of older mineral formulas, and the octinoxate tops up the UVB side. The SPF numbers differ slightly (46 versus 40), but both are broad-spectrum and both sit comfortably above the SPF 30 minimum most dermatologists suggest for daily wear.
Both are fragrance-free, paraben-free and non-comedogenic by EltaMD's description, and both are sold in Canada in the same 48 g tube. Both contain hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Neither is rated water resistant, which matters if you sweat through a lunchtime walk or swim; for that, see the FAQ below.
Both come tinted. The tinted versions add iron oxides, the same pigments used in mineral makeup, for a sheer, universal wash of colour. Nothing else in the formula changes.
So the choice comes down to the base the filters sit in, and that is where the two products go in opposite directions.
UV Clear SPF 46, explained
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
- Filters 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate
- Key ingredients 5 percent niacinamide (vitamin B3), sodium hyaluronate, lactic acid, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E)
- Feel Oil-free, lightweight, dries to a clean, slightly matte finish
- Water resistance Not rated
- Size and price 48 g, $85
This is the EltaMD most people have heard of, and the reason is the niacinamide. At 5 percent it is a meaningful dose, the same level found in dedicated niacinamide serums, and EltaMD includes it to help visibly even skin tone and reduce the look of blemishes and redness over time. The base is oil-free with no heavy emollients, so it disappears on oily or combination skin and layers under makeup without pilling. EltaMD positions it for skin prone to breakouts and rosacea-type flushing, and it is the one we would hand to anyone who has given up on sunscreen because everything felt greasy. Shop UV Clear SPF 46
Two things to know before you buy it. First, on genuinely dry skin UV Clear can feel tight by mid-afternoon, because there is very little moisturizer in it; pair it with a hydrating serum or a light moisturizer underneath. Second, the lactic acid is there as a pH adjuster and minor conditioning agent, not as an exfoliant, so it will not make the formula sting on healthy skin.
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, lightweight, a light universal tint
- Water resistance Not rated
- Size and price 48 g, $88
The same formula with iron oxides added. The tint is sheer and warm, designed to blend across a wide range of skin tones rather than to match one, and it takes the edge off the faint pale cast that zinc oxide can leave on deeper skin. Iron oxides also absorb some visible light, which is one reason tinted sunscreens are often suggested for skin prone to dark marks. If you wear UV Clear on its own with no foundation, this is the version to choose. Shop UV Clear Tinted SPF 46
UV Daily SPF 40, explained
EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40
- Filters 9 percent zinc oxide, 7.5 percent octinoxate
- Key ingredients Sodium hyaluronate, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), in a petrolatum and dimethicone base
- Feel Moisturizing lotion, satin finish, no powderiness
- Water resistance Not rated
- Size and price 48 g, $83
UV Daily is the sunscreen for people who do not want two steps. The base is a proper moisturizing lotion, with petrolatum and dimethicone to hold water in and hyaluronic acid to draw it in, so on normal, dry or combination skin it can stand in for a morning moisturizer. EltaMD describes the hyaluronic acid as helping skin feel smoother and softer and helping reduce the appearance of fine lines, which is a cosmetic, hydration-driven effect you notice the same day. It glides on, absorbs within a minute and sits well under makeup. Shop UV Daily SPF 40
If your skin is oily, UV Daily will probably feel like too much by lunchtime, and that is the whole reason UV Clear exists. If your skin is dry, flaky in winter, or tight after cleansing, UV Daily is the better of the two by a wide margin.
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, a light universal tint
- Water resistance Not rated
- Size and price 48 g, $83
UV Daily with iron oxides. Same moisturizing base, same hyaluronic acid, with a sheer tint that evens the look of skin without the coverage of a foundation. It is the simplest possible morning for dry skin: cleanse, apply this, done. EltaMD also positions UV Daily Tinted for skin after a procedure, where a little tint is welcome and a bare formula matters; for that use, follow your clinic's timing on when sunscreen can go back on. Shop UV Daily Tinted SPF 40
Tinted or untinted
The tint question comes up on almost every order, so here is the short version.
- Choose tinted if you wear sunscreen as your only face product, if you have ever noticed a greyish or pale cast from a mineral sunscreen, or if you have dark marks you would like to look more even through the day. The iron oxides are sheer; nobody will mistake it for makeup.
- Choose untinted if you apply foundation or a tinted moisturizer on top, if you share the tube with a partner or teenager of a different skin tone, or if you prefer an invisible finish on the neck and ears, where tint can look obvious against untinted skin.
- The protection is identical. The tint changes the look, not the SPF.
Which one for your skin
| If your skin is | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Oily or shiny by midday | UV Clear SPF 46 | Oil-free base with no emollients, dries down clean, nothing to add to the shine. |
| Breakout-prone or congested | UV Clear SPF 46 | Non-comedogenic by EltaMD's description, with 5 percent niacinamide to help visibly even tone and the look of marks. |
| Flushes easily, redness-prone | UV Clear SPF 46 or UV Clear Tinted | Fragrance-free, light base; the tinted version visually softens redness as well. |
| Normal to combination | Either, depending on moisturizer habit | If you always use a moisturizer first, UV Clear; if you want one step, UV Daily. |
| Dry, tight or flaky | UV Daily SPF 40 | Moisturizing base with hyaluronic acid and petrolatum, replaces a day cream. |
| On retinol or a strong routine | UV Daily SPF 40 | Skin on retinol is often drier and more reactive in the morning; a cushioning SPF is more comfortable. |
| Dark marks, uneven tone | A tinted version | Iron oxides absorb some visible light and give immediate evening; UV Clear Tinted adds niacinamide for the longer game. |
| Sweaty commute or workouts | Neither, see UV Physical | Neither is water resistant. UV Physical SPF 41 is rated for 40 minutes. |
Still torn? Ask one question: do you apply a moisturizer every morning without fail? If yes, UV Clear, because UV Daily will be doing a job you have already done. If no, UV Daily, because it does that job for you. Most people who buy the wrong one bought UV Clear for dry skin on reputation alone.
How to use it in a morning routine
Sunscreen is always the last skincare step and the first thing on before makeup. Whichever EltaMD you choose, the order is the same.
- Cleanse. A gentle cleanser is enough in the morning; you are removing overnight product, not a day of wear.
- Vitamin C or your morning serum. If you use one, apply it now and let it absorb for a minute. See our simple morning routine for the full sequence.
- Moisturizer, if your sunscreen is UV Clear. Skip this step with UV Daily unless your skin is very dry.
- Sunscreen, a generous amount. For the face alone, about a quarter teaspoon, or two full finger lengths squeezed along the index and middle fingers. Include the ears, hairline and the front of the neck. Give it a minute to settle before makeup.
- Reapply every two hours in direct sun, and after sweating or towelling. On an indoor office day a single morning application is the realistic minimum; a powder or stick SPF over makeup is the easiest top-up.
If you also use a retinol at night, a daily SPF is not optional. Here is why SPF outranks every other step, including through a Canadian winter.
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Shop EltaMDFrequently asked questions
Is EltaMD UV Clear better than UV Daily?
Neither is better; they are built for different skin. UV Clear SPF 46 is oil-free with niacinamide for oily, breakout-prone or redness-prone skin. UV Daily SPF 40 is a moisturizing lotion with hyaluronic acid for normal to dry skin. The filters and percentages are identical.
Can I use EltaMD UV Clear if I have dry skin?
You can, but layer a moisturizer underneath, because UV Clear has an oil-free base with little emollient in it. If you would rather use one product, UV Daily SPF 40 is the better fit for dry skin.
Does UV Clear leave a white cast?
Rarely. The zinc oxide is micronized and the formula is sheer, so on light to medium skin it disappears. On deeper skin tones a faint pale cast is possible with the untinted version, which is exactly what UV Clear Tinted is for.
Is EltaMD UV Clear safe to use under makeup?
Yes. It dries down clean and sits well under foundation. Give it about a minute to set before you apply makeup so it does not pill.
Which EltaMD should I use after a procedure?
EltaMD positions UV Daily Tinted and UV Physical SPF 41 for skin after a procedure. Follow your clinic's instructions on when sunscreen can go back on, and choose a bare, fragrance-free formula. Our post-procedure guide covers the wider routine.
Do UV Clear and UV Daily contain oxybenzone or avobenzone?
No. The only chemical filter in either is octinoxate (7.5 percent), paired with 9 percent zinc oxide. There is no oxybenzone, avobenzone or octocrylene.
How long does a 48 g tube last?
Used properly on the face alone, about a quarter teaspoon a day, a 48 g tube lasts roughly six to eight weeks. If you are getting four months out of one, you are under-applying and not getting the labelled SPF.
Can I buy EltaMD in Canada?
Yes. EltaMD is sold in Canada through authorized retailers and clinics. We are an authorized Canadian retailer, we ship from Canada in Canadian dollars, and orders over $99 ship free. Note that the Canadian range and product names differ slightly from the US line-up.
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.