SPF Scout · Product record
EltaMD EltaMD UV SPF35
SPF 35 as labeled
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.
22 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.
Octinoxate
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 acts as a light stabilizer, helping the formula hold up when exposed to sunlight. You'll often see it listed as Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate.
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.
Petrolatum
Antistatic (reduces static)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)A semi-solid blend of hydrocarbons that softens and smooths skin and reduces static. It keeps skin feeling supple. You may see it on labels as petroleum jelly.
Isopropyl Palmitate
Binder (holds the formula together)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Fragrance ingredient (scent)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)An emollient that softens and smooths skin feel while helping hold the formula together. It also can carry fragrance and lends a smooth, spreadable texture.
An oil-like ingredient that softens and smooths the skin feel. It leaves a light, spreadable finish on the skin.
Dimethicone
Antifoaming (stops the formula foaming)Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Skin protecting (CosIng functional class)A silicone that softens and smooths skin feel and forms a protective layer on the surface. It also cuts down foam during production, keeping the formula settled.
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative (inhibits microbial growth)This is a preservative that fights microbes. It helps keep the product from spoiling over time.
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Glyceryl Stearate is an emollient that softens and smooths skin feel. It also acts as an emulsifier, keeping the oil and water parts blended together.
PEG-100 Stearate
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)A cleansing surfactant, meaning it helps lift away oil and dirt. It's often paired with other emulsifiers in creams.
Oleth-3 Phosphate
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Oleth-3 Phosphate is a cleansing agent that helps lift away oil and dirt. In practice it lets the product rinse or wipe residue off the skin.
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient (softens and smooths skin)Emulsion stabiliser (keeps oil and water mixed)Foam boosting (increases foam from other ingredients)Opacifier (makes the formula less see-through)Skin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A workhorse ingredient that softens skin feel, adjusts thickness, helps oil and water mix, and keeps the blend stable. In practice it thickens the product, keeps it from separating, gives a smooth feel, and can make the product look opaque. Despite its name, it behaves like a waxy solid, not a drying alcohol.
Cetearyl Glucoside
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)A cleansing agent that also helps oil and water mix. It keeps the watery and oily parts of the product blended together and helps lift away dirt.
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.
Polyisobutene
Binder (holds the formula together)Film forming (leaves a thin coating)Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)A thickening and binding agent that also forms a film. It adjusts how thick the product is, holds the mix together, and leaves a thin coating on the skin as it dries.
Polyether-1
Viscosity control (thickens or thins the formula)Polyether-1 adjusts the thickness of the product. It helps give the formula its body and texture.
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.
Peg-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether
Surfactant (cleanses or mixes oil and water)This ingredient helps oil and water mix and can act as a cleansing agent. It keeps the oily and watery parts blended together and helps rinse away oils.
Citric Acid
Buffering (holds the formula at a set acidity)Chelating (binds metal ions in the formula)Fragrance ingredient (scent)otherCitric Acid is a mild acid used to fine-tune a formula's pH. It keeps the acidity steady (buffering), binds trace metals that would spoil the formula (chelating), and can add a scent note.
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant (slows the formula oxidising)otherSkin conditioning (CosIng functional class)Tocopheryl Acetate is a form of vitamin E that acts as an antioxidant, helping keep the formula from going off. It also conditions the skin, softening its feel.
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.
A binding ingredient that helps hold the parts of the formula together. It is often used to coat and bind powders in a mix.
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=3029d6ed-a60b-4789-a567-d09b12d76bf4
- Retrieved
- 27 July 2026
- Market
- United States
- Formulation date
- Not recorded
- Version
- v2 of this U.S. formulation
- Verification confidence
- High
- Entries recorded
- 22
- Record checksum
- sha256:6dc33e0624c8a77fdba85ef0f5418e1b764bd2fcd9e11958b362d8f9a246159f
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.
Always compare this record with your current package.