I tried ELF Cosmetics' $14 and Supergoop's $38 glow sunscreens, and I'd only buy the dupe again

• ELF Cosmetics and Supergoop sell two similar sunscreens at drastically different prices.
• I've tried both and personally prefer the dupe, which is $24 cheaper.

Wearing sunscreen has become something like a lifestyle.

Dermatologists rave about the benefits of SPF to prevent wrinkles and protect your skin from UV rays, makeup brands are mixing it into beauty products, and influencers tout sunscreen as a daily necessity.

I like to think I'm not easily influenced, but the high praise on social media has changed my daily routine. Now, not a day goes by that I step outside without applying sunscreen first.

So naturally, I've tried two of the most popular options that promise to provide sun protection, a slight tint of color, and a nearly sparkling glow to your skin: Supergoop's Glowscreen and ELF Cosmetics' Suntouchable! Whoa Glow.

Here's why I prefer the less-expensive dupe over the one that seemingly inspired it.

Which glow-infused sunscreen came first: Supergoop or ELF Cosmetics?

Supergoop released its SPF 40 Glowscreen in 2020, and I tried it not long after. While I thought the product worked fine, I personally wasn't willing to spend nearly $40 on a single bottle.

But then in December 2022, ELF Cosmetics launched its SPF 30 Suntouchable! Whoa Glow. When I saw it at Target at the time, I stopped in my tracks.

ELF Cosmetics is known for its dupes of popular makeup products, but this looked so similar to the famous Supergoop product.

It has a yellow cap in the luxury brand's signature shade, the word "glow" in its name, and "Suntouchable!" written with the same punctuation as the Supergoop brand.

Similar products with a $24 price difference

I've continued to use ELF Cosmetics' sunscreen since it launched in 2022, and I recently tried the Supergoop option again via a $22 mini size I bought at Sephora.

And my opinion still stands — though the two products are similar, I prefer the dupe from ELF.

Supergoop's sunscreen has a pearlescent glow that can almost look sparkly in the light, while the ELF Cosmetics formula looks a bit more natural with less glimmer, in my opinion.

I've also found that the Supergoop formula is pretty thin and feels sticky on my skin when settled, while ELF's is a bit thicker, glides on easily, and leaves my face feeling more hydrated than tacky.

Supergoop does offer a slightly higher SPF number than ELF Cosmetics. However, dermatologists previously told Insider that you should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30. A higher SPF, they said, only provides a marginal amount of extra protection and needs to be reapplied just as frequently.

There are also four shades of Supergoop's product compared to three of ELF's.

I used the lightest shades of both products and found that Supergoop's option provided a slightly better wash of color to my face.

Still, neither sunscreen provided actual coverage. When I wear them, you can still see my acne and skin texture underneath both products.

Both sunscreens do have strong glowing effects. I don't love wearing either on their own, as I've noticed that my normally dry skin can look almost greasy if I do.

That said, I usually wear the sunscreens as a base for my makeup when I'm working and spending days inside. I've found that both options sit great under other products, and I feel good knowing my face has at least some protection from the sun.

Of course, you can't reapply cream sunscreen on top of makeup. So when I plan to be outside for long periods of time, I typically ditch most makeup and opt for a non-glowing sunscreen to wear on its own.

With similar pros and cons, I wouldn't say you could go wrong with either ELF's or Supergoop's sunscreens. But for me, it all comes down to the price.

Supergoop sells its full-sized, 1.7-ounce Glowscreen for $38 and its .68-ounce mini size for $22.

ELF Cosmetics' sunscreen costs $14 for a full-sized, 1.69-ounce tube or $5 for a .34-ounce mini size.

Because the drugstore option is cheaper and performs just a bit better, in my opinion, I can't see myself buying anything other than the dupe in the near future.