I’ve been wearing Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 (yes, I joined the cult of Supergoop!) for about a year to protect my skin from the sun and give it a nice dewy glow (yes, just like the name) in lieu of makeup. A friend of mine asked about it, but balked at the price tag – it’s nearly $50 retail for 2.5 fluid ounces. I was lucky enough to be gifted a tube that I used sparingly last year, but now that I have to purchase it with my hard-earned cash, I’ve decided to revisit my Glowscreen obsession. It comes in three sizes, and the cheapest option is $22 for less than an ounce, available in a convenient travel size.
Glow Screen SPF 40
Supergoop is a household name for selling protective skin lotions that smell and feel good. This tinted sunscreen comes in three shades, which I personally think provide insufficient options. It gives my skin (freckled with warm undertones) a nice shine that evens out my perpetually uneven, sometimes blotchy complexion.
Specifications
- Price: $38.00 (current price for 1.7 oz).
- Dimensions: 1.3 x 2 x 5.3 inches (varies depending on size).
I don’t wear it under makeup, but you can, given that it is extremely lightweight and glides easily onto even a dry face. I am not a fan of “glitter makeup,” and when I first received my tube, I was concerned it would make my face shiny, but it really goes on as matte with a subtle hint of shimmer.
The company states that it is made with “light-reflecting pearls” and is “designed to work with your skin,” and I agree that it seems to work well on many skin types. I passed it around to my girlfriends during a spa trip, along with Supergoop! Mattescreen, and this was the favorite of the two. Mainly because we felt it was a little lightweight and offered less “shimmer” than Glowscreen. Both lotions, however, blended seamlessly onto three very different types of skin, ranging from dry to oily. We agreed that Glowscreen made us feel “made-up” without having to actually put on make-up after our spa day.
Pros
- Offers UV-ray protection (SPF 40).
- Also works as a base layer under makeup.
Cons
- Expensive.
- May not provide enough sun coverage for strenuous workouts.
Yes. It Makes You Glow, But What’s In It?
I have been asked while wearing this in the dead of winter, if I had gone on vacation. Yes. It makes me feel “sunkissed,” and it offers coverage without hiding my many freckles. It is designed to be worn under makeup, but I rarely use it that way. It is made with some of the usual sunscreen suspects: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and octocrylene, to name a few more easily recognizable ones.
The lotion offers broad-spectrum protection that also filters blue light, and contains vitamin B5, and sea lavender, both of which help hydrate and protect drier or more delicate skin.
Supergoop! is a cruelty-free company that aligns with my values, making it easier to justify paying more for a product.
How To Apply It
I have been known to slather this onto my unclean face or right after I’ve gotten out of the pool. It’s not really how you should apply it. Speaking to experts, I’ve been told you should always start with a clean face. Since sunscreen works as a barrier between your skin and the sun’s harmful rays, you need to make sure you generously apply the lotion onto your face. If you’re frugal like me, you might want to put on less to stretch out the product, but don’t do it. While this product gives you a healthy glow, you may find yourself with a sunburn if you don’t cover your face adequately – just to remind you that this tinted sunscreen is indeed an SPF 40 tube of protection against harmful rays.
Make sure to dot it across your face, blend well, and extend it all the way up to your hairline and onto your ears. Blend it well, and don’t forget to apply it to your neck and chest. I once used Glowscreen Body SPF 40 and found it gave me much more shimmer than I wanted, reminding me of lightly scented body glitter. Someone, even with many of the same ingredients, I don’t find the shimmer too much for my face.
Should You Buy It? Should I?
I love this lotion because it feels like a “one and done” solution in the summertime to protect my skin and give my face a good day at the beach look. I don’t think it works if you want actual coverage of spots or redness as well as, well, an actual concealer product. If you like matte products, this isn’t for you, but the SPF is transparent, so you don’t have to rub it into your face too hard, which I have to do with most zinc products.
If I were going to go on a long hike or other strenuous activity, I would probably wear something stronger with a higher SPF on my face. I have been known to apply a different sunscreen for the beach or pool, or anywhere I might sweat a lot and be in and out of the water. However, this is the tube of lotion I reach for afterwards, when I want sun protection but also a little glow.
Glow Screen SPF 40
The price? It is probably too expensive for me to continue my habit. I have a new tube and I plan to use it to swap in and out with other products to make it last longer as we head into summer. I know some of my friends don’t feel there is a good shade option for their skin. Other tinted lotions offer more shades, and I hope Supergoop! will consider doing so in the future.
If you can afford it, you prefer a shimmer finish over a matte one, and want to tuck a product into your bag that will double as a primer or add a pop of color, along with a decently high SPF, I recommend Supergoop! Glowscreen. If possible, visit a store where you can try on all four shades to find your perfect match.
If you’re concerned about sun damage, consider adding this to your skincare arsenal, but I recommend a higher SPF product, layering this one for the shimmer effect. Just remember that layering doesn’t mean double or triple, the highest layer will be the most protective layer on your skin, but Supergoop! will give you a healthy glow that makes me feel like summertime, year-round.
