EltaMD UV Pure Broad-Spectrum SPF 47 for dry skin
Zinc Oxide
Titanium Dioxide
Dimethicone
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Cyclopentasiloxane
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few sunscreens fit it even 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 due to the presence of dimethicone and cyclopentasiloxane, which provide emollient and occlusive actions to reduce water loss and smooth intercellular lipids.
- Offers excellent broad-spectrum UV protection with high concentrations of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, while Ascorbyl Palmitate provides antioxidant benefits.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsA significant drawback is its thick texture, which often results in a noticeable white cast and a shiny appearance, making it less ideal for daily cosmetic use but effective for outdoor activities.
Highlights
Leaves white cast Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves a chalky coating”
- “Looking pasty and dull”
- “Holey moley... white cast”
Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
- “Best sunscreen for sensitive skin”
- “Doesn't irritate or burn”
Heavy greasy texture Often Mentioned
- “Distinctively waxy-feeling”
- “Leaves a shiny finish”
- “Heavy and sticky”
Effective physical protection Sometimes Noted
- “Good physical sunscreen”
- “Protects well against sun damage”
- “High zinc content protection”
No eye sting Sometimes Noted
- “Doesn't burn my eyes”
- “Safe for eyelids”
- “Great for kids, no tears”
Water resistant Sometimes Noted
- “Great sunscreen for the pool”
- “Waterproof and sweatproof”
- “Stays on during outdoor activities”
Difficult to blend Sometimes Noted
- “Takes work to play well with hair”
- “Hard to rub in completely”
- “Clings to stubble/brows”
Hard to remove Rarely Noted
- “Need to scrub to get it off”
- “Stays on skin stubbornly”
- “Hard to wash off hands”
Sources: lovi.care, eltamd.com, lovelyskin.com, walmart.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes EltaMD UV Pure a great fit for dry skin?
EltaMD UV Pure is a great fit for dry skin because it contains dimethicone and cyclopentasiloxane, which help lock in moisture and smooth the skin. It also provides reliable sun protection using zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, along with antioxidant benefits from ascorbyl palmitate.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry skin?
Dimethicone and cyclopentasiloxane make this cream a great fit for your dry skin because they lock in moisture and smooth the skin. They help reduce water loss throughout the day while keeping the safety profile excellent with no irritation.
What does Zinc Oxide do for dry skin?
Zinc oxide is unlikely to help dry skin on its own, because repeated use of this ingredient may increase water loss and lead to a scaly appearance. A product for dry skin needs extra ingredients that lock in moisture and soothe the skin.
What does Titanium Dioxide do for dry skin?
Titanium dioxide sits on top of dry skin to block UV rays without sinking in or clogging pores. A product of this type needs rich, moisturizing ingredients like shea butter to keep dry skin soft and comfortable.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2000Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2001
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cream goes in the morning routine as the final step after your moisturizer. It is a great fit because dimethicone and cyclopentasiloxane help lock in moisture and smooth your skin while protecting it from the sun.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream in the morning after applying your retinol treatment to protect your skin and keep it smooth. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.
How often should I use this cream?
Apply this sunscreen every morning as the final step in your daytime routine. It helps protect your dry skin from UV rays while keeping moisture locked in, with a very low risk of irritation.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This sunscreen is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin. It contains gentle ingredients like dimethicone and cyclopentasiloxane that help keep skin smooth and protected without causing irritation.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Microfine titanium dioxide does not penetrate human skin when formulated in an oil-in-water emulsion with the pigment dispersed in the aqueous phase, compared to oily dispersions and liposomal encapsulation which allow deeper skin penetration.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2000Cyclomethicone and specific chain length cyclic siloxanes (n = 4-7) are safe in present practices of use and concentration, showing minimal percutaneous absorption, no skin irritation or sensitization, and unlikely significant systemic exposure from cosmetics.
International Journal of Toxicology, 2011Topical 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 microsized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with nanoparticles in sunscreens eliminates opaqueness and alters UV protection balance while inducing (photo)cyto- and genotoxicity and penetrating viable skin layers during long-term exposures.
Nanotechnology, Science and Applications, 2011Microfine zinc oxide and titanium dioxide do not penetrate the stratum corneum of porcine skin in vitro, indicating that their use in sunscreens does not pose a health risk from internal exposure.
Toxicology in Vitro, 2006Hyaluronic acid-grafted titanium dioxide nanoparticles increased SPF from 13.3 to 19.1 while demonstrating low photocatalytic activity, exceptional thermal stability with >95% SPF retention, enhanced moisturization with >80% hydration retention, and minimal cytotoxicity with 88.5% cell viability in HaCaT keratinocytes compared to unmodified nanoparticles.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007Externally applied substances such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, licorice extracts, dimethicone, petrolatum, and paraffin wax treat skin disease resulting from damage to the skin barrier.
Clinics in Dermatology, 2012Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Lauryl Peg-9 Polymethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone Peg-10 15 Crosspolymer, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Silica
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.