Is EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 Reef Safe?
Not by the law. Allowed in 1 of 9 places we track. See why
- Not allowed: Hawaii
- Not allowed: Maui County
- Not allowed: Hawaiʻi County
- Not allowed: U.S. Virgin Islands
- Not allowed: Palau
- Allowed: Aruba
- Not allowed: Guam
- Not allowed: Northern Mariana Islands
- Not allowed: Thailand
EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 is allowed under the sunscreen laws of Aruba, but not in Hawaii statewide, Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks. It combines chemical and mineral UV filters: octinoxate 7.5% and zinc oxide 9%. It is a broad-spectrum facial sunscreen lotion made by EltaMD (CP Skin Health Group, Inc.) and is not water resistant. Its FDA National Drug Code (NDC) is 72043-2289 and 72043-6804.
Sizes: 1.7 oz
Where EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 is allowed
| Location | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (statewide) | Not allowed | Octinoxate: banned by name. |
| Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi) | Not allowed | Octinoxate: not a permitted active (mineral only). |
| Hawaiʻi County (Big Island) | Not allowed | Octinoxate: not a permitted active (mineral only). |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Not allowed | Octinoxate: banned by name. |
| Palau | Not allowed | Octinoxate and phenoxyethanol: banned by name. |
| Guam | Not allowed | Octinoxate: banned by name. |
| Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) | Not allowed | Octinoxate: banned by name. |
| Thailand (all national parks) | Not allowed | Octinoxate: banned by name. |
| Aruba | Allowed | No restricted ingredients found. |
Guidance and repealed rules (4)
| Mexico: federal marine protected areas (e.g., Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancún & Punta Nizuc) | Against guidance | Octinoxate: not a mineral active. |
| Bonaire (Bonaire National Marine Park) | Against guidance | Octinoxate: on the avoid list. |
| U.S. National Parks with coral reefs (NPS guidance) | Against guidance | Octinoxate: on the avoid list. |
| Key West, Florida | No rule in force | Octinoxate: banned by name. |
EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 active ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Octinoxate | 7.5% | Chemical |
| Zinc Oxide (transparent) | 9% | Mineral |
EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 inactive ingredients
Water, Petrolatum, Isopropyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyisobutene, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polyether-1, Butylene Glycol, PEG-7 Trimethylolpropane Coconut Ether, Sodium Hyaluronate, Iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane
Highlighted ingredients are regulated somewhere; red ones are restricted in at least one location we track. Dotted ones are listed below.
Fragrance allergens, essential oils and alcohol
None of the 80 fragrance allergens on the EU list appear on this label, and it lists no fragrance, essential oil or drying alcohol.
The EU requires these allergens to be named on cosmetic labels above 0.001% in leave-on products (Regulation 1223/2009, Annex III). They can cause skin reactions in people who are sensitized; they don’t affect whether a sunscreen is legal anywhere we track.
Note: Untinted UV Daily; currently sold on the brand site as a limited-edition bottle, which the brand describes as the same UV Daily SPF 40 formula.
Common questions about EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40
Is EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 reef safe?
“Reef safe” isn’t a regulated label claim, so we answer by law instead. It is allowed under the sunscreen laws of Aruba, but not in Hawaii statewide, Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks.
Is EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 legal in Hawaii?
Under Hawaii’s statewide law (Act 104, which bans oxybenzone and octinoxate) it is not allowed because it contains octinoxate. In Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi), which allows only mineral sunscreens, it is not allowed because it contains octinoxate, and Maui’s rule covers using it there, not just selling it. In Hawaiʻi County (the Big Island), which has a mineral-only rule for sales, it is not allowed. Oʻahu and Kauaʻi have no county rule, so only the statewide law applies there.
Where is EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 not allowed?
Hawaii statewide: it contains octinoxate, which is not allowed there. Maui County: it contains octinoxate, which is not allowed there. Hawaiʻi County (Big Island): it contains octinoxate, which is not allowed there. The U.S. Virgin Islands: it contains octinoxate, which is not allowed there. Palau: it contains octinoxate and phenoxyethanol, which are not allowed there. Guam: it contains octinoxate, which is not allowed there. The Northern Mariana Islands: it contains octinoxate, which is not allowed there. Thailand's national parks: it contains octinoxate, which is not allowed there.
Does EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 contain oxybenzone?
Yes. It contains octinoxate 7.5%. Oxybenzone and octinoxate are banned in Hawaii and most other places with a sunscreen law.
Is EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 a mineral or chemical sunscreen?
Both. It combines mineral (zinc oxide 9%) and chemical (octinoxate 7.5%) UV filters, so it does not meet mineral-only rules.
Is the zinc oxide in EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 non-nano?
Its Drug Facts ingredient list doesn’t state particle size, and US labels aren’t required to. Many brands make non-nano claims elsewhere on the pack or website. No sunscreen law we track regulates nano particles.
Is EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 water resistant?
No. It makes no water-resistance claim, so it isn’t meant for swimming or heavy sweating. Use a water-resistant sunscreen for time in the water.
What is the NDC for EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40?
EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 is listed with the FDA under National Drug Code 72043-2289 and 72043-6804. The NDC identifies this sunscreen on its FDA drug label (DailyMed); package sizes carry longer package NDCs.
Alternatives to EltaMD UV Daily Broad Spectrum SPF 40 for Hawaii statewide, Maui County, Hawaiʻi County (Big Island), the U.S. Virgin Islands, Palau, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and Thailand's national parks
Mineral sunscreens from other brands, allowed in all 8 places, ranked by label: water resistance, SPF 30–50, broad spectrum, no listed fragrance. How we rank
Daily Moisturizer SPF 30
Thinksport SPF 50 Clear Zinc Face Sunscreen
SPF 30 Mineral Facial Sunscreen
Sheer Face Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen Lotion