EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41 by EltaMD
EltaMD

EltaMD UV Physical Broad-Spectrum SPF 41

Sunscreens

Safety score

Pregnancy-focused assessment

Low Risk75/100
Higher concernLower concern

One or more ingredients have a low-risk flag in MamaSkin's current assessment. Review the notes and your own circumstances.

Formula and assessment check

Ingredient safety review updated 23 November 2025. Product formulas can change, so compare the ingredients shown here with the packaging you have.

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Ingredient breakdown

See how the listed formula falls across MamaSkin's pregnancy-focused risk bands.

21

No known risks

2

Low risk

0

Medium risk

0

High risk

Ingredients

Ingredients with a higher risk flag appear first, followed by the rest of the formula.

Phenoxyethanol

Low Risk

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative permitted in EU cosmetics up to 1.0%. The SCCS concluded it is safe for cosmetic use at that level, including when considering higher cosmetic exposure scenarios in infants and young children. Main practical concern is irritation/stinging on very sensitive or compromised skin rather than a pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific risk.

Sources: EU SCCS; EU Cosmetics Regulation (Annex V preservative limit), SCCS Opinion on Phenoxyethanol (SCCS/1575/16, 2016)

Hydrogen Dimethicone

Low Risk

Silicone derivative with negligible systemic absorption in topical cosmetic use; treated as low risk in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Sources: PubMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM)

Zinc Oxide 9%

No Known Risks
Show all (23)

Titanium Dioxide 7%

No Known Risks

Water

No Known Risks

Isopropyl Palmitate

No Known Risks

This emollient ester improves slip and skin feel. Cosmetic Ingredient Review assessments support use in current cosmetic concentrations when formulated to be non-irritating; topical use is not identified as a pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific concern. Some alkyl esters can increase penetration of other formula ingredients.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters as Used in Cosmetics https://cir-safety.org/supplementaldoc/safety-assessment-alkyl-esters-used-cosmetics

Ethylhexyl Stearate

No Known Risks

A fatty-acid ester used as an emollient and spreading agent. Cosmetic safety reviewers included ethylhexyl stearate in the alkyl ester group and concluded that the group is safe in current practices when formulated to be non-irritating. No pregnancy-specific concern was identified for normal topical use.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Alkyl Esters as Used in Cosmetics https://cir-reports.cir-safety.org/view-attachment/?id=b34bc38f-8e74-ec11-8943-0022482f06a6

Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate

No Known Risks

A cosmetic ester or glyceride used mainly for emollience, texture, dispersion or emulsification. The relevant fatty-acid, glyceryl, sorbitan, polyglyceryl and related ester safety assessments support use in current cosmetic practices. No pregnancy-specific hazard signal was identified for normal topical exposure; local irritation remains formulation-dependent.

Sources: CIR safety assessments of Fatty Acid Esters, Glyceryl Esters, Sorbitan Fatty Acid Esters, Polyglyceryl Fatty Acid Esters and Monoalkylglycol Dialkyl Acid Esters; CIR December 2025 Quick Reference Table https://cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/QRT-Update-Dec2025.pdf; European Commission CosIng ingredient inventory.

Alumina

No Known Risks

An insoluble aluminum oxide mineral used as an absorbent, abrasive, bulking agent and surface treatment. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review concluded that alumina is safe in current cosmetic use. Normal topical exposure does not identify a pregnancy-specific concern; avoid deliberately inhaling loose powders or airbrush products.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Alumina and Aluminum Hydroxide https://www.cir-safety.org/panelbook/safety-assessment-alumina-and-aluminum-hydroxide-used-cosmetics

Polyacrylate-13

No Known Risks

A high-molecular-weight acrylic polymer used to thicken, stabilise or form a film. Dermal absorption of the intact polymer is expected to be limited. Cosmetic polymer assessments support normal topical use when residual monomers are appropriately controlled.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessments of Acrylates Copolymers and Crosspolymers as Used in Cosmetics; European Commission CosIng ingredient inventory.

Polyisobutene

No Known Risks

A large, mostly insoluble polymer used as a binder, film former and texture ingredient. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that polyisobutene is safe in current cosmetic use; slow absorption and reproductive data on related polybutene do not indicate a pregnancy-specific concern from normal topical exposure.

Sources: CIR: Final Report on Polyisobutene and Hydrogenated Polyisobutene https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/polyene.pdf

Hydrogenated Polyisobutene

No Known Risks

Inert synthetic emollient used as a glossing and occlusive agent. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support normal topical use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical signal identified in the material reviewed.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Polyene Group as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

Triethoxycaprylylsilane

No Known Risks

Silane coating and dispersion aid used on pigments and mineral particles. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support normal topical use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical signal identified in the material reviewed.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Alkoxyl Alkyl Silanes as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

Oleth-3 Phosphate

No Known Risks

Tocopheryl Acetate

No Known Risks

Tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E derivative) is used as an antioxidant and skin-conditioning ingredient; it is considered low concern in topical use with no known pregnancy or breastfeeding risks at cosmetic concentrations.

Sources: CIR; EU/UK Cosmetics Regulation

Bisabolol

No Known Risks

A terpene alcohol used for skin conditioning and soothing. Cosmetic safety reviewers reaffirmed bisabolol as safe at current cosmetic concentrations, and reproductive and developmental testing did not identify adverse effects. Bisabolol can increase skin penetration, so formulators should consider the safety of other ingredients in the same product.

Sources: CIR: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Bisabolol https://cir-reports.cir-safety.org/view-attachment/?id=6fcf160b-8e74-ec11-8943-0022482f06a6; CIR re-review material https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/bisabolol.pdf

Tocopherol

No Known Risks

Vitamin E antioxidant used to protect oils and support the skin barrier. Not associated with pregnancy-specific concerns at cosmetic exposure.

Sources: Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US); Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU)

Carnosine

No Known Risks

A naturally occurring dipeptide used as an antioxidant and skin-conditioning ingredient. Topical cosmetic exposure is low, and available peptide safety literature does not identify a pregnancy-specific concern. This entry does not assess oral carnosine supplements or zinc-carnosine medicines.

Sources: PubMed: framework for safety evaluation of peptides in cosmetics https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13054063/; PubMed literature on topical carnosine.

Ethylhexylglycerin

No Known Risks

Preservative booster and skin-conditioning agent. Considered safe for cosmetic use with low systemic exposure when used as intended.

Sources: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU); Cosmetic Ingredient Review (US)

Sorbitan Isostearate

No Known Risks

Emulsifier used to help oil and water phases remain mixed. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support topical use in cosmetics; the main practical issue is irritation potential in some formulas rather than a pregnancy-specific concern.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Sorbitan Esters as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

Polysorbate 20

No Known Risks

Nonionic surfactant and solubiliser used to disperse oils and fragrance. Reviewed cosmetic safety sources support normal topical use, with no pregnancy- or breastfeeding-specific topical signal identified in the material reviewed.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Polysorbates as Used in Cosmetics; EU CosIng / cosmetics regulatory inventory

Zingiber Officinale Root Extract

No Known Risks

A ginger root extract used mainly for skin conditioning and fragrance support. Cosmetic safety reviewers concluded that the assessed Zingiber officinale root-derived ingredients are safe in current practices when formulated to be non-sensitising. This topical cosmetic conclusion should not be read as advice about ingesting concentrated ginger supplements.

Sources: CIR: Safety Assessment of Zingiber officinale (Ginger)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics https://www.cir-safety.org/supplementaldoc/safety-assessment-zingiber-officinale-ginger-%E2%80%93-derived-ingredients-used-cosmetics-0

Iron Oxides

No Known Risks

Pigment family used to provide red, yellow and black colour in makeup and tinted skincare. Insoluble mineral pigments with very low dermal absorption in typical topical use. Generally considered acceptable in pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you prefer a cautious approach, avoid inhaling loose powders or sprays.

Sources: General cosmetic ingredient safety references for insoluble mineral pigments; exposure route considerations for powders/sprays.

Formulations can change without notice. For the most accurate result, compare this list with your packaging and scan the exact ingredient label in MamaSkin when you repurchase.

How to use this assessment

The risk band is the primary conclusion. The score adds detail within that band and should not be used to compare products as if a one-point difference were clinically meaningful.

MamaSkin provides pregnancy-focused information, not medical advice. Your midwife, GP, pharmacist or dermatologist should take priority when your circumstances differ from typical cosmetic use.

Read the full methodology