EltaMD UV Sport Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 for dry skin
Transparent Zinc Oxide
Octinoxate
Octisalate
Bees Wax
Tocopheryl AcetateAverage
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other sunscreens fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your dry skin as beeswax and hydrogenated castor oil provide emollient and occlusive actions to smooth intercellular lipids and reduce water loss.
- Offers moderate hydration for your dry or flaky skin due to the presence of these ingredients in concentrations that provide emollient benefits.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this sunscreen during your AM routine every morning. Reapply every two hours when exposed to the sun.
- Apply the sunscreen as the final step in your morning routine after your moisturizer.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Apply the sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure even protection and absorption.
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 900+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this sunscreen as a reliable option for active lifestyles, noting its ability to withstand heavy sweating and swimming without dripping into eyes. While most find it lightweight and suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin, a minority of users experience a shiny finish or white cast.
Highlights
Excellent water resistance Mostly Mentioned
- “won't drip into eyes”
- “stays on during sweat”
- “perfect for golfing in Florida sun”
- “survived a 7-day beach vacation”
No eye sting Often Mentioned
- “doesn't sting my eyes”
- “no tears when running”
- “won't rinse off into eyes”
Non-greasy and lightweight Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “doesn't feel sticky”
- “goes on smoothly”
- “lightweight feel”
Good for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “no breakouts”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “doesn't clog pores”
Greasy or shiny finish Sometimes Noted
- “looks really shiny”
- “feels a bit greasy”
- “too oily for face”
- “leaves a sheen”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “tad pricey”
- “expensive for a body sunscreen”
- “small tube for the price”
Leaves white cast Rarely Noted
- “noticeable whitish residue”
- “left a white tint”
- “ghostly cast on darker skin”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “too runny”
- “pills under makeup”
- “separation in the tube”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, walmart.com, influenster.com, people.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does EltaMD UV Sport work for dry skin?
EltaMD UV Sport works moderately well for dry skin, providing sun protection along with beeswax and hydrogenated castor oil to help smooth and reduce water loss. Vitamin E helps increase skin moisture, and its gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation. However, a product for dry skin fits better when it includes richer moisturizing ingredients and extra hydrating agents to fully soften and comfort dry areas.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010
Which ingredients make this sunscreen a good fit for dry skin?
Beeswax and hydrogenated castor oil help smooth dry skin and keep moisture locked in, while tocopheryl acetate provides added hydration. To feel even softer and smoother on dry skin, a sunscreen of this type also needs richer moisturizing oils and deep humectants.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998
What does Zinc Oxide do for dry skin?
Zinc oxide helps calm dry skin and supports a quick recovery when the skin barrier is damaged. For dry skin, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients like bisabolol and protective moisturizers to lock in hydration and prevent further dryness.
What does Octinoxate do for dry skin?
Octinoxate is a sunscreen ingredient that protects dry skin from UV rays, though it does not provide moisture itself. Since dry skin needs extra care, a product with this ingredient works best when it also includes rich hydrators like shea butter to keep your skin soft and smooth.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2013Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This product goes in the morning routine as the final step after your moisturizer. A sunscreen of this type works best for dry skin when paired with ingredients like beeswax and hydrogenated castor oil that help lock in moisture and smooth dry or flaky areas.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen in the morning after your retinol routine, or as the last step in your daytime routine. This product helps protect dry skin, but dry skin also needs extra rich moisturizers and hydrating ingredients like ceramides or hyaluronic acid when using retinol.
How often should I use it?
You can use this sunscreen every morning as the final step of your daytime routine. It has an excellent safety profile with a low likelihood of irritation, making it gentle enough for daily sun protection on dry skin.
Can this sunscreen clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This sunscreen is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts for dry skin due to a safe formula, though some people do experience a greasy or shiny finish. A sunscreen for dry skin needs rich, nourishing ingredients like natural oils and butters to lock in moisture and keep the face soft and smooth.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Detergent containing castor wax beads caused significantly lower transepidermal water loss and erythema compared with walnut shell powder while providing comparably superior cleaning to detergent alone in 30 healthy volunteers.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010Vitamin E in O/W and W/O emulsions significantly increased stratum corneum hydration and enhanced water-binding capacity, with an optimum concentration of 5%.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025Chemical sunscreens containing avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, and octisalate showed no to minimal risks of dermal irritation, sensitization, photo-allergy, and photo-irritation in human subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Topical 0.5% hyaluronic-ZnO nanogel applied twice daily reduced inflammatory-lesion counts by 58% at week four in human subjects compared to baseline without causing erythema.
Biomedicines, 2025Nels cream achieved a similar reduction in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts compared to 5% benzoyl peroxide in acne vulgaris patients, but caused significantly fewer side-effects such as peeling and dryness.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2000Topically applied coated and uncoated zinc oxide nanoparticles under flexing and massage are retained in the stratum corneum with no significant penetration into the viable epidermis and no cellular toxicity in human skin.
Nanomedicine, 2016Replacing 20% of the chemical UV filter octyl methoxycinnamate with urucum oil in solid lipid nanoparticles maintained the skin protection factor without inducing toxic responses or significant skin penetration in human volunteers.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2018Liposomal encapsulation of octyl methoxycinnamate increases its safety, skin affinity, and in vivo solar photoprotection factor while slowing its release and enhancing retention in the stratum corneum compared to a conventional formulation.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2013Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011Simulated real-life dermal sunscreen exposure in twenty human volunteers leads to the systemic bioavailability and urinary excretion of the UV filter 2-ethylhexyl salicylate and its metabolite, reaching concentration peaks at 7 to 8 hours with 70-80% of overall excretion within 24 hours.
Archives of Toxicology, 2019The application of a sunscreen formulation containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, and octocrylene does not significantly affect critical acne-related species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, refuting the induction of facial dysbiosis in men.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Controlled single dermal exposure to an EHS-containing sunscreen in three volunteers resulted in delayed systemic resorption with elimination half-lives between 6.6 and 9.7 hours, where the parent compound EHS occurred as the dominant urinary parameter.
Archives of Toxicology, 2024Topical application of a honey, olive oil, and beeswax mixture three times daily for up to 4 weeks resulted in clinical responses in 86% of patients with pityriasis versicolor, 78% with tinea cruris, and 75% with tinea corporis.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2004A prototype body cream containing bee venom, propolis, honey, beeswax, and royal jelly demonstrated stability for 90 days, high antioxidant capacity of 85.45%, lack of cytotoxicity with over 70% cell viability, and no irritation or allergic reaction in dermatological analysis, while improving skin parameters in a panel test.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022MUD1 protected human dermal fibroblasts against AAPH-induced oxidative stress by increasing cell viability, reducing oxidative damage, improving mitochondrial functionality, and enhancing wound healing capacities.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Zinc Oxide, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Bees Wax, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cetyl Peg Ppg-10 1 Dimethicone, Disodium Edta, Hexyl Laurate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Water, Sodium Chloride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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