The EltaMD Sunscreen That May End the Trade-Off Between Clear Skin and Sun Protection

EltaMD UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50 is a lightweight, hybrid sunscreen from Colgate-Palmolive's EltaMD, designed for and tested on oily, acne-prone skin. With Zinc-AOX Pro Technology and 5% niacinamide, it's clinically proven to reduce visible blemishes by 65%.*

UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50 at a glance:

• Made for: Oily, acne-prone and combination skin
• Protection: Broad-spectrum SPF 50 from 11% zinc oxide and 3.5% octinoxate
• Key ingredients: 5% niacinamide and Zinc-AOX Pro Technology, a blend of zinc oxide and four antioxidants
• Clinical results*:
  • Reduces visible blemishes by 65%
  • Reduces excess oil and shine by 61%
  • Reduces pore size by 25%
• Skin feel: Lightweight and non-greasy, with no white cast; wears well under makeup. Non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic and fragrance-free.
• Recognition: Allure Best of Beauty 2026, Best Sunscreen for Acne

Sun protection is one of the simplest things we can do for our skin. But for people with oily, blemish-prone skin, it can feel like a trade-off: use a sunscreen that leaves their skin greasy or prone to breakouts, or give up on it completely.

EltaMD UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50 was built to end that trade-off. The sunscreen protects skin from the sun while it works to visibly reduce blemishes and oil.

Getting there took years of work. To build it, EltaMD's scientists first had to understand why so many people with blemish-prone skin skip sunscreen.

Why do people with blemish-prone skin skip sunscreen?

Many people find that traditional formulas feel heavy, add shine to oily skin or cause breakouts. And for people using acne treatments, some sunscreens can sting.

"People who have oily, acneic skin are nervous to use sunscreens," says Ewelina Lesniak, Senior Director, Skin Health R&D.

"A lot of them just tend to skip it, which is only going to exacerbate the problem," says Devon Cocuzza, Senior Principal Scientist, Research & Development.

That's because sun and pollution change the oil on our skin. "When you're exposed to the sun and to pollution, that oily substance on your face [sebum] becomes thicker, almost solid-like, so it clogs your pores," Lesniak says.

How is EltaMD UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50 different from the original UV Clear?

UV Clear is a staple from the #1 dermatologist-recommended professional sunscreen brand. It's non-comedogenic, so it's suitable for people with acne-prone skin.

With UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50, the EltaMD team wanted to go a step further: create a sunscreen specifically designed for acne-prone skin, made to visibly reduce the look of blemishes and oil.

Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50 offers a higher SPF level than UV Clear SPF 46, is non-acnegenic and protects skin with Zinc-AOX Pro Technology. 

For a more detailed comparison, see the chart at the end of this article.

What is Zinc-AOX Pro Technology?

Zinc-AOX Pro Technology is EltaMD's blend of zinc oxide and four antioxidants: carnosine, two forms of vitamin E and bisabolol. In the formula, this technology helps protect skin from five environmental stressors: UV rays, blue light, high-energy visible light (HEVL), smog and diesel exhaust.

EltaMD's sunscreens are built on zinc oxide, a mineral UV filter. UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50 reaches SPF 50 with more zinc oxide and less octinoxate, a lightweight chemical filter, so more of its protection comes from zinc. That matters for skin already irritated by breakouts or acne treatments.

Sun and pollution can change sebum in ways that clog pores. That's why the formula pairs antioxidant protection with 5% niacinamide, which together visibly reduce the look of blemishes and oil.

Does UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50 work?

In a 12-week clinical study of people with acne-prone skin, UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50 was proven to reduce visible blemishes by 65%.* It also reduced excess oil and shine by 61%* and pore size by 25%.* The sunscreen is also clinically proven to be non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic.

That study was just one part of a comprehensive R&D initiative. Early on, the team combined predictive modeling for sensory feel with in-vitro efficacy studies to validate the Zinc-AOX technology and test specific biomarkers, including gene expression related to sebum production. These rigorous early evaluations ensured only top-performing prototypes moved forward to clinical studies, consumer testing, and expert sensory panels. From there, researchers evaluated how the sunscreen performs across oily, dry, mature, and sensitive skin, how it holds up throughout the day, and how it layers under makeup.

For people who've spent years choosing between clear skin and protected skin, UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50 means one less compromise. For EltaMD, it's one more step in reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet.

Comparison of UV Clear SPF 46 and UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50

*12-week clinical study, 43 subjects

EltaMD UV Clear Blemish-Prone & Oil Balancing SPF 50 is available at EltaMD.com and through skin care professionals.