Looking for a reef-safe sunscreen that uses only zinc oxide as an active ingredient? Try my natural sunscreen review instead.
With over 100 sunscreens tested by my family of six since 2010, we’ve had our share of miserable failures. White out? Paint drying? Sticky, chalky, makes you look like an alabaster statue or Casper the ghost?
I will tell you this: it’s entirely possible to find a zinc oxide sunscreen that is reef safe, really works, and goes on smoothly.
This brand is not one of them.
Read the full review below to find out all of its transgressions, and then be sure to go to my ultimate guide to natural mineral sunscreens to find a safe sunscreen that really works.
Supergoop: Sunstick and SPF 30 Everyday
Overall
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Ease of Application
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Clean Ingredients
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Water Resistant
Details:
Price Range: $$$$ (tube) $$$$ (stick)
EWG rating: 1 for stick, 3 for tube
SPF: 30
Active ingredient(s): titanium dioxide (10%) and Octinoxate (7.5%) in stick; Homosalate, Octisalate, avobenzone, octocrylene (tube)
Other ingredients: Water (Aqua), Isododecane, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate , Lauryl Lactate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Isostearyl Isostearate, Potassium Cetyl, Phosphate, Cetyl Behenate, Behenic Acid, Beta Glucan, 1,2 Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Thermus Thermophilus Ferment, Acrylates Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Palmitic Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Lecithin, Lauryl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Nylon-12, Xanthan Gum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Maltodextrin, Cassia Alata Leaf Extract, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Allantoin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Geraniol, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Oil, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Oil, Glucose, Lactoperoxidase, Glucose Oxidase
Antioxidants added: Vitamin E in the stick; Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) – a major no-no!!! in the tube UPDATE: Most current version does not look to have Vitamin A.
Where to purchase: Amazon, Supergoop! site
Ease of application: +/- a stick is so handy for faces and we love that, but it doesn’t rub in superbly
Scent: neutral
Water resistant? Yes! Water beads up on the face and you can visibly scratch some off even after swimming.
My experience: I cannot recommend the tube because of all the chemical sunscreen ingredients (even though they’re the “safer” ones) but especially the Vitamin A. Other companies are taking that out. If you’re dying for a stick for your face, Supergoop isn’t a bad option, but Purple Prairie is better.
UPDATE 2012: I do not see Vitamin A on the ingredients any more at EWG; also Supergoop is in the top 10 ranked “non-mineral” sunscreens at EWG from 2011. I’ll bump it up under “recommends” but only IF you really need a chemical sunscreen because the minerals don’t work for you or cause problems.
Star Feature: Easy to apply, no parabens.
Pros
- Sunscreen stick is easy for face application
- Water resistant
Cons
- Tube contains vitamin A and chemical sunscreen ingredients
- Expensive
Wondering if this one is the very best natural sunscreen for your family?
I organized alllll the sunscreens we reviewed in each one’s recommendation category – one page, at-a-glance to find out what is safe to buy AND works! Print it or save to your phone for reference!
The guide also includes answers to questions people ask me all the time:
- Which brand rubs in the clearest?
- What’s the best for all day outdoor sports?
- How do I save money on natural sunscreens?
- What looks good on ladies’ faces?
- Is there an option that is FAST to apply to wiggly kids?
I’ll send a copy to your email so you can see it right away and find it again later!