Supergoop Glow Stick SPF 50

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides uva-i protection (340-400nm) critical for photoaging prevention — the only widely available chemical uva-i filter.

Why It's Used: The essential uva-i filter — avobenzone is the only commonly approved chemical filter providing protection in the photoaging-critical 340-400nm range essential for broad-spectrum sunscreen claims.

How It Works: Dibenzoylmethane chromophore absorbs uva-i (λmax 357nm, εmax ~36,000). photodegrades via photoisomerisation requiring photostabilisation (octocrylene, bemotrizinol) for durability.

Typically Found In: Broad-spectrum sunscreens,anti-aging spf products

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – chemical uva-i filter

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: Up to 5% (eu), 3% (us fda)

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – synthetic

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Eu max 5%. fda: 3%. ewg score: 2. requires photostabilisation. photoallergy risk in some individuals.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Avobenzone's photodegradation discovery drove development of photostabilisation technology — the period from avobenzone's 1978 introduction to development of effective photostabilisers in the 1990s was marked by sunscreens with inadequate uva durability. bemotrizinol (tinosorb s) development provided the most elegant solution by providing a photostable molecule with equivalent uva coverage.

Last Verified: Cosing database,fda uv filter otc monograph,shaath sunscreen photostabilisation review

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides quick-dry volatile hydrocarbon carrier for colour cosmetics with complete evaporation and no residue.

Why It's Used: Primary colour cosmetic carrier — isododecane's volatility and excellent pigment dispersion combined with complete evaporation make it the standard carrier for long-wear foundations and colour cosmetics.

How It Works: Volatile isoparaffin (bp 177-188°c) evaporates from skin within 10-20 minutes. excellent pigment dispersion for colour cosmetics. spreading enhancement from low surface tension. no residue after evaporation provides clean, long-wear finish.

Typically Found In: Long-wear foundations,colour cosmetics,primers,sunscreens

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – volatile hydrocarbon

Secondary Functions: Barrier sealing,softening

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 5%–60%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – synthetic

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 1/5 – low; formulation-dependent

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Isododecane's position as the preferred colour cosmetic carrier arises from a unique combination of properties that no other solvent provides simultaneously: volatility (complete evaporation for clean finish), pigment dispersion (superior to water or alcohols), compatibility with silicones (unlike many solvents), and skin safety (inert hydrocarbon without irritation potential of polar solvents).

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides ultra-lightweight dry-touch emolliency with excellent pigment dispersion for lightweight formulations.

Why It's Used: Premium lightweight emollient for dry-touch formulations — isohexadecane's highly branched structure provides the lightest, driest application feel of common cosmetic hydrocarbons.

How It Works: Highly branched c16 isoparaffin provides very low surface tension for fast spreading. completely non-polar structure provides no water retention (dry feel). excellent pigment wetting for colour cosmetics. very low viscosity (2.5 cst) for fluid application.

Typically Found In: Lightweight foundations,sunscreens,colour cosmetics,dry-touch products

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – branched hydrocarbon emollient

Secondary Functions: Barrier sealing,softening

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 1%–30%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – synthetic hydrocarbon

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Isohexadecane's highly branched structure (methyl-substituted hexadecane) prevents the close molecular packing that creates liquid crystalline phases in linear hydrocarbons, resulting in a permanently disordered liquid state with very low viscosity and surface tension. this structural disorder from branching is the molecular basis for the lighter, faster-spreading application feel vs equivalent linear hydrocarbons.

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Absorbs uva (320–400 nm) and/or uvb (290–320 nm) photons with a high molar extinction coefficient, dissipates absorbed energy as vibrational heat, and contributes to the formulation's spf and critical wavelength.

Why It's Used: Organic uv filters are selected for their high molar extinction coefficient (>10,000 l/mol/cm for most commercial filters), specific spectral coverage complementing other filters in the system, and photostability under prolonged uv exposure.

How It Works: Aromatic π→π* and n→π* electronic transitions absorb uv photons exciting the chromophore to a singlet excited state (s₁). ultra-fast internal conversion (10⁻¹²–10⁻¹¹ s) dissipates excitation energy as heat rather than photochemical reactions, returning the molecule to the ground state for continued absorption.

Typically Found In: Sunscreens,spf formulas

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: Check local sunscreen limits

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Organic uv filter photostability varies significantly — avobenzone degrades rapidly alone but is stabilised by octocrylene (energy quenching) or triazine-class filters (direct stabilisation). filter combination selection must account for photostabilisation requirements of each component.

Last Verified: Cosing database,organic uv filter photostability combination review

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides uvb-uva-ii uv protection and essential avobenzone photostabilisation.

Why It's Used: The essential combination partner — octocrylene's dual uv filter + avobenzone photostabilisation function makes it virtually irreplaceable for durable broad-spectrum chemical sunscreens requiring uva-i coverage.

How It Works: Cyanocinnamate chromophore absorbs uvb-uva-ii (λmax 303nm). triplet energy transfer from excited avobenzone to octocrylene photostabilises avobenzone (>90% efficiency at 3:1 avobenzone:octocrylene ratio). hydrophobic character enhances water resistance.

Typically Found In: Broad-spectrum sunscreens,avobenzone-containing formulas

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – uv filter and photostabiliser

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: Up to 10% (eu), 10% (us fda)

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – synthetic

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Eu max 10%. fda: 10%. ewg score: 3. recent benzophenone impurity concerns from aged product hydrolysis under study.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Octocrylene's triplet energy transfer photostabilisation of avobenzone operates via a dexter electron exchange mechanism: excited-state avobenzone (triplet) transfers excitation energy to octocrylene via orbital overlap, allowing avobenzone to return to its ground state uv-absorbing form without photodegradation. this energy transfer is only efficient at close molecular proximity — requiring intimate mixing of the two compounds in the formulation oil phase.

Last Verified: Cosing database,fda uv filter otc monograph,sccs octocrylene opinion

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides elegant dry-touch emolliency with excellent solubilisation for active ingredients.

Why It's Used: Premium emollient solvent — octyldodecanol's branched c20 structure provides a uniquely dry, elegant emollient character with exceptional compatibility for challenging actives.

How It Works: Branched c20 fatty alcohol provides dry, non-greasy emolliency. excellent solvent for fat-soluble vitamins, retinoids, uv filters, and flavour compounds. lower viscosity than longer-chain fatty alcohols for elegant application. very good spreading coefficient for uniform application.

Typically Found In: Premium skincare,sunscreens,vitamin delivery systems

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient – emollient

Secondary Functions: Barrier sealing,softening

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 1%–20%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – from c10 alcohols via guerbet reaction (plant-derived)

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 1/5 – low; formulation-dependent

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Octyldodecanol is produced via the guerbet reaction — a base-catalysed self-condensation of two c10 alcohol molecules (decanol) yielding the branched c20 2-octyldodecanol. this reaction produces a highly branched structure that prevents crystallisation (liquid at room temperature), providing liquid-state emolliency with a completely different tactile profile than the waxy feel of linear c20 fatty alcohols.

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Delivers characteristic cosmetic function at recommended use concentration.

Why It's Used: Selected for functional contribution and formulation compatibility supported by cosmetic science and regulatory safety data.

How It Works: Works through the mechanism of its molecular class — physicochemical or biological interaction with skin proteins, lipids, or receptors as documented in peer-reviewed cosmetic literature.

Typically Found In: Skin care formulations

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%–10%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Conditional

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 – non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1–2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Polyester-8 has an established safety and efficacy profile within the cosmetic regulatory framework at standard use concentrations.

Last Verified: Cosing database,polyester-8 technical literature

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Tocopherol neutralizes free radicals that damage skin cells, protects cell membranes from lipid peroxidation, moisturizes, and helps maintain a healthy skin barrier.

Why It's Used: It is used as both a skin-active antioxidant and a formulation stabilizer (preventing oxidation of other ingredients). it has decades of safety and efficacy evidence and works synergistically with vitamin c.

How It Works: As a chain-breaking antioxidant, tocopherol donates hydrogen atoms to interrupt lipid peroxidation chain reactions. it is regenerated by vitamin c (ascorbic acid) in the vitamins c+e antioxidant cycle, creating a more durable antioxidant defense.

Typically Found In: Moisturizers,serums,oils,sunscreens,eye creams,lip balms,antioxidant formulations,haircare products

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient – antioxidant/vitamin e

Secondary Functions: Emollient,formulation stabilizer,barrier support

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%–1% (typical: 0.1–0.5% as active; higher as formulation antioxidant)

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes – plant-derived (soybean, sunflower, wheat germ oil) or synthetic

Halal Status: Yes – plant-derived or synthetic

Source Notes: Natural d-alpha-tocopherol is derived from plant oils and is more bioactive. synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol is less expensive. tocopherol acetate (tocopheryl acetate) is the more stable ester form.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 – very low; rare contact sensitivity reported

Comedogenicity Rating: 2/5 – mildly comedogenic at higher concentrations; formulation-dependent

Sensitivity Concerns: A small percentage of people report contact sensitization to tocopherol, particularly with leave-on products. comedogenicity risk is higher in oil-heavy formulations.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Generally yes; perform patch test if history of vitamin e sensitivity

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Very safe; widely used. ewg hazard score: 2–3 (depending on concentration). no significant systemic concerns from topical use.

Works Well With: Ascorbic acid (vitamin c) – synergistic antioxidant pair,ferulic acid – stabilizes and boosts both c and e,ceramides,spf,retinol

Avoid Combining With: Very high concentrations of benzoyl peroxide may oxidize tocopherol; potential comedogenicity concerns in acne-prone skin when in heavy oil bases

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

The combination of vitamin c, vitamin e, and ferulic acid (the 'ce ferulic' formulation) provides fourfold photoprotection against uv-induced free radical damage – a synergy documented in landmark research by pinnell et al.

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment,pinnell et al. (2005) journal of investigative dermatology,efsa panel on food additives

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12