Product Review: Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Wipes

Not only is it hard to do the right thing, but sometimes it’s downright impractical.  For instance, when it comes to sunscreen, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that sunscreen be applied 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure, followed by one application 15 to 30 minutes after the sun exposure begins, with further applications after swimming, sweating, and rubbing.  That’s a whole lot of time and attention you have to pay to sunscreen during that special weekend at the beach.

Luckily, the smart folks at Supergoop! figured this out and created Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Wipes ($26.31 for 40 wipes, Amazon.com).  The wipes contain a physical sunscreen (zinc oxide) that blocks UV rays from penetrating the skin.  The wipes also contain antioxidants vitamin C and E, which have been shown to enhance sunscreen protection.  Specifically, vitamin C has been shown to enhance UVA protection when it is used under sunscreen, while vitamin E increases UVB protection.  Although the concentrations of vitamin C and E that have been shown in studies to have a sunscreen-boosting effect are higher than that in Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Wipes, the ingredients are still likely to add some degree of sunscreen-enhancing effects.

Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Wipes also contain green tea, which has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for the skin.  A 2003 study in Molecular Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention found the polyphenols in green tea may also enhance sun protection as well, as they prevent UVB-induced oxidation of lipids and proteins and prevent against the depletion in antioxidant enzymes experienced after UVB exposure.  This study was conducted in the skin of the mouse; however, it is likely there is a similar effect in human skin cells due to the mechanism by which the prevention occurred.

Do Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Wipes Really Work?

In a word, yes.  Although the directions for Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Wipes state that one wipe can be used “on the face and body,” it is likely that the SPF 30 is actually a measurement in which one wipe was applied to only the face and neck of an average-size adult.  I arrived at this conclusion by the fact that SPF is measured as 2 mg/cm² in tests; judging from the amount of product supplied in one wipe, it seems that this thickness would be likely to be achieved when one wipe was applied over the face and neck only.  From my best estimate, it would therefore take about 3-4 Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Wipes to supply enough sun protection for an average-size adult at the beach for 30 minutes, and about 1-2 for an average-size child (12 years or younger).

The wipes are non-greasy, fragrance-free, non-sticky, dry quickly, and leave skin smooth enough for makeup application.  They are also great to bring on vacations because they don’t require a bag check like those cumbersome bottles.  One caveat:  It dries clear, so it is very easy to miss spots!  The best method of application is to remove the wipe and cover as large an area as possible, then gently slide the wipe over to another large area, with a slight overlap between areas.

Bottom Line:  Don’t Fly without These!

I think Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Wipes are an excellent way to provide UV protection.  The number one complaint amongst customers online is the relative high cost compared to drugstore sunscreen brands, but in the long run,  Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Wipes are cheaper than checking a bag in the airport or buying marked-up sunscreens in beach locales anyway, and are incredibly convenient to take with you all over town.  I’ll definitely be packing Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Wipes with me anywhere I go — even if it’s not to a tropical location, these are incredible for use on airplanes, where UV rays penetrate the windows, increasing 4% with every 1000 feet of elevation.  I think of these as a godsend — usually I’m sitting on the plane, conspicuously smelling like a coconut from my whitish SPF 50+ formulas.  I’m definitely a huge fan!  Product Rating:  10/10.

Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Wipes Ingredients in Supergoop! SPF 30 Sunscreen Wipes

Water (Aqua), C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diethylhexyl 2,6-Naphthalate (Sunscreen Stabilizer), Acrylates/C12-22 Alkyl Methacrylate Copolymer (Waterproofing), C14-22 Alcohols, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C Palmitate), Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol (Preservative), Ethylhexylglycerin (Plant Derived Preservative), Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Helianthus Annuus (Hybrid Sunflower) Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Plant Derived), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Paeonia Albifora Flower (White Tea) Extract, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid (Naturally Derived).