Product Review: Supergoop Mattescreen

I have a small beauty confession to make. I am usually not a regular wearer of SPF. Despite most dermatologist's warnings about the dangers of sun damage and the fact that I am naturally very fair, I struggle to find a sunscreen that I enjoy using and can bring myself to put on every day. This is largely because my skin seems highly sensitive to the majority of SPF ingredients out there, resulting in not only big breakouts and extra clogged pores but also in painful rashes on both my face and my body. I have never been able to determine for sure what specific ingredients in SPF my skin reacts too, but I do believe that my issues are genetic, as my Mom also has similar issues.

In going to the beach recently, however, I was given my best friend and sister a new sunscreen to try. She knowing my difficulties with sunscreens but also knowing that I would need sun protection in that environment, thought that this might be a good one for me to try. She could not have been more right.

The Supergoop Mattescreen is a reef-safe sunscreen rated at an SPF 40, one of the higher common rates for a facial SPF. I really appreciate this as an extra insurance policy of having more ample protection for when I am staying outside for longer or am in stronger rays. And I have to tell you using this on my face for a full week at the beach I did not experience on bit of sunburn, and I only applied it once or twice per day. This being said, I was only outside for a few hours at a time and still tried to keep in shadier areas when possible. So if you are going to be more in full sun for a long time, please by all means reapply as needed and especially if you are going in the water, as this product does not claim to be waterproof.

Thanks to its convenient and compact squeeze tube packaging, it is very easy to throw in your bag or purse for touching up. And I'm happy to say that applying more when needed is no issue because the formula is very lightweight and layers quite well upon any residual of itself that may be hanging around. It is definitely has a matte finish. This I think makes it a great choice for those with combination or oily skin that may struggle with looking shiny from wearing other sunscreens or having SPF blocking the pores or just feeling heavy and uncomfortable. In fact, on my dry skin, it may even be a teeny-tiny bit too trying, but since it is so lightweight and layers well, I can combat this by applying a hydrating serum like the Biotherm Aquasource Aura Concentrate or a hydrating Vitamin C product like the Skiceuticals Vitamin C serum to help give my skin a bit of extra cushion before putting this on. And on extra-dry days, it even layers well over a richer cream.

To add to its wearability, Mattescreen is alsobeige-tinted to help mitigate the white cast many sunscreens leave behind, especially on deeper complexions. The tint, while a bit dark at first on my pale skin melds in pretty well once the product is applied and fully blended, so I think it would be adaptable for most

Yet, the best part of this product for me is that I have not experienced any sort of allergic reaction or breakout from it, and I am proud to say now that I confidently wear SPF each day I go outdoors with no issue. I think this must be due to the fact that this is a purely mineral-based sunscreen with 17% zinc oxide and 0.7% titanium dioxide as the only active ingredients. These two ingredients are said to be the most well-tolerated and safest of FDA-approved sunscreens out there both for the environment and the human body both internally and externally, but are often layered with other approved chemical sunscreens like avobenzone, oxybenzone, and octocrylene, which for some people can cause adverse skin reactions and other side effects. So I am so happy to find a sunscreen that avoids these and agrees with my skin in both formula and ingredients that I can now incorporate into my daily routine.

If you, like me, have struggled to find a sunscreen that works for your skin, I highly recommend giving the Supergoop Mattescreen SPF 40 sunscreen a try. Currently, it is available in a 1.5 oz tube for $38 USD as well as a 0.5 oz mini tube for $17, which is great for short trips and sampling to make sure it is a good fit for your skin. You can find it on the Supergoop website as well as at Sephora stores and Sephora.com I am so happy that my search for a sunscreen has been resolved and I cannot recommend it more.