Verified Beauty Data

Dupe report Nº 005 / Facial sunscreens SPF 46

EltaMD UV Clear dupes, ranked by formula match

The SPF filters are commodity. The 5% niacinamide is why acne-prone skin swears by it.

Some links earn us a commission. It never changes the verdict — the methodology is public.

02 / The scoreboard

Seven formulas, 2 numbers that matter

Read the actives column first — it is the apples-to-apples comparison. $ per gram of active is what the working ingredients cost you; the base-formula score is supporting evidence, not the verdict.

Product Actives vs original $ / g of active Price Base formula Verdict
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Disclosed by brand $0.00 $41.00 50 mL 100% the reference The original
Partial overlap missing actives — different formula wearing the keywords
Naturium Dew Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 Disclosed by brand — not disclosed $20.00 50 mL 64% Best budget Amazon →
DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 45 Disclosed by brand — not disclosed $32.00 50 mL 35% highest measured The winner Amazon →

✓ same % as original ≠ different % ? in formula, % undisclosed — not in formula

03 / The original

Why the original is the original

UV Clear runs two sunscreen actives: 9% zinc oxide (a mineral filter that sits on the skin surface and physically scatters UV) and 7.5% octinoxate (a chemical filter that absorbs UVA/UVB and converts it to heat). Neither ingredient is rare. Zinc oxide and octinoxate are commodity sunscreen actives available to any formulator. The SPF 46 rating they deliver is not what makes UV Clear a derm-institution product.

What makes UV Clear the default recommendation for acne-prone, rosacea-prone, and post-procedure skin is the inactive ingredient list: 5% niacinamide (vitamin B3, a well-studied skin-calming and sebum-regulating active), hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate, for barrier hydration), and lactic acid (a gentle AHA exfoliant). That niacinamide + zinc oxide combination is the clinical argument — niacinamide reduces inflammation, regulates pore size, and fades post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation; zinc oxide contributes its own sebum-controlling and anti-inflammatory properties. Together they address the root causes of acne-prone skin flare while providing broad-spectrum protection.

The honest verdict: the filters dupe, the niacinamide doesn't. Almost every cheap "UV Clear dupe" replicates the zinc oxide percentage and the silicone skin-feel but drops the niacinamide. DRMTLGY's SPF 45 ($32) and Naturium Dew Glow ($20) are the only candidates on this page that keep the niacinamide + zinc combination at meaningful levels. The rest are sunscreens. EltaMD as a brand is stable derm-institution status — unlike Drunk Elephant — so there is no brand-collapse narrative here, just an honest formula comparison.

04 / The candidates

Every candidate, examined

01 / Naturium

Best budget
Naturium Dew Glow Moisturizer SPF 50 bottle
— per g of active
$20.00 retail · 50 mL
64% base formula · highest of 6

Naturium Dew Glow Moisturizer SPF 50

Shared formula DNA 6 of 16 original ingredients present
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5% Zinc Oxide 9%. Inactive Ingredients: Water Niacinamide Dimethicone Cyclomethicone Lactic Acid Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate) Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract Adenosine Silica PEG-41 Beeswax Benzyl Alcohol Isostearic Acid Oleth-5 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Mica

shared with original not shared rare marker — weighs more in the score

What matches
The same 5% niacinamide as the original — the defining differentiator — plus zinc oxide and octinoxate as co-filters, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, adenosine, and tocopheryl acetate. 6 of the original's 16 ingredients shared.
What differs
Only 3.4% zinc oxide against the original's 9% — a meaningful drop in mineral filter intensity. This is a lighter-coverage, dewier formula positioned more as a moisturizer with SPF than a dedicated sunscreen. SPF 50 rating nominally higher, but lighter zinc.
Who it's for
The budget pick if the niacinamide matters and zinc% matters less. At $20 it is the most affordable option that keeps the niacinamide + zinc combination. Honest: at 3.4% zinc it is not a direct mineral-filter match to the original's 9%, but the skin-calming combo is intact.
Ships in
Pump bottle good light protection
pH
pH not published L-ascorbic acid needs pH below 3.5 to absorb
Data source
Disclosed by brand Percentages published by Naturium on their product page.

$20.00 for 50 mL → — not disclosed: the brand doesn't state active percentages, so this number cannot honestly exist.

Buy on Amazon $23.00 Amazon price as of 2026-06-13; $20.00 direct retail.

02 / SkinMedica

Skip
SkinMedica Essential Defense Everyday Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 47 bottle
— per g of active
$42.00 retail · 50 mL
59% base formula · 2nd of 6

SkinMedica Essential Defense Everyday Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 47

Shared formula DNA 7 of 16 original ingredients present
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5% Zinc Oxide 9%. Inactive Ingredients: Water Niacinamide Dimethicone Cyclomethicone Lactic Acid Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate) Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract Adenosine Silica PEG-41 Beeswax Benzyl Alcohol Isostearic Acid Oleth-5 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Mica

shared with original not shared rare marker — weighs more in the score

What matches
The highest base-formula match score (59%) on this page — 7 of the original's 16 ingredients shared, including PEG-41 Beeswax, Oleth-5, Isostearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, and Adenosine. Zinc oxide at 10.5% — higher than the original's 9%.
What differs
No niacinamide — the ingredient that makes UV Clear the derm pick for acne-prone skin is entirely absent. And at $42, it costs the same as the original (or more on Amazon), so there is no savings argument either. High formula similarity on the base; zero improvement on the active that matters most.
Who it's for
Skip as a UV Clear dupe. If you want the highest-zinc mineral SPF in the same base without caring about niacinamide, SkinMedica delivers that — but at $42 it is not a budget alternative. For true UV Clear refugees: niacinamide is the reason you chose UV Clear, and this product does not have it.
Ships in
Pump bottle good light protection
pH
pH not published L-ascorbic acid needs pH below 3.5 to absorb
Data source
Disclosed by brand Percentages published by SkinMedica on their product page.

$42.00 for 50 mL → — not disclosed: the brand doesn't state active percentages, so this number cannot honestly exist.

price on Amazon ($40.00) — not recommended as a dupe

03 / Trader Joe's

Skip
— per g of active
$7.99 retail · 50 mL
58% base formula · 3rd of 6

Trader Joe's Daily Facial Sunscreen SPF 40

Shared formula DNA 7 of 16 original ingredients present
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5% Zinc Oxide 9%. Inactive Ingredients: Water Niacinamide Dimethicone Cyclomethicone Lactic Acid Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate) Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract Adenosine Silica PEG-41 Beeswax Benzyl Alcohol Isostearic Acid Oleth-5 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Mica

shared with original not shared rare marker — weighs more in the score

What matches
The same 9% zinc oxide as the original — an exact filter match — in a similar silicone base sharing PEG-41 Beeswax, Oleth-5, Isostearic Acid, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, and Adenosine. 7 of the original's 16 ingredients. At $7.99, the cheapest option on this page.
What differs
No niacinamide — the defining skin-calming active is absent. And critically: AVAILABLE IN-STORE AT TRADER JOE'S ONLY. There is no online listing, no Amazon link. Availability varies by location and can be inconsistent. We earn nothing on this pick — there is no affiliate link to click.
Who it's for
Worth hunting for if you are near a Trader Joe's and your goal is cheap zinc-oxide SPF with a similar silicone finish — not because it replicates UV Clear's clinical value proposition. For the niacinamide + zinc combination, DRMTLGY is the online pick. TJ's gives you the filter; not the function.
Ships in
Packaging not verified No brand or retailer statement on the bottle — we won’t guess.
pH
pH not published L-ascorbic acid needs pH below 3.5 to absorb
Data source
From the printed label Ingredient list transcribed from the product label; cross-checked across two independent ingredient databases.

$7.99 for 50 mL → — not disclosed: the brand doesn't state active percentages, so this number cannot honestly exist.

04 / DRMTLGY

The winner
DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 45 bottle
— per g of active
$32.00 retail · 50 mL
35% base formula · 4th of 6

DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 45

Shared formula DNA 6 of 16 original ingredients present
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5% Zinc Oxide 9%. Inactive Ingredients: Water Niacinamide Dimethicone Cyclomethicone Lactic Acid Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate) Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract Adenosine Silica PEG-41 Beeswax Benzyl Alcohol Isostearic Acid Oleth-5 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Mica

shared with original not shared rare marker — weighs more in the score

What matches
The only online-available dupe that keeps both defining actives: 6.25% zinc oxide AND 5% niacinamide. Adenosine, isostearic acid, and triethoxycaprylylsilane are all shared with the original. 6 of the original's 16 ingredients overlap.
What differs
Lower zinc oxide (6.25% versus the original's 9%) — slightly less mineral-filter intensity. Also has titanium dioxide (a second mineral filter) and is available in a tinted version, which UV Clear is not. At $32 it saves you $9 versus the original for the same niacinamide + zinc promise.
Who it's for
The winner — for anyone who wants the niacinamide + zinc combination that makes UV Clear the derm-recommended acne-prone SPF, available online, for less. If the higher zinc % matters to you, note the original is at 9% vs DRMTLGY's 6.25% — a real difference, honestly flagged.
Ships in
Pump bottle good light protection
pH
pH not published L-ascorbic acid needs pH below 3.5 to absorb
Data source
Disclosed by brand Percentages published by DRMTLGY on their product page.

$32.00 for 50 mL → — not disclosed: the brand doesn't state active percentages, so this number cannot honestly exist.

Buy on Amazon $31.00 Amazon price as of 2026-06-13; $32.00 direct retail.

05 / e.l.f. Cosmetics

Skip
e.l.f. Cosmetics Suntouchable! Invisible Sunscreen SPF 35 bottle
— per g of active
$14.00 retail · 50 mL
10% base formula · 5th of 6

e.l.f. Cosmetics Suntouchable! Invisible Sunscreen SPF 35

Shared formula DNA 3 of 16 original ingredients present
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5% Zinc Oxide 9%. Inactive Ingredients: Water Niacinamide Dimethicone Cyclomethicone Lactic Acid Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate) Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract Adenosine Silica PEG-41 Beeswax Benzyl Alcohol Isostearic Acid Oleth-5 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Mica

shared with original not shared rare marker — weighs more in the score

What matches
Shares dimethicone, cyclomethicone, glycerin, and silica with the original — 3 of the original's 16 ingredients. Invisible SPF finish and lightweight texture are similar.
What differs
Fundamentally different sunscreen chemistry: avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene (all chemical filters) — no zinc oxide at all, no niacinamide. SPF 35 vs 46. The skin-feel overlap is real; the formula overlap is not. This is a chemical-only sunscreen doing a different job.
Who it's for
Skip as a UV Clear dupe. At $14 it is cheap, and the texture is pleasant — but the zinc oxide is absent and the niacinamide is absent. If your reason for using UV Clear is the mineral + niacinamide combination, e.l.f. Suntouchable is not a substitute.
Ships in
Pump bottle good light protection
pH
pH not published L-ascorbic acid needs pH below 3.5 to absorb
Data source
Disclosed by brand Percentages published by e.l.f. Cosmetics on their product page.

$14.00 for 50 mL → — not disclosed: the brand doesn't state active percentages, so this number cannot honestly exist.

price on Amazon ($15.00) — not recommended as a dupe

06 / La Roche-Posay

Skip
La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 60 bottle
— per g of active
$21.00 retail · 50 mL
4% base formula · lowest of 6

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 60

Shared formula DNA 2 of 16 original ingredients present
Active Ingredients: Octinoxate 7.5% Zinc Oxide 9%. Inactive Ingredients: Water Niacinamide Dimethicone Cyclomethicone Lactic Acid Hyaluronic Acid (Sodium Hyaluronate) Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract Adenosine Silica PEG-41 Beeswax Benzyl Alcohol Isostearic Acid Oleth-5 Triethoxycaprylylsilane Mica

shared with original not shared rare marker — weighs more in the score

What matches
Matte, oil-free, acne-prone-skin positioning similar to UV Clear. Dimethicone base. 2 of the original's 16 base ingredients shared.
What differs
No zinc oxide (chemical-only filters: avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene), no niacinamide. SPF 60 is higher, but the mineral-filter and niacinamide value props that define UV Clear are absent. At $21 it is not meaningfully cheaper than the original.
Who it's for
Skip as a UV Clear dupe. La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin is a legitimate derm-brand chemical sunscreen for acne-prone skin — it is just not a UV Clear dupe. No zinc, no niacinamide. If chemical filters are fine and you want a matte LRP SPF, this is a solid standalone product — but it does not replicate UV Clear's formula.
Ships in
Pump bottle good light protection
pH
pH not published L-ascorbic acid needs pH below 3.5 to absorb
Data source
Disclosed by brand Percentages published by La Roche-Posay on their product page.

$21.00 for 50 mL → — not disclosed: the brand doesn't state active percentages, so this number cannot honestly exist.

price on Amazon ($20.99) — not recommended as a dupe

05 / Methodology

How we verified this

Verified 2026-06-13

Every formula on this page was tokenized — split into its individual INCI ingredients — and matched against the EU CosIng ingredient database, so "Aqua," "Water," and "Eau" all resolve to the same ingredient.

The base-formula match score works like this: sharing a rare ingredient counts far more than sharing a common one. Almost every serum contains water and glycerin — that proves nothing. Almost nothing contains Ethoxydiglycol or Laureth-23, so when a candidate shares those with the original, it says something real about how the formula was built. (For the statisticians: it is an IDF-weighted Jaccard similarity over the normalized ingredient lists.)

Scores are computed, not opinions. The verdict tags are our editorial read of the actives, the scores, and the prices — and the methodology stays public so you can disagree with us precisely.

Where the ingredient lists come from

  1. Disclosed by brand

    Ingredient percentages published by the brand itself, on its own product page — the strongest provenance.

  2. From the printed label

    Ingredient list transcribed from photographs of the product label, then cross-checked across two independent ingredient databases.

Sources for this report

  • Brand DTC product pages (live crawl 2026-06)
  • Community-sourced label photograph (INCI verified)

06 / Questions

Frequently asked

What is the best EltaMD UV Clear dupe?
DRMTLGY Universal SPF 45 ($32) is the strongest match for UV Clear's defining combination: 6.25% zinc oxide AND 5% niacinamide, available online. Naturium Dew Glow SPF 50 ($20) also keeps the 5% niacinamide at a lower price, with less zinc (3.4% vs the original's 9%). Every other candidate on this page drops the niacinamide.
Why is EltaMD UV Clear so popular for acne-prone skin?
UV Clear combines 9% zinc oxide (a mineral filter with inherent anti-inflammatory and sebum-regulating properties) with 5% niacinamide (vitamin B3) — which reduces sebum production, calms redness, fades post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and supports the skin barrier. This niacinamide + zinc combination addresses the root causes of acne-prone skin flare while providing broad-spectrum UV protection. It is also oil-free, fragrance-free, and formulated without known acne triggers, making it a rare SPF that rosacea and acne-prone skin types can genuinely tolerate.
Is there an EltaMD UV Clear dupe with niacinamide?
Yes — two: DRMTLGY Universal SPF 45 ($32, 5% niacinamide + 6.25% zinc oxide) and Naturium Dew Glow SPF 50 ($20, 5% niacinamide + 3.4% zinc oxide). Both are available online. Most other UV Clear "dupes" omit the niacinamide entirely and replicate only the SPF filter and silicone texture.
Is Trader Joe's Daily Facial SPF 40 a UV Clear dupe?
Partially. Trader Joe's Daily Facial SPF 40 uses 9% zinc oxide — the same mineral filter percentage as UV Clear — in a similar silicone base (PEG-41 Beeswax, Oleth-5, Adenosine shared). At $7.99, the price is compelling. But: it is AVAILABLE IN-STORE AT TRADER JOE'S ONLY — no online listing, no Amazon, availability varies. And niacinamide is absent from the formula. You get the filter; you lose the function.
What percentage of zinc oxide is in EltaMD UV Clear?
9% zinc oxide — disclosed on the EltaMD product page and printed on the Active Ingredients label, as required by FDA OTC drug regulations for sunscreens. UV Clear also contains 7.5% octinoxate (a chemical UVA/UVB filter) as a co-active, giving it a mineral-chemical hybrid filter system.
What percentage of niacinamide is in EltaMD UV Clear?
5% niacinamide — disclosed by EltaMD on their product page. Niacinamide at 5% is the clinically studied concentration where sebum-regulation, barrier-strengthening, and anti-inflammatory effects are well-documented. It is classified as an inactive ingredient (not a sunscreen active) under FDA OTC rules, but it is the ingredient that distinguishes UV Clear from generic mineral SPF products.
Is EltaMD UV Clear worth it?
Yes — more so than DE or SkinCeuticals were worth their premium. EltaMD is a stable derm-institution brand without a brand-collapse story to justify switching away. At $41 for 50g, UV Clear is expensive but not egregiously so for a dermatologist-recommended SPF. That said, DRMTLGY's $32 version replicates the niacinamide + zinc combination at $9 savings, so the value question is fair. If you are using UV Clear for the niacinamide + zinc combination, both products deliver it.
Can I use EltaMD UV Clear with niacinamide serum?
Yes. UV Clear already contains 5% niacinamide — layering it under an additional niacinamide serum does not cause any known adverse interaction. Niacinamide is stable across a wide pH range and does not degrade or react with typical skincare ingredients. The combination simply increases the total niacinamide dose on the skin, which is generally beneficial for acne-prone and hyperpigmentation-prone skin types.

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