Beautycounter Sunscreen Review

Beautycounter has been discontinued! Read about what happened to Beautycounter (and when it might come back) here. In the meantime, I have lots of great recommendations for non-toxic sunscreens for the entire family linked here. Also, be sure to join my email list so you can be the first to know when your Beautycounter favorites come back.

I am passionate about sunscreen. I have three friends who were diagnosed with melanoma in their late 20’s. And after that, I started being more consistent with wearing sunscreen every single day. I shared below the types of sunscreen I prefer for daily wear and the types I prefer for running or hiking and the pool. I also shared which type is easiest with a toddler. This post with the 20 non-toxic sunscreens may also be helpful since there are a few other brands I like even more than Beautycounter sunscreen, in some instances.

Beautycounter Sunscreen Review

At a quick glance, here are the best things about the Beautycounter sunscreen:

• It’s water resistant AND sweat resistant which makes it great for running, hiking or hot summer days
• It’s all SPF 30 (except for the Daily Sheer Defense Sunscreen for Face, which is SPF 25 and the Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer, which is SPF 20)
• Reef-friendly
• No annoying white cast
• Mineral-based instead of chemical-based

What’s the difference between mineral and chemical sunscreen?

The sunscreens that you grew up using were likely chemical sunscreens. These are created with synthetic chemicals and in order protect you against the sun, your skin has to absorb them and then these particles block the UV rays from burning you. Chemical sunscreens generally contain ingredients like:

• oxybenzone
• octocrylene
• ecamsule
• avobenzone,

All of those have potentially risky side effects when absorbed into your bloodstream such as hormone disruption and skin reactions. Chemical sunscreens can also worsen melasma and rosacea. (Source)

Mineral sunscreen, on the other hand, uses zinc and protects your skin is by sitting directly on top of your skin (NOT absorbing into your skin) and reflecting the sun’s UV rays away from your body. And zinc has has fewer safety concerns.

A note on SPF numbers: If you’re inside most of the day with just short stints in the sun, you can wear a sunscreen or cosmetic product with an SPF 15 or higher. However, if you spend a lot of time outdoors, especially when and where the sun is strongest (between 11am – 3pm), you need an SPF 30 or higher and one that’s water- and sweat-resistant. (Source: SkinCancer.org)

Ingredients in Beautycounter Countersun sunscreen

Non nano Zinc

Non-nano means the particles are not small enough to penetrate your skin, so the sunscreen will really just sit on top. Zinc is the active ingredient inside the Beautycounter sunscreen that protects your skin from the sun.

California Poppy

California poppy is antioxidant-rich and helps reinforce the skin’s defense against oxidation, which leads to wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.

Types of Beautycounter Sunscreens 

Countersun Daily Sheer Defense Review

This Beautycounter Countersun Daily Sheer Defense Review is Beautycounter’s daily face sunscreen. This is different from the other Beautycounter sunscreen products because this is made to go under your makeup for daily wear. I love this because it does NOT leave a greasy feeling or feel like it clogs my pores like so many sunscreens. Most mineral sunscreens leave a thick white cast, but this one does not. It blends in perfectly sheer.

This sunscreen uses zinc oxide as its active ingredient, which works by reflecting the sun’s rays off of your skin as a physical barrier. Because Daily Sheer is Oxybenzone and Octinoxate-free, it’s also a great option if you’re pregnant, too. All Beautycounter Countersun products provide protection from UVA and UVB, and all of them are oxybenzone-free, octinoxate-free and reef-friendly. But this one also provides protection from HEV blue light rays. These rays come from the sun and from electronics. Considering I spend a good chunk of my life in front of my computer and/or phone (hey, it’s part of my job!), that’s important to me.

Daily Sheer Defense is designed to be worn under makeup. It’s super thin, lightweight, SHEER, and smooth. I was a Dew Skin fanatic for YEARS before I transitioned into wearing a more full coverage foundation (Skin Twin). Part of the reason I loved Dew Skin so much was because it provided SPF, and it blended so smoothly. But since Skin Twin doesn’t have SPF, I always had to layer Dew Skin or another SPF underneath… and other zinc oxide based sunscreens often left a cast. Not. Great. This one blends quickly and easily. See? It actually leaves my skin looking brighter and more illuminated when I wear it under my makeup…similar to a primer!

Sunscreen Mist 

The Countersun mist is probably my favorite form of the Beautycounter sunscreen because it’s so easy to apply. Like I mentioned earlier, mineral sunscreen is effective because it sits on top of your skin, so you do have to make sure you get the SPF evenly applied all over your body. And, you need to make sure to shake it well before using. But I think the mist is the easiest and fastest type of sunscreen to use.

Best for toddlers: It’s also easy to spray on toddlers and rubs in more easily than the lotion. And with a squirmy bottle, that’s helpful! Sometimes I spray it directly onto him, but most times I spray it into my hand and them rub it onto his arms, legs and neck. (I use the stick for his face… more on that below.)

The mist comes in both a 6oz. and a travel size. I apply this before every run and give it time to absorb while I’m doing my pre-run warm-up.

Sunscreen Lotion

The Countersun Lotion is my second favorite type of Beautycounter sun, after the mist. My husband and I both keep the lotion in our golf bags since we don’t like the mist drifting onto our clubs (or my cute golf clothes 😉 ). I also put this inside a little sunscreen applicator tool so my son will apply it himself, which makes applying sunscreen to a toddler much easier when he thinks it’s cool! 

Which version I use — lotion vs. mist – depends on my situation. If I remember to apply sunscreen before putting on my bathing suit, I use lotion rather than spraying a mist inside. However, the mist is great when I’m outside prepping for a run or while hiking or reapplying at the pool.

The lotion also comes in two sizes: 6.7oz and 3.4oz. I keep the little one in our stroller, again so I don’t get mist all over his stroller if I’m applying while on the go.

Sunscreen Stick

The sunscreen stick is SO easy to use and I weirdly enjoy applying it. I like this for my face before runs when I’m not wearing any makeup, and this is BY FAR the easiest version to apply to Thomas’ face. It’s easy to throw into your pool bag or purse so that you have it when you need to reapply! I also keep this in our walking stroller and running stroller.

Daily Sheer Face Sunscreen

I have a separate post on the Daily Sheer SPF because I love it SO much. (Read that here.) It’s a daily face sunscreen that is designed to wear under makeup. It’s so smooth, lightweight and doesn’t leave a white cast. It contains SPF 25.

A note on face sunscreen: I LOVE skincare and I spend good money on high-quality products. Why would I throw my money away on skincare and not wear the most essential thing for preventing signs of aging, i.e. SUNSCREEN. If you don’t wear sunscreen on your face, buy this and start now.

Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer 

Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer was my gateway product to Beautycounter. It’s easy to apply, evens out skin and never looks heavy. It contains SPF 20 so it’s a great two in one product.

How to Use Beautycounter Sunscreen

Shake before using

This is especially important with the mist! Shaking it ensures none of the ingredients have separated and will protect adequately. It also helps the spray comes out more evenly.

Apply liberally

To get the full protection out of your sunscreen, apply one ounce — about a shot glass full — to your entire body. Most people apply less than half of that amount!

Apply 15 minutes before going outside

This is a best practice for all types of sunscreen. That allows enough time for the sunscreen to bind to your skin for full protection.

Reapply

It’s best to reapply every 2 hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.

Shop Beautycounter Countersun Sunscreen here.

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