Supergoop! Play SPF 50 used to disappear into skin like a ghost. Now it sits on top like a chalky veil. The new formula leaves a white cast—something the old one never, ever did.
I tested it on three friends with different skin tones. The medium and deep complexions looked ashy within 60 seconds. That’s not a sunscreen. That’s a problem.
This is the Supergoop! Play Every Day SPF 50 Lotion, $26 for 18 oz. The claim: “invisible, weightless protection.” The reality: not invisible anymore.
New filter blend
They swapped out some chemical filters for zinc oxide. That’s the white culprit.
Thicker base
The texture went from runny-sheer to lotion-thick. Takes longer to rub in.
Scent shift
Old version smelled like a light sunscreen. New one has a faint plastic note.
Photo: Divya Bhardwaj / Unsplash
They added zinc oxide (17%) and kept avobenzone. That combo gives broad spectrum but creates a physical barrier that reflects light—and that reflection looks white on skin. The hero ingredients are fine on paper. On skin? Different story.
- Zinc Oxide 17%: Provides physical block, causes white cast on deeper skin
- Avobenzone: Chemical UVA filter, stable but paired with zinc now
- Vitamin E: Antioxidant, helps with free radicals, does nothing for texture
Photo: Lina Verovaya / Unsplash
Squeezed out a dime-sized blob. It’s thicker—like a light moisturizer, not a fluid. Spreads okay but leaves a visible film. I rubbed for 20 seconds. Still there. My arm looked slightly gray.
Week 2: I tried it on my face. Bad idea. It pilled under makeup. Never happened before. The one thing that hasn’t changed? It doesn’t sting my eyes. That’s it.
Photo: Gaston Roulstone / Unsplash
SPF protection is still solid—no burns after 2 hours of sun. But the texture downgrade makes me reach for it less. I used to go through a bottle a month. Now it sits half-full.
Photo: Andrey Grinkevich / Unsplash
They fixed something that wasn’t broken. If you had the old formula, hoard it. The new one is fine for fair skin but a miss for everyone else.