Sunscreen dupes with the same UV filters
A sunscreen dupe has to match on the filters before anything else: zinc oxide against zinc oxide, avobenzone and homosalate against the same pair. These do, and each comparison says where the cheaper bottle differs, whether that's a lower SPF, an extra chemical filter or a different texture. The price per ounce counts for more here than anywhere else, because SPF is tested at a generous layer and a sunscreen only protects in the amount you actually put on.
Is there a cheaper sunscreen as good as Supergoop or EltaMD?
Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50, about $9.88 ($1.48 / fl oz), against the $28 Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 — 71% less. Same chemical filters at the core: avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate carry both, for broad-spectrum SPF 50 in a lotion made for face and body. Neutrogena adds a fourth filter, octocrylene, while Supergoop keeps to three and adds sunflower extract. More sunscreen for under a third of the price per ounce.
- 5
- 71%
- $124.73
1. Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 for Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50
$9.88 against $28, 71% less ($1.48 / fl oz versus $5.11 / fl oz). Both list Avobenzone and Homosalate and Octisalate.
−71%per ozCost per fl oz
Supergoop!$5.11 / fl ozNeutrogena$1.48 / fl oz- Size
- 162 ml
- 198 ml
- Key ingredients
- Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate
- Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene
What matches
Same chemical filters at the core: avobenzone, homosalate and octisalate carry both, for broad-spectrum SPF 50 in a lotion made for face and body.
What the dupe does worse
Neutrogena adds a fourth filter, octocrylene, while Supergoop keeps to three and adds sunflower extract.
2. Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Face Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50 for Tatcha The Silk Sunscreen SPF 50
$11.54 against $64, 82% less ($6.83 / fl oz versus $37.85 / fl oz). Both list Zinc oxide and Niacinamide.
−82%per ozCost per fl oz
Tatcha$37.85 / fl ozCetaphil$6.83 / fl oz- Size
- 50 ml
- 50 ml
- Key ingredients
- Zinc oxide, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed silk, Squalane
- Zinc oxide, Niacinamide, Vitamin E, Bisabolol
What matches
Both protect with zinc oxide alone, 12% here against Tatcha's 10%, in an almost identical silicone base, and both add niacinamide, vitamin E, bisabolol and allantoin.
What the dupe does worse
Cetaphil has none of Tatcha's squalane, silk or hyaluronic acid and no tint, and it dries matte where Tatcha dries radiant, so the zinc is left to go sheer on its own.
3. e.l.f. SKIN Suntouchable! Invisible SPF 35 for Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50
$15 against $38, 61% less ($8.87 / fl oz versus $22.48 / fl oz). Both list 3% avobenzone and 5% octisalate.
−61%per ozCost per fl oz
Supergoop!$22.48 / fl oze.l.f. SKIN$8.87 / fl oz- Size
- 50 ml
- 50 ml
- Key ingredients
- 3% avobenzone, 8% homosalate, 5% octisalate, 4% octocrylene
- 3% avobenzone, 7% homosalate, 5% octisalate, 8% octocrylene
What matches
The same four filters, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene, in the same kind of clear, silicone-slippy gel that sets like a primer and leaves no white cast.
What the dupe does worse
It stops at SPF 35 against Unseen's 50, with more octocrylene (8% against 4%) and a little less homosalate.
4. e.l.f. Cosmetics Camo CC Cream SPF 30 for IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+
$16 against $33.15, 49% less ($15.77 / fl oz versus $30.64 / fl oz). Both list Zinc oxide and Titanium dioxide.
−49%per ozCost per fl oz
IT Cosmetics$30.64 / fl oze.l.f. Cosmetics$15.77 / fl oz- Size
- 32 ml
- 30 ml
- Key ingredients
- Titanium dioxide, Zinc oxide
- Zinc oxide, Titanium dioxide, Octinoxate
What matches
Same idea: a color-correcting, medium-to-full coverage CC cream whose sunscreen leans on zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
What the dupe does worse
IT Cosmetics is fully mineral at SPF 50+ (9% titanium dioxide, 6.3% zinc oxide), while e.l.f. is SPF 30 and adds octinoxate, a chemical filter, to 13.7% zinc oxide.
5. DRMTLGY Universal Tinted Moisturizer SPF 46 for EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
$31 against $45, 31% less. Both list Zinc oxide and Niacinamide and Hyaluronic acid.
−31%on priceWhat each one costs
EltaMD$26.58 / ozDRMTLGY$18.34 / fl oz- Size
- 48 g
- 50 ml
- Key ingredients
- Zinc oxide, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid
- Zinc oxide, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic acid
What matches
Same filter family as UV Clear — zinc oxide with octinoxate — plus niacinamide, in a universal tint that greys as little on medium skin.
What the dupe does worse
Slightly heavier and dewier, which shows on very oily skin by midday, and one tint rather than tinted and untinted versions. A few dollars less for a comparable tube.
