Supergoop is one of the most popular sunscreen brands in the U.S. The brand markets their products as “SPF Boosted Skincare” and claims that their products can “help prevent up to 90% of the signs of aging.”
But does Supergoop actually contain research-backed anti-aging ingredients? Does it contain ingredients proven to protect skin from UV damage? What was our Product Tester's experience trying Supergoop for a month? And why was the brand sued over some of its claims?
In this article we’ll answer these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Supergoop’s two most popular sunscreens (Glowscreen and Unseen Sunscreen) to give our take on whether or not they're likely to be effective for anti-aging and UV protection, and whether or not they're healthy.
We'll also feature our Product Tester's honest experience with this brand, explain why Supergoop was sued, and compare the brand to other popular sunscreens like EltaMD to pick our winners (and losers).
Supergoop Glowscreen Review
The ingredients in Supergoop Glowscreen are shown below:
Supergoop Glowscreen is a chemical sunscreen, which means that it contains active ingredients that absorb into the skin to absorb UV rays from the sun, and these ingredients end up in the bloodstream.
Octocrylene at a concentration of 10%, octisalate at 5% and avobenzone at 3% are the active ingredients.
While these ingredients are effective for sun protection, we recommend avoiding them.
A medical review published in the Chemical Research in Toxicology journal documented that octocrylene breaks down into a compound called benzophenone in the body, and the study authors described benzophenone as a carcinogen, which means it may cause cancer, and is an endocrine-disruptor.
Avobenzone has been shown in clinical research to disrupt metabolism and cause obesogenic (increasing the risk of obesity) changes to human cells, as we documented in our review of Tula skincare (another brand using this ingredient).
Chlorphenesin is a preservative shown in a 2020 clinical trial to be toxic to human cells.
Glowscreen does contain some effective anti-aging ingredients.
Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid, which is clinically proven to reduce wrinkles.
Niacinamide has also been shown to have a skin-brightening effect, and to reduce visible signs of aging.
Overall, we consider Supergoop Glowscreen likely to provide sun protection and to have an anti-aging effect.
We do not currently recommend this product due to our concerns over the endocrine-disrupting nature of the chemical sunscreen ingredients, and due to the inclusion of chlorphenesin.
We Tested Supergoop Sunscreen
One of our product testers named Jodie Steinberg tried Supergoop Glow Screen Sunscreen for a month. Here's her experience:
The product comes in a standard squeeze tube. I had no issues using it.
The smell was acceptable. It smells like a mix of sunscreen and makeup which is expected as that is exactly what this product is.
The product definitely leaves a radiant finish, so if you have oily skin, you might not like it. I personally have oily combination skin and found this product to be a bit too radiant for me.
It looks a bit greasy on me which you can see from the photographs of the product on my skin:
The product also comes in four different shades and unfortunately I tried a shade that was too dark for me. I tested the golden hour shade, but the shade dawn or sunrise would be better suited for my light skin tone.
Thus, be careful when purchasing this product that you are purchasing the right shade for your skin tone.
As I allowed the product to sit on my skin, it remained tacky, which is probably why they claim it is a good primer for makeup. However, if you want to use this product alone, it will not completely dry down and could leave a residue on clothing or your fingers if you touch your face.
I could see a demarcation from where the product ends on the sides of my neck given the shade was too dark for me.
Overall, I would rate Supergoop Sunscreen 5/10, and I do not plan to purchase it in the future.
Why Was Supergoop Sued?
Supergoop was sued in 2021 in a class-action lawsuit alleging false advertising over their products being “reef-safe,” according to Class Actions Reporter.
The complaints in the lawsuit are similar to those we raised in the previous section of this article: that some of the chemical sunscreen ingredients used by Supergoop may not be as healthy and safe as the brand claims.
The lawsuit claims the following:
“By advertising ‘reef-sale’ and ‘cruelty-free,’ yet using active chemical ingredients that are known to cause reef and marine damage, [Supergoop!] is deceiving [its] customers who are relying on [its] representations.”
We consider this to be a red flag about the brand’s ethics.
Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen Review
The ingredients in Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen are shown below:
This product contains the active ingredient homosalate at an 8% concentration.
A medical review published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found homosalate to be a “cytotoxic and genotoxic substance.” This means it may be toxic to human cells and potentially damaging to the genetic information in cells.
Unseen Sunscreen does not contain the two anti-aging ingredients we highlighted in the previous section: sodium hyaluronate and niacinamide.
We cannot identify any ingredients in this formulation that we consider to have an anti-aging effect.
Overall, we consider Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen to be likely effective for sun protection but likely ineffective for anti-aging effects.
We consider Unseen Sunscreen to be a worse formulation than Glowscreen, which contained several anti-aging ingredients backed by clinical studies.
We do not recommend this product overall due to the questionable health effects of the chemical sunscreen ingredients.
Is Supergoop Reef-Safe?
Consumers are often curious about whether Supergoop sunscreens are reef-safe given that some chemical sunscreen ingredients are proven to be harmful to reefs and other natural ecosystems.
As we documented in our review of Elta MD Sunscreen, a chemical sunscreen called octinoxate is so harmful to reef ecosystems that it’s banned in Hawaii.
We consider Supergoop sunscreens to be safer for reefs and other wildlife than Elta MD and other sunscreen brands that contain octinoxate, but we consider physical sunscreen brands to be potentially safer to reefs than Supergoop.
As we documented in the Ingredient Analysis, several active ingredients in Supergoop sunscreens have been shown, at least in test tube studies, to be toxic to human cells.
If a substance is toxic to human cells it may be toxic to the cells of other animals and ecosystems, so we do not consider Supergoop to be reef-safe.
Physical sunscreens use metal oxides such as titanium dioxide and iron oxide that are much cleaner, safer and have more favorable toxicity data in our opinion than chemical sunscreens.
Supergoop vs. Popular Sunscreens
Here's how Supergoop compares to other popular sunscreen brands in terms of potential effectiveness and healthiness, in our opinion:
EltaMD
Contains natural coloration ingredients which are clinically shown to help protect the skin from sun.
While EltaMD contains one "chemical" sunscreen ingredient we consider unhealthy, that's two less than in Supergoop.
Winner: EltaMD
Sky and Sol
Free from any unhealthy ingredients.
There are allegations of mislabeling, but as we documented in our Sky and Sol sunscreen review article, these allegations are yet unproven.
Winner: Sky and Sol
Blue Lizard
Contains unhealthy inactive ingredients, but its active ingredients are "physical" sun blockers and healthier than Supergoop.
Winner: Blue Lizard
Supergoop Sunscreen Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Should protect skin from sun
- Glowscreen contains anti-aging ingredients
- Mostly positive online customer reviews
- May be better for reefs than other popular sunscreen brands
Cons:
- Contains chemical sunscreen ingredients
- Contains potential endocrine-disruptors
- Brand sued for false advertising
- Brand website charges for shipping
