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Supergoop sunscreen review: Worth the splurge
The TikTok-viral sunscreen brand draws legions of fans (including celebs like Brooke Shields and Drew Barrymore) — but does it live up to the hype?
You've probably heard of Supergoop sunscreen — or at least you've seen it (the bright, fun packaging is hard to miss). The uber-popular brand came on the anti-sunburn scene in 2005 with a singular mission: to distribute sunblock in public schools. "I learned from my dermatologist that sun damage starts at a very young age — we must protect the children first,” Supergoop founder Holly Thaggart told Vanity Fair in 2018. In the years since launch, the company has expanded rapidly, developing dozens of cult-favorite SPF products: from face sunscreens to sunblock for bodies, lips, scalps and even hands.
Supergoop! Play Everyday SPF 50
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen
Best for oily skin
Supergoop Glow Screen SPF 40
The three-in-one TikTok favorite
Supergoop! Every. Single. Face. Watery Lotion
Best for dry skin
There's little doubt that consumers love Supergoop's products, which have racked up tens of thousands of 5-star reviews on Amazon alone. The brand's face sunscreens — including Glow Screen and Unseen Sunscreen — have gone viral on TikTok, where users claim they blend seamlessly into skin-care routines. Reviewers say its chemical and mineral formulas work well for sensitive skin. Celebrities like Brooke Shields and Drew Barrymore can't stop raving about the brand. We decided to check it out for ourselves.
Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion review
This broad-spectrum sunscreen is sweat-resistant (for 80 minutes) and fast-absorbing, and the gentle formula is great for all skin types.
- Lightweight
- Fast absorbing
- Broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen (protects against both UVA and UVB rays)
- Family-friendly (gentle/works for many types of skin)
- Moisturizing
- No white cast
- Leaves a dewy glow that some might find greasy
Going in, I knew the biggest complaint about Supergoop sunscreen is the price — particularly the Unseen Sunscreen and Glow Screen, which both ring in at $38 for a 1.7oz tube. And while I found both of these star sunscreens to be high quality with no white cast (see my reviews below), neither (for me) justified the cost. In fact, I greatly preferred a third Supergoop product: the Play Everyday Lotion, which, at $24 for 2.4 ounces, is not quite a deal, but for sure felt worth the investment.
It's not just the lower cost that drew me to the Play Everyday lotion. When I first tried the formula I found it to be lightweight but still somehow rich-feeling; silky and viscous in a pleasant way. It's a broad-spectrum SPF 50 (meaning: it offers protection from UVA, UVB, and IRA rays) but it's also made with skin-nourishing extras like sunflower extract. It's designed to be used on both face and body, which makes it convenient and versatile (it's the only sunscreen I pack on vacation), especially since it comes in a number of sizes — including both a tiny travel-sized tube and a handy Supergoop Play Everyday jumbo-size, an 18-ounce tub with an easy-to-use, family-designed applicator pump. Mom friends I know buy this larger size at the beginning of every summer and keep it by an entryway — it's an amazing reminder to apply sunscreen before getting kids out the door.
What does Supergoop Play sunscreen smell like?
The best way I can describe Supergoop's scent is like an expensive beach vacation. It's subtle, inoffensive and just the teensiest bit tropical.
Seriously this is the best face sunscreen I've tried.
What is Supergoop Play's texture? How does it feel on your skin?
This is, to me, the best part of Supergoop's Play Everyday sunscreen — it has a luxurious, smooth texture that's creamy but not heavy or sticky. Every time I used it, it both glided on easily and left my skin with a faint glow.
Is Supergoop reef-safe?
Back in 2005, Supergoop was among the first brands to make sunscreen free of the chemical oxybenzone, a major ocean pollutant. Today, its sunscreens remain both reef-safe and cruelty-free.
Other quality Supergoop sunscreens
If you are looking for a sunscreen that also acts as a makeup primer OR need your sun protection to be completely invisible (i.e., no sheen), this one's for you. It's scent-free, weightless and provides SPF 40 protection. Though anyone can use it, this formula works particularly well for oily or acne-prone skin.
- Invisible
- Weightless
- Good for oily and acne-prone skin
- Doubles as a makeup primer
- Matte finish (not the best for mature skin)
- Pricey
This multitasking cream works as a skin primer, a high-quality sunscreen and a tinted moisturizer, and, with a boost from hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5 and niacinamide, it leaves behind a pretty pearly glow. Nearly 10,000 5-star reviews on Amazon rave about its complexion-perfecting powers, though some found it to be a bit too shiny and not ideal for oily skin nor for everyday use.
- Evens complexion
- Leaves skin glowing
- Works as a makeup primer
- High-quality sunscreen
- Can be a bit too greasy for those with oilier complexions
- Expensive
This is the thinnest, most watery sunscreen I've ever tried — more like a serum than a sunscreen cream, but not in way that's unappealing. It's lighter-weight than any of the other Supergoop varieties and absorbs into the skin fast without leaving any kind of white cast. It's also especially moisturizing, which makes it an excellent choice for dry skin. The SPF 50 formula is both sweat- and water-resistant.
- Broad-spectrum SPF 50
- Moisturizing
- Fast absorbing
- No white cast
- Lightweight
- Expensive
