If you have sensitive skin or you’re struggling with a condition like acne or rosacea, you know how challenging it can be to find a good sunscreen.
Many sunscreens include common irritants like fragrance and parabens, while others include pore-clogging ingredients that lead to breakouts.
If this predicament sounds all too familiar, you may want to consider the COOLA sunscreen collection. COOLA believes that the ingredients used in their products should be healthy for our skin and our world — which is why there’s 70% or more organic ingredients in every formula.
The line of face and body sunscreens includes dozens of different sunscreen products, including lotions, sprays, sticks, serums, and more!
We understand that it may seem daunting to choose between so many different products, so we’ve narrowed down the 5 best COOLA sunscreens.
Below we’ll cover the formulation details, including the key ingredients in COOLA sunscreens and the research that supports (or doesn’t support) their use in skincare.
And to get a better idea of how well these sunscreens perform, we’ll share some COOLA sunscreen reviews from real customers.
What Are The Top 5 Best COOLA Sunscreen Products?
COOLA offers a variety of sun protection products, including lotions, sticks, sprays, and more. Here’s a breakdown of the top 5 best COOLA sunscreen products.
COOLA Classic Face Organic Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
One of the brand’s best selling products is the classic COOLA sunscreen, a facial lotion that protects the skin with a combination of four chemical sunscreen ingredients: avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene. The formula also includes skin-nourishing botanical extracts, such as aloe vera, meadowfoam seed oil, and raspberry seed oil, just to name a few.
COOLA Refreshing Water Cream Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 50
Enriched with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and coconut water, this facial sunscreen leaves the skin feeling dewy and moisturized while also protecting against UV damage thanks to SPF 50 protection.
This is another COOLA sunscreen with four chemical sunscreen ingredients: avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene. There’s also “BlueScreen Digital De-Stress” technology to help mitigate the effects of blue light, pollutants, and other skin stressors.
Of note, this COOLA sunscreen contains naturally-derived fragrance, which still has the potential to cause skin sensitivity reactions.
COOLA Sun Silk Drops Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 30
COOLA Sun Silk Drops can be used solo or blended with your favorite moisturizer or foundation to provide SPF 30 protection thanks to a combination of three chemical sunscreen ingredients (avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene).
This is another product that’s formulated with the brand’s “BlueScreen Digital De-Stress” technology to help mitigate the effects of blue light, pollutants, and other skin stressors.
Of note, this COOLA sunscreen contains naturally-derived fragrance, which still has the potential to cause skin sensitivity reactions.
COOLA The Great Barrier Cream Fortifying Moisturizer
COOLA The Great Barrier Cream gets its name from the sustainably harvested sea kelp actives in this formula. These actives are rich in essential nutrients and polyphenols, while Blue Algae is rich in amino acids, fatty acids, antioxidants, and proteins.
This is another product that’s formulated with the brand’s “BlueScreen Digital De-Stress” technology to help mitigate the effects of blue light, pollutants, and other skin stressors.
Of note, this COOLA sunscreen contains naturally-derived fragrance, which still has the potential to cause skin sensitivity reactions.
COOLA Rōsilliance Tinted Moisturizer Organic Sunscreen SPF 30
COOLA Rōsilliance Tinted Moisturizer is a true multi-tasker; it acts as your moisturizer, sunscreen, and makeup — all in one product!
We love that the formula includes the mineral sunscreen titanium dioxide, which provides broad spectrum SPF 50 protection. And you don’t have to worry about a white cast since the formula is tinted with iron oxides.
This COOLA tinted sunscreen is available in three different shades: golden, light/medium, and medium/deep.
What Are The Key Ingredients in COOLA Sunscreen Products?
COOLA offers both chemical sunscreens and mineral sunscreens, which may leave you wondering; what’s the difference? Does it matter which type I use? Below we’ll answer these questions and more about the key ingredients in COOLA sunscreens.
Chemical Sunscreen Ingredients
The majority of COOLA sunscreens are formulated with chemical sunscreen ingredients, such as avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene.
These ingredients protect the skin by first absorbing UV light, then transforming that light energy into some other form of energy, such as heat.
A benefit of chemical sunscreens is their ability to defend the deeper layers of skin, including collagen fibers and other tissue, against the aging effects of UVA rays, as well as preventing penetration by the UVB rays responsible for tanning and sunburn.
A drawback of chemical sunscreens is that they are thinner than physical sunscreens and therefore, rub off easier and must be reapplied more frequently.
Another more serious drawback of chemical sunscreens is that research has shown they do absorb through the skin and into the bloodstream.
Fortunately, COOLA does not use the chemical sunscreen oxybenzone, which has been linked to skin allergies and hormone disruption.
Mineral (Physical) Sunscreen Ingredients
We love that there’s several 100% mineral sunscreens in the COOLA sunscreen collection.
Mineral — also known as physical — sunscreens include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These ingredients protect your skin by using physical UV filters to block or deflect UV light.
Physical sunscreens tend to be better tolerated by most skin types because they are not absorbed into the skin. Thus, they are especially useful for those with heat sensitive skin (i.e. rosacea patients) as well as those with acne-prone skin as they are typically less pore-clogging.
However, physical sunscreens are thicker than chemical sunscreens and can often leave a white cast after application. One way to get around this issue is to look for a mineral sunscreen with a tint, such as the COOLA Tinted Sunscreen.
How Much Do COOLA Sunscreen Products Cost?
COOLA Sunscreen products are pretty affordable, with the prices being comparable to higher end drugstore brands such as Olay and Burt’s Bees. For example, the COOLA Classic Face Organic Sunscreen Lotion costs $32 USD for 1.7 fl oz (50 mL).
Where to Buy COOLA Sunscreen Products?
COOLA Sunscreen Products are sold on the brand’s website, as well as many third party online and in-store retailers such as Ulta and Amazon.
What is The COOLA Return Policy?
The COOLA return policy states, “Your satisfaction is our number one priority here at COOLA. This is why we offer a 45-day exchange and return period. If the product was not the right fit for you and you are looking to try another COOLA product, please visit returns.coola.com to start a free and easy exchange or return.”
Is COOLA Sunscreen Cruelty Free?
Yes, COOLA is 100% cruelty free.
Our Verdict
Overall, we think that the COOLA sunscreen products are formulated well, although we’d recommend the 100% mineral products over the chemical sunscreen formulations.
Pros
- The brand has a sunscreen for every skin type, even those with sensitive skin or acne-prone skin
- Many positive COOLA Sunscreen reviews
- COOLA is cruelty free
Cons
- Chemical sunscreen ingredients are absorbed into the bloodstream
- Some formulas contain naturally-derived fragrances
References:
