Last Updated on October 8, 2022 by Eve Dawes
Supergoop Sunrise VS Golden Hours VS Paula’s Choice – Which Ones a Keeper & Which One’s Getting Ditched?
Paulas Choice Essential Glow moisturizer is getting compared to Supergoop Glowscreen in a lot of comparison reviews but they’re not the same. They are 2 very different SPF moisturizers and primers and give 2 very different results. SPF glow moisturizers and primers are everywhere and Supergoop Glowscreen SPF 40 in sunrise has been my go to all-in-one primer and SPF moisturizer for a few years. However, beauty editors have been comparing it to Paula’s Choice Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF 30. So obviously I had to give Paula’s Choice a go to compare to Supergoop sunscreen to see what the hype’s all about and to make sure I wasn’t missing out. Supergoop Glowscreen also just came out with a new shade ‘Golden Hour’. So I figured I’d also do a ‘Supergoop sunrise vs golden hour’ comparison to test the new shade to the original ‘Sunrise’ shade and Paula’s Choice Essential Glow and review them side by side.
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Supergoop Glowscreen & Paula’s Choice Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF Review
I was expecting there to be more similarities between Supergoop Glowscreen SPF 40 and Paula’s Choice Essential Glow SPF moisturizer as people had been comparing them but there’s actually more differences than similarities. Paula’s Choice is more of a moisturizer and Supergoop Glowscreen SPF 40 is more of a hydrating primer. There’s also a big difference in the type of sunscreen protection they give & the colors and finish they give.
Here’s my thoughts on all 3 of these, along with some dodgy pronunciations.
Key Points: What’s the Difference between Supergoop Superglow & Paula’s Choice Essential Glow Moisturizer With SPF
There’s pros to all of these broad spectrum SPF moisturizers but I only found cons to Paula’s Choice as it’s not reef safe and leaves a white sticky finish with zero glow. I have no idea why it’s called glow moisturizer! It definitely doesn’t do what’s promised from the description.
Shop the Moisturizer & Primers with SPF
- Paula’s Choice Essential Glow Moisturizer SPF 30
- Supergoop Glowscreen SPF40 original shade Sunrise which gives a champagne, pearlescent glow.
- Supergoop Glowscreen SPF40 new shade Golden Hour is darker and gives a deep bronzed, sunkissed glow.
Glowscreen contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, a humectant that absorbs 1,000 times its weight in water, but it’s not technically a moisturizer
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Which is the better SPF Moisturizer & Primer Supergoop Glowscreen or Paula’s Choice Essential Glow Moisturizer?
Living in Las Vegas which is super dry, I always look for skincare with hyaluronic acid which Supergoop Glowscreen SPF primer has and Paula’s Choice Essential Glow moisturizer doesn’t. Although Glow Screen is not technically a moisturizer, I’ve never needed to use one with this as I find it hydrating enough.
The Niacinamide is what makes Glowscreen such a great primer as it helps to reduce the appearance of pores while evening out skin tone versus Paula’s Choice Essential Glow which isn’t a primer.
Supergoop glowscreen sunscreen offers clean chemical SPF 40 vs Paula’s Choice all mineral sunscreen SPF 30. Supergoop also leaves a really flawless golden glow (the Golden Hour is just darker than the original shade) vs Paula’s white/greyish finish.
When it comes to Supergoop sunrise vs golden hour, the OG shade is my favorite. It’s lighter but works year round with and without my self-tanner. The golden hour shade is a lot darker so would only work for me when I have a lot of tanner on. I’ll add pics the next time I self-tan but I’m in the middle of microneedling sessions right now.
No makeup, unfiltered results below:
Antioxidant and blue light protectio
Both SPF moisturizers have antioxidants to help protect skin against environmental factors & and to filter blue light. I sit in front of my computer and phone a lot for work so this plus my blue light blocking glasses are essential.
Smell and sensitivity
Supergoop doesn’t really smell whereas I found Paula’s had a weird scent I really didn’t enjoy having around my nose. I haven’t found Paula Choice SPF moisturizer irritates my eyes like some sunscreens do though. Although I try to be careful when I’m applying it as I have really sensitive eyes.
Reef safe and vegan
I also like that Supergoop sunscreen is reef safe as we tend to do a lot of watersports on beach vacations as I’m not good at sitting still. It’s also Vegan for all of you looking for a Vegan sunscreen.
Conclusion
I’m sticking to Supergoop Glowscreen for all of the reasons in the video above. It’s a little more expensive than Paula’s Choice Essential Glow SPF moisturizer but in my opinion totally worth it. I wear it on its own on no makeup days but it also works really well as a primer under makeup to give a lit-from-within look.
I won’t be repurchasing Paula’s Choice Essential Glow Moisturizer as it didn’t live up to it’s name and I didn’t like the sticky pale finish, smell or fact that it’s not reef safe.
In regards to Supergoop sunrise vs golden hour, I’m sticking to the OG ‘Sunrise’ for most of the year and will just get Golden Hour for vacations or when I have a lot of self tanner on.
