Supergoop!’s mission is to change the way we think about sunscreen. But is it just old gloopy formulas they’re leaving in the past? Or have they adopted a modern cruelty-free and vegan approach to cosmetics too? We’re 90% happy with what we found – let's see where Supergoop fell short.
Supergoop! is cruelty-free. It doesn't conduct animal testing on its products, nor does it distribute its cosmetics where animal testing is required by law. While Supergoop! does offer a range of vegan cosmetics, it is not considered a vegan brand.
Did you know that skin cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers worldwide?
Yup! This is something that shocked Supergoop!’s founder Holly Thaggard to her core after a close friend of hers was diagnosed with skin cancer in the early 2000s.
Holly noticed that although sun care is critical – there was a lack of available and easy-to-use products at the time. So in 2005, she launched Supergoop! – an entire brand built around practical SPF protection.
Today, Supergoop! offers products for different skin types and lifestyle needs. The line is committed to clean, conscious SPFs and educating shoppers about the importance of sun care.
According to Bloomberg, Supergoop!’s net worth is about $700 million. Not bad for a skincare category that was a grudge, beach-season purchase 10 years ago!
But since they’ve got the cruelty-free thing waxed – we want to know if the brand could ever be 100% vegan too? Here’s what you need to know before you shop.
Is Supergoop! Cruelty-Free and Vegan?
Supergoop! is 100% Cruelty-Free
It does not:
Supergoop! has the gold standard of cruelty-free accreditation from Leaping Bunny – the only internationally recognized certification that guarantees a brand is cruelty-free.
It’s also PETA certified – because, why not?
Finally, the brand is privately owned, with investors not known to be associated with any hidden animal testing.
This brings us to our next point:
Supergoop! is Not Vegan
Vegans – please don’t be too sad here. Although Supergoop! is not entirely vegan, it is a breath away from achieving that status.
All but TWO products are vegan! Yes, you heard us right. These two products include the following:
The only animal-derived ingredient that Supergoop! uses is:
If you're interested in which products are vegan or finding vegan brand alternatives to Supergoop!, keep reading or follow this link: Supergoop! vegan products.
Animal Testing Policy and History
Supergoop! has been committed to creating clean, effective, affordable sunscreens that are also cruelty-free since it was founded.
Cruelty-Free Status in 2022
Here is a screenshot of Supergoop!’s official statement regarding its cruelty-free policies and vegan products, taken from its website:
Certification
Supergoop! is Cruelty Free International and Leaping Bunny certified.
While you might know PETA very well – it surprisingly doesn't hold the strictest cruelty-free regulations. It only requires a brand's written consent that abides by the PETA code of conduct.
Certification from Leaping Bunny is ideal because it holds rigorous standards and does regular audits to ensure they are upheld.
Leaping Bunny certification proves that:
If you see a bunny stamp on the back of your product bottle – that's an excellent sign. But don’t let the image itself fool you. A lot of brands are using fake logos to mislead consumers.
Do your homework and see which products are genuinely cruelty-free first. This article will help you: Which Cruelty-Free Logos Can You Trust?
Is Supergoop! Sold Where Animal Testing is Required By Law?
Supergoop! does not distribute any of its products in China or any country that requires animal testing on cosmetics by law.
Supergoop! found a better way to get into the Chinese market. In 2021 they trialed a pop-up shop in China where customers could try out samples, but they could not purchase anything.
Instead, customers were directed to Supergoop!’s online store. Selling their products online to customers directly means that nothing needs to be tested on animals when entering the country.
China has a shocking track record. It is the country with the most animal testing globally, with over 20 million animals used per year.
However, if you live in China or are concerned about its cruel beauty policies, there are a couple of loopholes.
Here’s how to find cruelty-free cosmetics in China: Are Cosmetics Made in China Cruelty-Free?
What Supergoop! Products Are Vegan?
Supergoop! only uses beeswax in two products: the 100% Mineral Sunscreen Stick and the Sunnyscreen™ 100% Mineral Stick.
This makes it 100% vegetarian with an extensive range of vegan products.
While its vegan products might not be marked clearly on the website – just stay clear of the two sunscreen sticks and you’ll be fine.
At this stage, there seems to be no goal of changing the brand’s vegan status…
But let’s give it some time and motivation.
For now, here are some of Supergoop!’s most popular and award-winning products to choose from:
For a full list of Supergoops!'s vegan products, you can find them listed here on the website.
Vegan Alternatives to Supergoop!
Overall, Supergoop! is a great option for vegans. They provide diverse sun care options, that are easy to use, and highly inclusive for people who follow a vegan lifestyle – and they won’t break the bank!
Supergoop! also has a clean track record and noteworthy transparency with its consumers.
For a multi-million dollar brand – it's commendable.
However, if you're looking for 100% vegan SPF skincare and cosmetics in a similar price range, here are some alternatives:
Is Supergoop! Natural and Organic?
Supergoop is not considered natural or organic, but it does use some natural ingredients, like minerals.
The brand’s whole ethos is centered around clean formulas and products that anyone can use daily to protect themselves against sun damage.
For this, they use safe, simple, and clean ingredients.
Clean vs. Natural Ingredients
The term "natural" is not regulated for cosmetics and skincare. In other words, it doesn't hold one specific meaning.
Usually, it means a product is free of certain more toxic synthetic ingredients, including parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and more.
But people also interpret "natural" to mean ingredients of immediate plant origin.
Here's the thing: "natural" doesn't mean it's good for you. Take gluten, for example. It's a natural protein in wheat that certain people are highly allergic to. Even topical application can lead to terrible health issues.
All products use a certain amount of synthetic ingredients in their formulas. Supergoop! is no exception – but it chooses to use better or clean synthetics.
If a synthetic ingredient is "clean," it is safe and non-toxic. Its purpose is to preserve the stability of a beauty formulation.
A few naturally-derived Supergoop! uses to enhance its cosmetics include:
Does Supergoop! Use Safe Ingredients?
According to Skin Safe, Supergoop! has an 82-100% allergen-free ranking across 89 products.
All Supergoop! products are free of allergens like:
Reading the ingredient list is crucial because Supergoop! is 100% hypoallergenic but not non-comedogenic, and they do not claim to be.
The EU/UK Have Stricter Ingredient Regulations
As a conscientious shopper, you must read up on any brand's ingredient list before making a purchase – especially if you live in the United States.
This is because the FDA has only banned or restricted 11 harmful chemicals from cosmetics within the country. Europe and the UK, on the other hand, have banned 1,328!
Although Supergoop! prides itself in being a clean brand – it still uses a few chemical ingredients that the FDA deems unsafe due to issues like skin irritation or hormone disruption. These include:
However, the brand is aware of how reactive these ingredients can be and provides mineral-based sunscreen alternatives.
With skincare and sunscreen, and cosmetics, some other toxic ingredients you want to avoid include:
Are Cruelty-Free Ingredients Safe?
If you’re worried about how safe it is to use cosmetics not tested on animals – please relax and take a sigh of relief.
There is no reason why cruelty-free products shouldn’t be as safe as anything tested on animals.
Not only is it easy to test ingredients without using animals altogether, but there are so many pre-approved ingredients you can use to make cosmetics that there is no need.
If you’re interested, here’s more on the subject: Are Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Safe
Is Supergoop! Sustainable and Ethical?
Supergoop! has strong sustainability and ethical initiatives that align with the company values.
The fact that the entire brand is built around preventing skin cancer by making sunscreen easier to use shows they’re off to a good start!
When Holly launched Supergoop!, she shared her products with schools before they even hit the shops – the objective was to better protect the youth who are exposed to sunshine every day.
As a mom and ex-elementary school teacher – Holly’s goal has been to make sunscreen application a healthy habit like brushing teeth or washing hands.
Today, Supergoop! has a special project called Ounce by Ounce® where you can donate money towards sending SPF pumps to schools and communities across America.
It's no secret that the world has a huge waste problem, and cosmetic brands only make it worse by using unsustainable packaging and harmful ingredients.
Some of the ways Supergoop! is taking strong environmental accountability is by:
Final Thoughts
Supergoop! is a well-developed SPF brand that takes various ethical factors into consideration.
It’s cruelty-free, almost entirely vegan, and works hard at ensuring it remains an ethical business no matter how much it grows.
We appreciate that it has a transparent supply chain and is open to the public about its testing, purchasing, and distribution policies. This helps us build trust with the brand’s claims.
Of course, since Supergoop! is not 100% vegan – it might not be the best choice for activists who go the extra mile.
But we wouldn't shut it down so quickly if we were you. This brand is developing and listening to your needs, so keep following its movements.
Supergoop! has listened to customer feedback and acted in it before. The only way to ensure that positive change is to keep making it.
