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Pipette Mineral Sunscreen Review: Should You Try This Affordable Baby Sunscreen for Your Face and Body?
When I first came across Pipette Mineral Sunscreen, it sounded too good to be true. Clean ingredients, a high level of protection, and suitable for both the face and body—all for an insanely low price. Was this the unicorn of mineral sunscreens?
Obviously, I had to find out, so I ordered a tube immediately.
Now, after extensive testing, I’m ready to give you the lowdown on this cult-favourite sunscreen. Fun fact: It was originally formulated for babies when it first launched in 2020. But it quickly became a hit with adults, too, and is now Pipette’s number one bestseller.
Keep reading to find out what it’s really like and whether you should try it.
What It Is & Who It’s For
Pipette Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50.
Michelle Villett/The Glow Memo
Pipette Mineral Sunscreen is a mineral sunscreen lotion with SPF 50 protection.
You can apply it all-over, as both a facial sunscreen and a body sunscreen. And since it was initially intended for babies, it’s also suitable for the entire family to use from head to toe.
That makes it ideal for sensitive skin, too. It’s gentle and hypoallergenic, with no skin-irritating ingredients (like fragrance) in the formula.
The brand also claims that it is non-comedogenic, and therefore suitable for acne-prone skin. I’m not so sure—but we’ll talk more about that in a moment.
Packaging & Texture
Pipette Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 comes in a 4 oz. tube.
Michelle Villett/The Glow Memo
Pipette Mineral Sunscreen comes in a tube with a flip-top cap. There are two sizes: 4 oz., which I have in these photos, and a travel-friendly 1 oz. version.
Most facial sunscreens on the market are packaged in 2 oz. tubes, so you’re getting twice the amount of product here, which is great value.
While the tube itself is unfortunately not recyclable (the company is working on that!), the cap can be tossed in your recycling bin.
Pipette Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 has a creamy texture.
Michelle Villett/The Glow Memo
When you first squeeze it out of the tube, Pipette Mineral Sunscreen is white, thick and creamy, just like most mineral sunscreens.
However, as you spread it over your skin, it thins out and starts to feel more like a light lotion. Once you rub it in, it becomes transparent, and after that, it takes about a minute for it to fully absorb. Your skin is left feeling moisturized and very soft to the touch.
Ingredients & Benefits
Pipette Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 protects with 20% zinc oxide.
Michelle Villett/The Glow Memo
Active Ingredient: Zinc Oxide 20%. Inactive Ingredients: Water, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Methyl Dihydroabietate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetyl Palmitate, Coco-Glucoside, Ethyl Ferulate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Lecithin, Bisabolol, Physalis Angulata Extract, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Isostearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol.
Here are the key ingredients in Pipette Mineral Sunscreen, and what they’re doing in this formula:
- Zinc oxide: As the active ingredient, zinc oxide provides extensive broad-spectrum sun protection.1 At a 20% concentration, you’re getting effective defense from both UVB rays (which cause sunburn) as well as the more damaging UVA rays (which trigger skin cancers and premature aging). Plus, since zinc oxide does not penetrate the skin, you don’t have to worry about hormonal disruption.2 It’s also reef-safe, photostable, and unlikely to irritate sensitive skin.3,4
- Caprylic/capric triglyceride: This is a common emollient that comes from coconut oil and glycerin, and works to moisturize and soften the skin.
- Squalane: Technically a saturated hydrocarbon, this emollient is derived from sugarcane and is the stabilized form of squalene, a natural component of our sebum.5 It has the texture of a thin, lightweight oil, and provides moisture without feeling greasy.
- Glycerin: Derived from plants, this moisturizing ingredient is the most common humectant, helping to draw water into the skin.
- Cetearyl alcohol: This is a fatty alcohol that functions as both an emollient to moisturize and soften, as well as a thickener and stabilizer.
- Bisabolol: Found in chamomile, this popular soothing ingredient calms irritation and inflammation.