Most Supergoop products are chemical sunscreens, which many dermatologists recommend avoiding during pregnancy. However, Supergoop does make a line of mineral sunscreens that rely on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, the only two UV filters the FDA classifies as “generally recognized as safe and effective.” If you want to stick with Supergoop while pregnant, your safest bet is choosing from their mineral lineup.
Why Chemical Sunscreens Raise Concerns
Chemical sunscreen filters work by absorbing UV light through your skin. The issue is that they don’t just stay on the surface. A 2019 study found that chemical sunscreen ingredients reached plasma concentrations above the FDA’s recommended safety threshold after normal use. For most people, this isn’t necessarily a problem, but pregnancy is a period of heightened sensitivity to anything that enters your bloodstream and could reach the fetus.
The specific filters flagged during pregnancy are ones with endocrine-disrupting potential, meaning they can interfere with hormones. Oxybenzone, octinoxate, and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor are the most studied offenders. To Supergoop’s credit, the brand never formulates with oxybenzone or octinoxate. But their chemical products do contain other filters that lack sufficient safety data for pregnant women.
What’s in Supergoop’s Most Popular Products
The bestselling Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50 is a chemical formula. Its active ingredients are avobenzone (3%), homosalate (7%), octisalate (5%), and octocrylene (9%). None of these four filters have enough safety data for the FDA to classify them as safe and effective for anyone, let alone during pregnancy. Homosalate and octocrylene don’t have strong evidence of being endocrine disruptors, but the research is considered insufficient to rule it out either.
Glowscreen SPF 40, another popular pick, contains avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene, plus butyloctyl salicylate. Salicylates are a separate category of concern during pregnancy. Multiple pregnancy skincare reviewers classify Glowscreen as not safe for pregnancy because of both the chemical filters and the salicylate content.
If a Supergoop product doesn’t specifically say “mineral” on the label, assume it’s a chemical formula and check the active ingredients before using it.
Supergoop’s Mineral Options
Supergoop offers several mineral-only products that use zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, or both as their active filters. These sit on top of your skin and physically block UV rays rather than being absorbed. Systemic absorption is minimal, which is why mineral filters are the first-choice recommendation for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
The current mineral lineup includes:
- Mineral Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40, a sheer, whipped formula designed to blend across skin tones
- Mineral Mattescreen SPF 40, available in untinted and several tinted shades
- Mineral Glowscreen Soft-Radiance Drops SPF 40
- (Re)setting Mineral Powder SPF 35, a loose powder format
- PLAY Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50
- PLAY Mineral Lotion SPF 30
- Bright-Eyed Mineral Eye Cream SPF 40
These are your pregnancy-compatible options within the Supergoop range. One caveat: if you’re choosing a mineral powder or spray format, try to avoid inhaling the product. Inhaled mineral particles can be absorbed through the respiratory tract, so lotions and creams are preferable to powders and sprays during pregnancy.
Other Ingredients to Watch For
Sunscreen filters aren’t the only concern. Some sunscreens and tinted SPF products contain retinoids, arbutin, resorcinol derivatives, or salicylic acid in their inactive ingredient lists. These are all flagged for pregnancy. The active filters might be perfectly fine in a mineral formula, but a problematic inactive ingredient could still be present. Read the full ingredient list, not just the “active ingredients” box on the back.
Supergoop’s own position on pregnancy is intentionally vague. Their help center states that they believe in daily sunscreen use but that customers should consult their physician before using products while pregnant. This is a standard liability statement, not a safety endorsement.
How to Choose During Pregnancy
Sun protection still matters during pregnancy. In fact, pregnancy hormones can make your skin more prone to hyperpigmentation from UV exposure, so skipping sunscreen entirely isn’t ideal. The goal is picking the right type.
Stick with any Supergoop product labeled “mineral.” Apply it as a cream or lotion rather than a spray or powder when possible. Check the full ingredient list for salicylates, retinoids, or other flagged compounds beyond the UV filters. If you’re using the original (non-mineral) Unseen Sunscreen, Glowscreen, or any of Supergoop’s chemical formulas, switching to the mineral version of the same product is the simplest move. The Mineral Unseen Sunscreen was designed as a direct mineral counterpart to the original, so the texture and finish are similar.