SPF Scout · Product record

EltaMD EltaMD UV Sheer

U.S. formulation · record last retrieved 27 July 2026

What is listed

The ingredient declaration stored for this formulation, reproduced exactly as it was recorded from the source below.

Zinc Oxide, Octocrylene, water, butyloctyl salicylate, coco-caprylate/caprate, isohexadecane, butylene glycol, isododecane, phenoxyethanol, polyhydroxystearic acid, triethoxycaprylylsilane, polyacrylate crosspolymer-6, acacia Senegal gum, polysilicone-11, xanthan gum, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, ethylhexylglycerin, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, squalene, disodium EDTA, polysorbate 60, sodium hyaluronate, sodium hydroxide

23 entries · the stored declaration is recorded as complete.

What each ingredient generally does

Each entry that matched a canonical ingredient, with the function recorded for it. These notes describe the role an ingredient plays in a formulation. They do not assess an ingredient.

  • Zinc Oxide

    Bulking agent (adds volume)Colorant (adds colour)Light stabiliser (protects the formula from light)Oral care (CosIng functional class)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)UV filter (filters UV rays)

    A mineral UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet light, the core sun-protection job in this product. It also helps protect the skin surface and can add whiteness or opacity. On some labels it appears as CI 77947 when used for colour.

  • Octocrylene

    Light stabiliser (protects the formula from light)UV absorber (protects the formula from light, not a sunscreen filter)UV filter (filters UV rays)

    An organic UV filter that absorbs ultraviolet light. It also serves as a light stabilizer, helping keep other filters and the formula intact under sunlight.

  • Water

    Antiplaque (CosIng functional class)otherSkin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)

    The base liquid that most of the other ingredients dissolve or spread into. It carries the formula and helps condition the skin surface.

  • Butyloctyl Salicylate

    Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)

    A liquid that conditions skin and hair and acts as a solvent. It softens skin feel and helps dissolve and spread other ingredients in the mix.

  • Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

    Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)

    Coco-Caprylate/Caprate is an emollient that softens and smooths skin feel and conditions the skin. It gives the product a light, easy-spreading feel.

  • Isohexadecane

    Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)

    A light oil-like ingredient that works as a solvent, keeping other ingredients dissolved and mixed. It also softens and smooths skin feel, helping the product glide on.

  • Butylene Glycol

    Fragrance ingredient (scent)Humectant (holds moisture)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    A multitasking liquid that acts as a humectant, solvent, and thickness adjuster, and carries a scent role. It draws in and holds moisture, dissolves other ingredients, and helps set the product's texture.

  • Isododecane

    Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)

    A light fluid that acts as a solvent, keeping other ingredients dissolved and evenly blended. It also softens skin feel and can carry fragrance. It leaves a quick, non-heavy finish as it spreads.

  • Phenoxyethanol

    Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)

    This is a preservative that fights microbes. It helps keep the product from spoiling over time.

  • Polyhydroxystearic Acid

    Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)

    This is an emulsifier that helps oil and water mix. It keeps the oily and watery parts blended so the formula holds together.

  • Triethoxycaprylylsilane

    Binder (holds the formula together)other

    A binding ingredient that helps hold the parts of the formula together. It is often used to coat and bind powders in a mix.

  • Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

    Emulsion stabiliser (keeps oil and water mixed)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    This is a gel-like polymer that stabilizes emulsions and adjusts thickness. That means it keeps the oil and water parts from separating and helps give the product its texture and body.

  • Acacia Senegal Gum

    Film forming (leaves a thin coating)Fragrance ingredient (scent)

    A gum that forms a thin film, leaving a light coating on the skin as the product dries. It can also contribute fragrance.

  • Polysilicone-11

    Film forming (leaves a thin coating)

    This is a film former, a silicone-based ingredient. It leaves a thin, even layer on the skin as the product dries down.

  • Xanthan Gum

    Binder (holds the formula together)Emulsion stabiliser (keeps oil and water mixed)Gel forming (sets the formula into a gel)otherSkin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    A thickener that adjusts how thick the product is and forms a gel-like texture. It keeps oil and water mixed and stops the blend from separating, giving a stable, even feel.

  • Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

    Antioxidant (slows the formula oxidising)otherSkin conditioning (CosIng functional class)

    This is an antioxidant and skin-conditioning ingredient, a form of vitamin C. As an antioxidant it helps keep the formula from going off, and it softens the skin feel.

  • Ethylhexylglycerin

    Deodorant (masks or reduces odour)Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)

    A multi-tasker that conditions the skin and works as a deodorant agent. It helps improve skin feel while cutting odor.

  • Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer

    Emulsion stabiliser (keeps oil and water mixed)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    This is a copolymer used to thicken the formula and keep it stable. It adjusts thickness and helps stop the oil and water parts from separating, giving the product a consistent texture.

  • Squalene

    Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Hair conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Solvent (dissolves other ingredients)

    An emollient that softens and smooths skin, and conditions hair. It also works as a solvent, helping dissolve and carry other ingredients in the mix.

  • Disodium EDTA

    Chelating (binds metal ions in the formula)otherViscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)

    An ingredient that binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula, and helps adjust its thickness. This keeps the product stable over time.

  • Polysorbate 60

    Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)

    Polysorbate 60 helps oil and water mix into a stable, even product. It doubles as a cleansing agent that helps lift away oil and dirt.

  • Sodium Hyaluronate

    Humectant (holds moisture)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)

    A moisture-grabbing ingredient that draws in and holds water. That keeps skin conditioned and helps it feel supple. It's the salt form of hyaluronic acid.

  • Sodium Hydroxide

    Buffering (holds the formula at a set acidity)Denaturant (makes alcohol undrinkable)other

    Sodium Hydroxide is a strongly alkaline ingredient used in tiny amounts to fine-tune a formula's acidity (buffering). This keeps the product's pH steady. It can also act as a denaturant, altering another substance so it stays fit for use in cosmetics rather than being consumed.

Checking this against your own list

SPF Scout's Personal Ingredient Check runs in the app, on your device. This page cannot see a personal avoidance list. Your selections are stored on your phone and are never sent to this website — there is nowhere on our side for them to go.

In the app you choose the ingredients you already avoid, and every entry in this declaration that matches one of them is shown to you with the alias path that produced the match.

This comparison does not predict whether your skin will react.

Source quality

Source
DailyMed drug label
Source record
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=2564e811-70f5-4d00-be8e-686b55e31630
Retrieved
27 July 2026
Market
United States
Formulation date
Not recorded
Version
v2 of this U.S. formulation
Verification confidence
High
Entries recorded
23
Record checksum
sha256:414c3fcd4138f8a3edb0240cb21217e26ce372d81381c6282e81e3e0042ef516

Earlier readings of this document

We have read this product's source document twice, and kept each reading. The earlier reading is ours: a change in how we read the document, not a change the manufacturer made to the formula.

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