I went to a derm for acne in Jan 2009 and he had asked what sunscreen I was using. At that time i would occasionally use Neutrogena sunscreen (somedays i would forget). When he heard about this he recommended me the Elta MD UV shield spf 45. I found myself liking this sunscreen as the consistency made it easy to apply. I even found myself using it everyday so that is a plus (with my new found knowledge about how harmful the sun can be)! However, it does leave a white cast as it contains zinc oxide. I don't mind this because it makes my skin look even better (I have some scarring from acne).

The bad thing about this was after two months of using this i developed moderate acne. At that time I never suspected it was this sunscreen so i continued using it (Some ingredients in this sunscreen are highly clogging). 4-5 months ago i started using cleansing oils to fully remove my sunscreen and that has helped keep my face clear (along with other medications). This sunscreen isnt bad although the protection is not as good as other sunscreens. The important thing is to remove the sunscreen properly at night to make sure your skin does not get clogged from the ingredients.

I would buy this product again if I had no other sunscreen to go to. I am currently still using this but am trying other sunscreens as well.

I am writing this about the Elta MD version of this. Thankfully, I got this in a swap. It is a lightweight, soothing sunscreen. However, it leaves a strong white cast if I use the required amount (1/4 tsp/face or neck). It also kind of balls up and flakes all over. Getting it off isn't so bad, but not so easy either. It's just a meh kind of product. It'll suffice if I'm desperate, but I won't seek it out. Also this offers minimal UVA protection. I know 'cause I'm heavily freckled after using this for a few months. I'll definitely pass on this one...

bought this specifically because i just finished accutane and was about to go on a road trip and DID NOT want to burn at ANY cost. i saw this in my derms office and thought it was a good brand. silly me, i used this one day we were in the car and i BURNED horribly. i'm worried that i made my redmarks from the accutane even worse because of this horrible sunscreen. wouldnt recommend this stuff at all. i used badger spf 30 on my arms and didnt burn.

I like this, but it's not up there with my favorite sunscreens.

PROS: Stable, non-whitening, hasn't caused any skin problems, no discernible fragrance. Contains no oxybenzone or avobenzone, which some people prefer to avoid.

CONS: Although I certainly wouldn't describe it as heavy, the UV Shield, which is oil-free, has kind of a fluffy, slippery texture; on me, it leaves a perfectly transparent but slightly shiny finish. In the summer I prefer a more mattifying, milky s/s such as Clarins UV Plus or Shiseido spf 55 lotion, but this is just a personal preference. What's good is the UV Shield is avo-free, so it can be powdered over with no problem. A bigger issue for me is that it's not very water-resistant and doesn't handle sweat and humidity too well. So it's not been as useful for me in the summer as I had hoped, and when the weather gets cooler, I will probably need something more moisturizing (like the Elta MD Physical spf 41, which I absolutely love). One more thing I should mention is this product contains polyacrylamide, another ingredient some people avoid.

Overall, this is a very good product, but not a repurchase for me.

Thanks for the tip girls. Love the sunscreen. Recently got this through Dermstore.com and my label says Elta MD UV Shield, SPF 45, Daily Sunscreen, Sheer Light Formula, UVA/UVB Protection, Transparent Zinc Oxide 9%, (Z-Cote HP1) trademark. Oil-Free Sunscreen for Oily Skin. Well I have dry skin, but I like it too. Very light and easy to get along with.

I have the Elta MD Skincare UV Shield SPF 45, not the Gold version that some of you have. It is a sheer light, oil free forumula with zinc oxide. It leaves a slightly whiter/paler tint on my face after I put this on. But it does feel really nice and light on my skin. It doesn't feel greasy nor is there the typical coconut scent found in most sunscreens. It's quite pricey at $45 CDN from my doctor's office, but I will be repurchasing online to get a better deal. It also hasn't caused any breakouts on my sensitive combination skin.

I wore this on my face, neck and chest and Blue Lizard SPF 30 on my arms and hands. Later on (was in the sun for an hour) my skin was the same color as before in places I wore Blue Lizard, and I got dark and somewhat burned where Elta had been. 'Tis crap. Good thing I got it for free.

I've tried them all and this is simply the best of the best.
I orderfrom Skin 1, no s&h, and pay very little money. I also use all of their moisturizers and have found them superior to all others.And, if you have sensitive skin, these products will NOT irritate. Since I've been using EltaMD, I have much better skin, better moistured, save tons of money and save time since it's delivered to my door free! continued >>

Sunblock is a must when using glycolic peels, AHAs, and to prevent sun damage in general. I get this sunblock with a discount from my derm. No breakouts from Elta. My HG sunblock.

So far so good! I have very reactive skin, and my quest for a workable zinc sunblock has needless to say been very frustrating- to the point that I was going without and only using a large brimmed hat. After reading up on sun protection on the Skindeep website where they rate products in terms of ingredient safety, I spotted the Elta 45 at a safe score. Of course I quickly went back to MUA to check user reviews, and was very encouraged to see the pos results. I had to mail order from Dermstore, so after shipping to Canada the total came to $30CAN. The only thing I get concerned about is because it's oil-free and I have a compromised moisture barrier, is that it would feel more comfortable with something more emollient underneath. This isn't to say it makes my skin feel too tight- I would just like it a bit more moisturiized feeling, but I have been putting the Elta directly on my bare face so I will look for a lightweight product to moisturize first. Anyway- I recommend!!!