EltaMD UV Sport Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 for oily acne-prone skin
Transparent Zinc Oxide
Octinoxate
Octisalate
Bees Wax
Tocopheryl AcetateHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best sunscreens for oily acne-prone skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin due to the presence of zinc oxide, which offers excellent oil control and sebum regulation, addressing your concerns with oiliness and breakouts.
- The formula provides moderate benefits for your acne and blemishes, with zinc oxide also offering anti-inflammatory properties to calm existing imperfections.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this sunscreen AM as the final step of your morning skincare routine. Reapply every two hours when exposed to the sun for continuous protection.
- Apply after your moisturizer as the last step before makeup. Do not apply anything on top of your sunscreen.
- Gently spread a coin-sized amount evenly across your face and neck. Avoid harsh rubbing to prevent disturbing the protective layer.
- Apply on completely dry skin after your moisturizer has fully absorbed. This ensures the sunscreen forms an even, protective barrier.
- Avoid direct contact with your eyes during application. Do a patch test before first use to ensure no irritation occurs.
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
What makes EltaMD UV Sport Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
EltaMD UV Sport Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because the zinc oxide in it helps control oil and calm blemishes without causing irritation. This formula has a very safe profile and is unlikely to trigger breakouts.
Which ingredients make this sunscreen a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Zinc oxide makes this sunscreen a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because it helps control excess oil and calms redness without causing irritation. It is unlikely to trigger breakouts, making it a safe choice for daily wear.
What does Zinc Oxide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Zinc oxide helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing pimples, redness, and excess oil. Studies show it has strong antibacterial properties that target acne-causing bacteria safely and effectively without causing irritation.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2025Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013
What does Octinoxate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Octinoxate provides sun protection for oily acne-prone skin without clogging pores or disrupting the natural balance of bacteria on the face. Studies show that standard sunscreens containing this ingredient are unlikely to trigger acne flare-ups.
Where does this sunscreen go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen goes as the last step of your morning skincare routine, right after your moisturizer. It is a great fit for your oily, acne-prone skin because the zinc oxide helps control oil and calm blemishes without causing irritation.
Can I use this sunscreen with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this sunscreen in the morning as the final step before makeup, always after your moisturizer and after any retinol product used the night before. This sunscreen is unlikely to cause irritation on your skin and helps protect it while you use retinol.
How often should I use this sunscreen?
Apply this sunscreen every morning as the final step in your daytime routine. Using it daily helps protect your skin from sun damage while keeping oiliness and breakouts under control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Journal of Controlled Release, 2025
Can this sunscreen clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your oily acne-prone skin. It contains zinc oxide, which helps control oil and calm existing blemishes without harsh ingredients that irritate your skin.
Is this sunscreen fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Biomimetic hyaluronic acid-stabilized zinc oxide nanoparticles selectively inhibited C. acnes, outperformed erythromycin in preclinical acne models, and safely reduced acne lesions and redness in a clinical trial.
Journal of Controlled Release, 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, 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, 2025The 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, 2024Dermatological 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, 2021Nels 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, 2019Controlled 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, 2024Dermal exposure to EHS-containing sunscreen leads to the urinary excretion of EHS as the main biomarker alongside major metabolites 5OH-EHS, 5cx-EPS, 4OH-EHS, and 5oxo-EHS, measured using an extended enzymatic hydrolysis and on-line SPE LC-MS/MS method.
Talanta, 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, 2025Topical 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, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
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
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