Summary: Well People’s Daygleamer Sunscreen Serum SPF 34 makes daily sun protection nourishing and enjoyable. The formula is lightweight, blendable, pregnancy-safe and nontoxic, and provides added moisture as well as broad-spectrum protection. This is the only sunscreen I’ve ever regularly and gladly reapplied throughout the day — and it’s my favorite skincare product I’ve tried in years!

Pros:

  • I found that the serum formula visibly boosts radiance and leaves skin feeling refreshed when reapplied throughout the day. It feels weightless and leaves no white cast or greasy residue.
  • All Well People products are EWG-verified and pregnancy-safe, which is especially noteworthy due to increased skin sensitivity during pregnancy. It’s a great addition to a clean, nontoxic skincare and beauty routine.
  • I love the accessible pricing ($24) and convenient access at local retailers such as Ulta and Target which makes it easy to browse and repurchase.

Cons:

  • It isn’t immediately clear how to recycle or responsibly dispose of the bottle at the end of its lifecycle. I’d love to see Well People implement recycling instructions on the box.
  • While Well People will gladly replace an item if it’s been damaged in transit, they aren’t able to offer returns or exchanges at this time – though I doubt you’ll want to do anything but use up every drop.

I have a confession to make: I live in sunny Southern California and I rarely wear sunscreen. I’m great about applying SPF at the beach (and even reapplying) under the threat of getting a sunburn on my fair skin. My daily sun protection practice, though, has completely fallen off my radar.

“I have a confession to make: I live in sunny Southern California and I rarely wear sunscreen.”

As a woman and working mother with two small children navigating my family’s well being, managing our household, and the rest of modern life’s daily minutiae, I often feel overwhelmed with challenges and oversaturated with options. Additionally, as a highly sensitive person and aspiring responsible citizen, I can become overstimulated by even ordinary, day-to-day tasks. Seeking out a responsibly made, affordable, daily SPF that doesn’t irritate my skin has felt like one more thing to do on the list and frankly, that line item has been pushed to the bottom. Add in wanting to be mindful of my purchasing choices for the sake of the planet, people and personal health, and it can feel impossible to tick all of the boxes, even though I feel passionate about doing so. That’s why my guiding principle in this season is simplicity — and anything that will lessen the sensory overload and solve multiple problems with minimal downsides has my attention.

While a daily dose of vitamin D is essential for our health and wellbeing, extensive sun exposure can lead to long-term health concerns. According to the Cleveland Clinic, repeated exposure to UV rays can lead to premature signs of aging and skin cancer — and according to Johns Hopkins, the protective nature of sunscreen is most effective when reapplied every two hours daily, especially after swimming or sweating. 

Now that I’m in my 30s, prioritizing sun protection is getting bumped up on my list of priorities, and I’m determined to romanticize the ritual as part of my daily skincare and self-care routine.

About Well People

Well People offers EWG-verified and pregnancy-friendly plant-powered beauty products that are formulated without phthalates, parabens, oxybenzone, triclosan, phenols, retinoids, hydroquinone, and 2500+ other potentially harmful ingredients. They’re committed to offering high-performing products at an accessible price point and work with Fair Trade facilities to ethically source ingredients. Bonus? They’re available at retailers like Ulta and Target, making browsing and restocking incredibly convenient.

“Well People offers EWG- verified and pregnancy-friendly plant-powered beauty products.”

The newest product in their mindfully made lineup is the Daygleamer Mineral Sunscreen Serum SPF 34, which is made with an antioxidant-rich oil complex that helps nourish and hydrate, non-nano zinc oxide  — a mineral form of physical sun protection — and aloe leaf juice that is rich in vitamins A, C, and E.

After reading up on its multifunction, accessibility and price point, I decided to give it a try. I used the Daygleamer Mineral Sunscreen Serum daily during the week of the spring solstice, and these are my notes. 👇🧴

A white bottle of Well People Day Gleamer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen stands on a stone surface, surrounded by green foliage.
Sunglasses next to an open bottle and box of Well People Daydreamer mineral sunscreen SPF 30 on a cloth surface.
A few snapshots from my week trying Well People’s Daygleamer Mineral Sunscreen Serum SPF 34.

My experience trying Well People’s Daygleamer sunscreen

My daily routine includes dropping off my one- and four-year-old at school and then heading back to our house to work from home. In order to have a healthy balance of sun exposure and sun protection, I try to adhere to the guidelines of wearing SPF when the sun is at its most intense, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. I’ll typically apply the SPF serum as the last step of my skincare routine or before heading out for a brief mid-morning walk to get some fresh air and movement (thank you, habit stacking!).

A woman wearing a white shirt has a small amount of cream applied on her cheek. She is sitting indoors by a window with sunlight shining on her.
A person with long brown hair and a white shirt smiles at the camera in a sunlit room with a window.
Skin post-skincare regimen and during application (left), and immediately after (right).

As someone with sensitive, dry skin, even the best facial sunscreens have felt heavy or irritating, especially when applied repeatedly. The texture of this formula is much closer to a serum than a sunscreen and felt weightless on my skin. It also absorbed into my skin without leaving any white cast. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my über sensitive skin actually felt refreshed and soothed even after multiple applications throughout the day.

A dollop of white lotion on the back of a hand, with a tube in the background on a white surface.
A hand holding a white container labeled "Well People Daydreamer Mineral Sunscreen, broad spectrum SPF 30" with a blurred outdoor background.
The feel is lightweight and nourishing, and the bottle fits nicely into my bag of daily essentials that goes with me wherever I do.

This product is absolutely the only SPF I’ve ever gladly reapplied throughout the day. Not only does it not leave my skin feeling dry, it actually feels moisturized and refreshed post-reapplication. I love knowing it’s doing double duty by protecting my skin from sun exposure while also providing extra nourishment.

After my initial impression of the sunscreen serum, I threw it in my purse and took it with me everywhere —  I was happy to apply it in the morning and actually excited to reapply it throughout the day. Each time I did, I felt a noticeable difference in moisture and general freshness. The Daygleamer feels like a pick-me-up for my face.✨

A tube of sunscreen and a pair of round sunglasses on a concrete surface beside green leaves in bright sunlight.
Person with long brown hair wearing a white top, smiling with closed eyes, holding a white cylindrical product container, standing in front of green foliage.
The Daygleamer Mineral Sunscreen Serum has become a beloved part of my daily routine and is my favorite skincare product I’ve tried in years.

For best results, apply the Daygleamer sunscreen serum as the final step in your skincare routine, and then repeatedly every two-ish hours during peak daylight hours. When it seems you’ve run out of product, cut the bottle open with a pair of scissors to scoop out every last drop. Then promptly head to your nearest retailer (Ulta, Target, or Urban Outfitters) or online to restock (free shipping on orders over $50).

“The Daygleamer feels like a pick-me-up for my face.”

This is my favorite skincare product I’ve tried in years for how it simplifies my routine by serving multiple purposes at a reasonable price point that I can pick up at my local retailer when I need to restock. I actually look forward to it as a mid-day refresh, and it’s quickly become a daily staple that I’m happy to add this to my bag of minimal essentials (phone, wallet, keys, lip balm, loop earplugs, and this SPF!) that goes with me wherever I do.

Bring on the sunshine. ☀️

THIS STORY IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT WELL PEOPLE

Kate Arceo is the Community Manager at The Good Trade. She has a Bachelor of Science from Evangel University and has over 5 years of experience reviewing sustainable home and lifestyle brands, as well as organic kids’ apparel and nontoxic cosmetics. When she’s not hosting dinner parties with her husband at their home in Southern California, you can find her sipping a latte at their local coffee house or shopping for strawberries with her kids at the farmers market. Say hi on Instagram!