Is Supergoop Sunscreen Clean?

The Short Answer

The verdict on Supergoop depends entirely on which bottle you pick up. Their wildly popular chemical sunscreens carry moderate hazard warnings, while their specialized mineral line is legitimately clean.

Supergoop's flagship Unseen Sunscreen contains 8% homosalate. This chemical filter is a known endocrine disruptor that European regulators have severely restricted. If you want a truly safe product, you must skip their chemical formulas and buy their 100% mineral options instead. Mineral Vs Chemical Safer

Why This Matters

Supergoop helped revolutionize the daily SPF market. By formulating sunscreens that feel like high-end makeup primers, they convinced millions of people to wear daily sun protection.

The brand heavily markets its "No List" of 1,600 banned ingredients. They successfully eliminated the worst-of-the-worst chemical filters, meaning you won't find oxybenzone or octinoxate in any of their formulas. Is Oxybenzone Safe

But "better than average" does not equal "clean." Their reliance on controversial chemical filters like homosalate and octocrylene earns their top-selling products a "Moderate" hazard rating from the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Chemical Sunscreen Bloodstream

What's Actually In Supergoop

Here is a breakdown of the active ingredients found across Supergoop's most popular product lines:

• Homosalate (8%) — This is a known endocrine disruptor. European regulators restrict its use to much lower concentrations, but Supergoop still uses a high 8% dose in the original Unseen Sunscreen. Is Homosalate Endocrine Disruptor
• Octocrylene (4%) — This chemical can cause skin allergies and degrades over time. As it ages in the bottle, octocrylene can break down into benzophenone, a known carcinogen.
• Avobenzone (3%) — This is a highly unstable UVA filter. While it doesn't disrupt hormones like homosalate, it often causes allergic contact dermatitis and eye stinging. Is Avobenzone Safe
• Zinc Oxide — This is the gold standard for clean sun protection. You will only find this safe, mineral-based ingredient in Supergoop's specific "Mineral" product line. Is Zinc Oxide Safe

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• "100% Mineral" on the label — This guarantees the formula uses zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These natural minerals sit on top of your skin rather than absorbing directly into your bloodstream.
• Iron oxides — These provide a tint to prevent white cast. They also offer bonus protection against hyperpigmentation and blue light from your screens. Mineral No White Cast

Red Flags:

• Chemical filters — Look out for homosalate, octocrylene, and octisalate. These are standard in Supergoop's popular "Unseen," "Play," and "Glowscreen" lines.
• "Clean at Sephora" marketing — This badge is notoriously lenient. It allows for several controversial chemical UV filters that strict clean-beauty advocates avoid.

The Best Options

You don't have to abandon the brand to get safe sun protection. Supergoop now formulates excellent mineral versions of their most popular products.

The Bottom Line

1. Flip the bottle and check the active ingredients. If you see zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, you are holding a legitimately clean Supergoop product.

2. Avoid the original Unseen Sunscreen. The high concentration of homosalate makes it a poor choice for daily, long-term use.

3. Upgrade to their mineral line. Supergoop's Mineral Mattescreen and Mineral Unseen offer the same premium makeup-primer feel without the hormone-disrupting chemicals.

FAQ

Is Supergoop reef safe?

Only their 100% mineral sunscreens are truly reef safe. While their chemical sunscreens are free of oxybenzone and octinoxate, they still contain octocrylene, which can harm coral reefs and aquatic life. Reef Safe Sunscreens

Does Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen cause breakouts?

It depends entirely on your skin type. The formula relies heavily on silicones (like dimethicone) to create its velvety texture, which can trap sweat and bacteria on acne-prone skin. Best Acne Prone Sunscreen

Why is homosalate bad in sunscreen?

Homosalate has been shown to disrupt human hormones. It easily penetrates the skin, enters the bloodstream, and can mimic estrogen in the body, which is why it receives strict warnings from safety organizations. Is Homosalate Endocrine Disruptor

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