The Supergoop! Glow Stick Is the Perfect Sunscreen for Everyday Touch-Ups
“Hearst Magazines and Verizon Media may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.”
There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
On Trial: Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50
Tester: Melanie Yates, reformed sun worshipper
The Brief: Maybe it's the heightened sense of awareness I have about exposure and coverage, but I now feel pretty uncomfortable going outside without any form of SPF on. There's just no avoiding around the fact that getting melanoma as a result of unprotected UVA/UVB exposure is a diagnosis that you don't want to risk. And while experts say that wearing any sunscreen with an SPF of 30 and above is better than none, the key is to consistently reapply while you're out in the sun — at least once every 2 hours at minimum.
The only way I can ensure that I do that is to use a sunscreen that's portable enough to pack in any bag and one that I don't have to use my fingers to apply. That's why the Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 has been an incredible game changer for me.
This sunscreen is a solid stick of completely sheer formula. It's unscented and comes in a 1.23-ounce, 2-inch-tall, push-pop tube. It travels everywhere with me so that if I feel the sun start to beat down a little too brightly, I can just unscrew the top and swipe it on. And almost certainly, anytime I want to apply sunscreen on the go is not when my hands are at their cleanest. I apply the stick directly to my skin as thoroughly as I can, making sure to get the tops of my ears, my neck, my chest, and the backs of my hands, too.
Not only is the compact size of the Glow Stick perfect, but its clear formula makes it my favorite to use. It leaves no tint and no white cast, and it doesn't leave residue on clothes either. Other beauty editors from Popsugar and Allure have praised its “dewy finish” and “hydrating” feel, and I have to agree. All that this sunscreen leaves behind is a slight sheen to the skin when freshly applied — perhaps not what you want to hear if you have very oily skin, but it dries down into more of a moisturizer feel. I never feel too shiny or greasy when I wear this, even on my T-zone.
The only thing that I don't like about the Glow Stick is the applicator. While a twisting mechanism would make the most sense for a stick sunscreen, instead, I have to press up gently on its base to get more product. And as I've experienced, even pressing carefully doesn't give precise control over how much product comes out. It's a small annoyance, but baffling nonetheless.
And while at $25 a pop, the Glow Stick isn't the cheapest SPF on the shelf, using it as an everyday touch-up sunscreen — rather than one I apply all over on those rare days that I make it to the beach — makes it extremely worthwhile. I also love that it's a vegan product made by a certified cruelty-free company, too.
Closing Argument: The Supergoop! Glow Stick SPF 50 is a sunscreen that I can confidently recommend to anyone. It's helped make sun protection a regular part of my own routine by eliminating the pain points: the big bottle, the white globs, and the gross face-touching. If you've ever braved a day sans sunscreen for any of those reasons, you need to pick this little tube up now.
Looking for more types of sunscreen? Check out our guides to face sunscreen, mineral sunscreen, and tinted sunscreen.
You Might Also Like
