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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 versus Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 .

Last updated on April 26, 2024. Published on November 12, 2020

Overview

What they are

These products are both vegan and cruelty-free sunscreens. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain SPF and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances or parabens

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Sunscreen American Brand United States
Sunscreen American Brand United States

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Sunscreen

Sunscreens help absorb or reflect UV radiation and protect skin against skin damage. Sunscreens may come in the form of lotion, gel, foam, spray, or solid-stick.

Price

Shop

Buy Glow Stick SPF 50

Starts at $30.00
Shop

Buy Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40

Starts at $38.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
50
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
spf rating
40

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (3)
Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Anti-Aging
Scar Healing
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

Chemical UV Filter (4)
Vitamin E
Exfoliators (2)

Benefits

Hydrating
Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin
Irritating
Rosacea (3)
Eczema (2)
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Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Also known as Avobenzone, this ingredient is a chemical sunscreen filter that provides protection in the UV-A range.

Avobenzone is globally approved and is the most commonly used UV-A filter in the world.

Studies have found that avobenzone becomes ineffective when exposed to UV light (it is not photostable; meaning that it breaks down in sunlight). Because of this, formulations that include avobenzone will usually contain stabilizers such as octocrylene.

However, some modern formulations (looking at you, EU!) are able to stabilize avobenzone by coating the molecules.

Avobenzone does not protect against the UV-B range, so it's important to check that the sunscreen you're using contains other UV filters that do!

The highest concentration of avobenzone permitted is 3% in the US, and 5% in the EU.

Learn more about Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane

Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 1.

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Disliked

Ethylhexyl Salicylate is an organic compound used to block UV rays. It primarily absorbs UVB rays but offers a small amount of UVA protection as well.

Commonly found in sunscreens, Ethylhexyl Salicylate is created from salicylic acid and 2-ethylhexanol. You might know salicylic acid as the effective acne fighter ingredient and BHA.

The ethylhexanol in this ingredient is a fatty alcohol and helps hydrate your skin, similar to oils. It is an emollient, which means it traps moisture into the skin.

According to manufacturers, Ethylhexyl Salicylate absorbs UV wavelength of 295-315 nm, with a peak absorption at 307-310 nm. UVA rays are linked to long term skin damage, such as hyperpigmentation. UVB rays emit more energy and are capable of damaging our DNA. UVB rays cause sunburn.

Learn more about Ethylhexyl Salicylate

Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 2.

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
What it does: UV Absorber, UV Filter
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Octocrylene protects skin from sun damage. It absorbs UV-B with peak absorption of 304 nm. It is a common sunscreen ingredient and often paired with avobenzone, a UVA filter. This is because octocrylene stabilizes other sunscreen ingredients by protecting them from degradation when exposed to sunlight. Octocrylene is a photostable ingredient and loses about 10% of SPF in 95 minutes.

Octocrylene also acts as an emollient, meaning it helps skin retain moisture and softens skin. It is oil-soluble and hydrophobic, enhancing water-resistant properties in a product.

Those who are using ketoprofen, a topical anti-inflammatory drug, may experience an allergic reaction when using octocrylene. It is best to speak with a healthcare professional about using sunscreens with octocrylene.

The EU allows a maximum of these concentrations:

Learn more about Octocrylene

Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 3.

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 contains this as ingredient number 4.

4
What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.

Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.

Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.

While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.

Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 4.

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 contains this as ingredient number 12.

5
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Dicaprylyl Carbonate comes from carbonic acid and caprylyl alcohol, a fatty alcohol. It is an emollient and gives skin a velvet feel. The sources of Dicaprylyl Carbonate may be synthetic or from animals.

As an emollient, Dicaprylyl Carbonate creates a film on the skin. This film traps moisture in, keeping your skin soft and hydrated.

Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 6.

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 contains this as ingredient number 10.

6
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Mixed

Isohexadecane is added to enhance texture, emulsify, and to help cleanse. It is an isoparrafin. It is a component of petrolatum.

Due to its large size, Isohexadecane is not absorbed by the skin. Instead, it sits on top and acts as an emollient. Emollients help keep your skin soft and smooth by trapping moisture within.

Isohexadecane is often used in products designed to help oily skin. It is lightweight and non-greasy while helping to moisturize. When mixed with silicones, it gives a product a silky feel.

Learn more about Isohexadecane

Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 10.

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 contains this as ingredient number 9.

7
What it does: Emollient, Solvent
Community Rating: Disliked

Isododecane is a fragrance, emollient, and solvent.

As an emollient, it helps your skin stay soft and hydrated. Emollients help trap moisture into your skin.

Isododecane's role as a solvent makes it a great texture enhancer. It spreads smoothly on skin and does not leave a sticky feeling behind. Isododecane also helps prevent color transfer in makeup products.

Isododecane is not absorbed into skin.

Learn more about Isododecane

Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 11.

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 contains this as ingredient number 5.

8
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 contains this as ingredient number 17.

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 contains this as ingredient number 26.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

19% are loved or liked
24% have mixed ratings
33% are disliked or very disliked
24% have no rating yet
15% are loved or liked
8% have mixed ratings
46% are disliked or very disliked
31% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 21 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 4 reviews
Jelly95's Avatar'
Dec 31, 2023

A greasy but very effective SPF. Easy to apply and you can't deny the glow it gives you. I use it primarily in summer or sunny days. I opt for less shiny SPFs in winter.

A greasy but very effective SPF. Easy to apply and you can't deny the glow it gives you. I use it primarily in summer or sunny days. I opt for less shiny SPFs in winter.

Oily

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 26 ingredients

4.1 /5
from 13 reviews
Jacob's Avatar'
Nov 29, 2023

Really liked this product, except for one problem - it stings my eyes like crazy.

It applies really nicely and absorbs well into my skin, but after a few hours of wearing this sunscreen I start getting extreme eye stinging.

I've...

Really liked this product, except for one problem - it stings my eyes like crazy.

It applies really nicely and absorbs well into my skin, but after a few hours of wearing this sunscreen I start getting extreme eye stinging.

I've since moved to using Supergoop's Mineral Sheerscreen, so I think it is one of the chemical filters in this one that causes my eyes to sting.

If you don't get eye stinging from this product, it is a pretty great sunscreen! (but expensive)

Expensive
Absorbs Well
No Scent
Works Well
briannagrace96's Avatar'
Oct 4, 2023

Can’t tell I have sunscreen on
This is great! I’ve always been bad about wearing sunscreen daily because it leaves such a greasy shine and can feel so heavy. I’ve tried various moisturizers and makeup foundations with spf in them and...

Can’t tell I have sunscreen on
This is great! I’ve always been bad about wearing sunscreen daily because it leaves such a greasy shine and can feel so heavy. I’ve tried various moisturizers and makeup foundations with spf in them and every single one was greasy and heavy. This I can’t feel on my face at all and once it dries quickly you can’t even see it at all. No weight and no shine. Will continue to use forever! Haven’t found anything like it. Now I use sunscreen daily

PallasCat_310's Avatar'
Aug 24, 2023

Can't get over the sensation
I have mixed feeling about this one but ultimately it's a no go. I liked it applies matte and does not make my already oily skin look shiny. However when applying the correct amount of 1/4-1/2 tsp for SPF...

Can't get over the sensation
I have mixed feeling about this one but ultimately it's a no go. I liked it applies matte and does not make my already oily skin look shiny. However when applying the correct amount of 1/4-1/2 tsp for SPF coverage it's very slippery and does not absorb. I can feel it on my skin all day, just a film of sunscreen, which is technically what it's supposed to do but the sensation was too much. I have the same problem with Trader Joe's Daily Facial Sunscreen which is a dupe for this.

Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 20 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 35 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40.

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