Sun sticks are increasingly becoming popular with lots of people opting for them instead of regular SPF 50+ sunscreens. So what is sun stick and can it replace sunscreen? Today we’ll review the ingredients, the filters, the breakdown of what the sun stick is, and some of the limitations of this sun stick. 

Guide to Understanding SPF: Finding the Best Sunscreen for You

Since we’re talking about chemical sunscreens and sun sticks, We’re going to be using our 6F testing system to determine the following on sun sticks: 

• Feel (on the skin)
• Finish
• Filters (UV Filters)
• Formulation
• Foundation wear, (How it Wears Under Makeup)
• Fragrance

1. Feel

A sun stick has to have that rated structure like lipstick and behind this are emollients that let this have a really nice slip on the skin, along with a nice powdery finish on the skin. The powders help to add the mattifying effect, so when it slides on the skin, it’s very smooth, and the after-film, once it sets down, is very powdery.

2. Finish

A matte sun stick, as the name suggests, provides a natural satin finish on the skin. While it gives a subtle glow, it maintains a soft, satin-matte look. As you reapply throughout the day, a slight glow will build up, so for reapplication we suggest blotting any excess shine beforehand if you tend to have oily skin.

3. Filters (UV Filters + SPF Test Results)

This is a fully chemical sunscreen, developed by ISNTREE and It includes filters like Uvinul A Plus, Tinosorb S, Uvinul T150, and Polysilicon 15. There are no mineral filters like zinc or titanium and no Tinosorb M to ensure this would be as brown and black skin-friendly as possible. These newer filters contribute to the SPF 50+ PA++++ rating.

4. Formulation Details

The formulation avoids fragrance, essential oils, and alcohol, making it accessible for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Although the sun stick does have niacinamide, some people may be sensitive to it. This sun stick is intended for simple sun protection in a streamlined routine.

5. Foundation wear: How it Wears Under Makeup

This sun stick doubles as a primer due to the powdery, soft finish, which smooths out texture and minimizes pores, providing an ideal base for foundation. Functional fillers and emollients in this product help prevent oiliness and prolong makeup wear. 

6. Fragrance? Essential Oils? Alcohol?

This product is fragrance-free, essential oil-free, and there is no detectable botanical scent. It’s suitable for sensitive skin, and, as reported, doesn’t cause irritation around the eye area due to the stick texture, which stays in place without migrating.

Sun Stick Pros and Cons: What You Should Consider

First off, sunscreen sticks are really convenient:

• You don’t need to wash your hands if you want to reapply.
• You don’t end up with sunscreen all over your hands; just take off the cap and glide it onto your skin.
• They’re solid, so there’s no chance of squirting it everywhere.
• No need to worry about liquid limits for planes.
• They’re also really good to use on wriggly kids.
• Sticks can also be great for reapplying sunscreen over makeup without smearing it around too much if you find one that glides on smoothly, and these days a lot of them do glide on really smoothly.
• They can also help with eye sting; sticks are a lot waxier than lotions, so if you have issues with sunscreen running into your eyes and stinging, then sticks might help you out, and you can use them just around your eye area.

But sticks also have a lot of downsides:

• The most obvious one is it’s a lot harder to measure out how much you need to use or work out how much you’ve applied.
• You need two milligrams of sunscreen per square centimeter of skin to get the labeled protection, which converts to a bit under a quarter teaspoon for most faces, but you can’t really dig out a quarter spoon of a sunscreen stick without losing a lot of the advantages of having a stick.

Conclusion

To sum up, sun sticks are great if you need a small top-up, especially over makeup, want to avoid getting sunscreen on your hands, avoid eye sting, or when other options don’t work, like with wriggly or fussy kids. However, we wouldn’t recommend using just the stick if you need a lot of sun protection – a lotion would be better for that.