With summer fast approaching and sunsticks becoming all the rage this year, you might wonder: what are the best sunscreen sticks for face? If you’re interested in the idea of using these on-the-go bars of solid sunscreen for your face and body, we compiled a list of the top sunscreen sticks for acne prone, oily, and sensitive skin types.
Benefits of Sunscreen Sticks
Sunscreen sticks are mess-free and come in compact sizes, making them easy to carry around without worrying about leakage. Since these sunscreen sticks are small, they’re also convenient for reapplying on the face and body throughout the day.
Downsides of Sunscreen Sticks
Unfortunately, the downsides of sunscreen stick boil down to price point and getting the proper sun protection. Sunscreen sticks are compact and can be more costly than usual liquid sunscreens.
And while the sunscreen sticks are ideal for touch-ups over makeup and hard-to-reach crevices, the waxes and oils making up the sun stick make it more difficult to ensure complete coverage in one swipe.
Luckily we have some tips on properly applying your sunscreen stick so that you can make the most out of your purchase.
Tips for applying Sunscreen Sticks
- Warm up your sunscreen stick onto your wrist or back of your hand prior to application. This will ensure a smooth application.
- Make strokes from the center of your face towards the outside.
- Apply at least four passes across the whole face.
- Don’t forget to apply on your neck and any other exposed skin!
- After swiping, use clean fingers to gently blend into the missed crevices of your skin.
- If you’re applying over makeup, carefully apply your sunscreen stick. You can expect your makeup to move a little bit.
- If you’re unsure whether you’re receiving adequate sun protection, you can use liquid sunscreen as a base and the sunscreen stick for touching up throughout the day.
Criteria of Selection for Best Sunscreen Sticks for Face
We may not be skincare experts or specialists, but we do lots of research!
For this selection of the best sunscreen sticks for the face, we focused on ingredients, chemical filters, finishes, and reviews to help us decide what products suit sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin. This also includes kid-friendly, and the best Korean sunscreen sticks on the market.
We’ll mostly be looking for best sunscreen sticks for face that can help calm, hydrate, or leave the skin feeling matte and oil-free throughout the day, so you can decide what’s worth the investment!
Top Rated Best Sunscreen Sticks For Face
Best Sunscreen Stick for Acne Prone Skin
Thank You Farmer Sun Project Silky Calming Sun Stick
**Use code “SHOPBW” for 10% off!
UV Filters: Chemical
White cast? No
Finish: Silky velvet
Description:
It’s not easy finding a sunscreen stick product to protect breakout-prone skin. While the Thank You Farmer’s Sun Project Silky Calming Sun Stick doesn’t explicitly mention helping acne-prone skin, we still think this can be a great option!
This sunscreen stick has a water-resistant and non-sticky formula that infuses centella asiatica and its three compounds, and calamine to soothe and calm skin down – a must for acne-prone skin!
Stellar Review:
“That’s the best way I can describe it: like a thin soothing layer of baby powder on your face. My face is always oily and this even helps with managing it.” –Tue Ngo
Best Sunscreen Stick for Oily skin
ISNTREE Hyaluronic Acid Airy Sun Stick
**Use code “SHOPBW” for 10% off!
UV Filters: Chemical
White cast? No
Finish: Refreshing, soft and dry matte
Description:
This sunscreen stick is best-selling for a good reason! That’s because it comes in unique tear-shaped packaging that makes it easy to reach the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies over the face.
The Isntree stick uses eight types of hyaluronic acid, bamboo water, aloe vera, and kelp extracts – all of which deliver extra hydration to the skin and even minimize excess oil production for oily skin types.
Stellar Review:
“This sun stick is incredibly versatile and effective. It doesn’t leave my skin looking or feeling greasy at all. It’s easy to apply, and the teardrop shape ensures it fits in all the crevices of your face and hands. I love carrying this in my handbag and reapplying whenever I need to without messing up my makeup.” –reqg341
Best Sunscreen Stick for Sensitive Skin
Dr. G Green Mild Up Sun Stick
**Use code “SHOPBW” for 10% off!
UV Filters: Mineral
White cast? Minimal but can be present
Finish: Comfortably skin-like
Description:
If you enjoyed the OG Dr. G Green Mild Up Sunscreen, you could now take this soothing sunscreen stick with you on the go. The hypoallergenic sun stick uses physical UV filters to offer protection, making it the best sunscreen stick for sensitive skin.
The sun stick also infuses Dr. G’s proprietary Young Leaves Complex, which uses seven soothing ingredients such as green tea, broccoli, and camellia extracts to strengthen and calm sensitive skin back to health.
Stellar Review:
“This sunscreen stick is very smooth, great for re-applying throughout the day, and for me, it didn’t leave any white case. It has a matte finish and it isn’t sticky at all.” –Asia
Best Sunscreen Stick Over Makeup
ABIB Quick Sunstick Protection Bar
UV Filters: Chemical
White cast? No
Finish: Dewy Glow
Description:
For makeup users struggling with sunscreen reapplication, the ABIB Quick Sunstick Protection Bar is quite *literally* a solid choice! This baby’s got an ergonomically convenient curve and a wide surface area to glide across skin or makeup without stickiness or a white cast. And for the skincare benefits, the sun stick has acacia peptide and ceramides to help fortify skin barrier as you go about your day refreshed and protected! Is this not the best sunscreen stick over makeup or what?
Stellar Review:
“[The sunscreen stick] goes on easily, and I feel like it actually gives good coverage. Initially it feels slightly greasy, but that goes away when I rub it in. I actually like to leave it on a little thicker on spots where I have acne scars or hyperpigmentation, as I feel like it helps heal those areas faster.” –Alexandra
Best Non Greasy Sunscreen Stick
Tocobo Cotton Soft Sun Stick
**Use code “SHOPBW” for 10% off!
UV Filters: Hybrid (Physical & Chemical)
White cast? No
Finish: Cotton-like fresh powder, satin-matte
Description:
Among the sunscreen sticks out there, Tocobo stands out as the best non greasy sunscreen stick! At $18 a pop, this hybrid sunscreen stick is soft, mild, and soothing, thanks to cotton extract and a four-herb complex for calming inflamed skin. As for the finish, you’ll find the sunscreen stick blending seamlessly with your skin and settling down to a comfortable, matte finish – perfect for oily skin types!
Stellar Review:
“For years I’ve hated the sticky feeling most stick sunscreens leave. Not this one! It’s very light and glides on my skin and over my makeup easily and airy!” –Tania
Best Korean Sunscreen Stick for Face
A.H.C Natural Perfection Double Shield Sun Stick
UV Filters: Chemical
White cast? No (but possible depending on the skin tone)
Finish: Powdery velvet/ skin-like
Description:
This sunscreen stick is cult status because it’s fantastic for all skin types, including oily skin! The A.H.C sunscreen stick is one of the best Korean sunscreen stick for the face since it’s been around longer than most sunscreen sticks currently on the market!
This sleek sunscreen stick glides on nicely without leaving skin feeling or looking greasy and has an angled bar to reach the crevices of your face easily. It’s also infused with skin-brightening ingredients, protects against infrared light, and has water-resistant properties that make it ideal for indoor and outdoor use.
Stellar Review:
“When I apply this sunscreen, my skin feels nourished and protected. I have sensitive and oily skin that’s prone to breakouts, but after a day of outdoor activities and applying this sun stick multiple times, my face felt soft and fresh!” –EM
Best Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Stick
Supergoop! Play Sunscreen 100% Mineral Stick SPF 50
UV Filters: Mineral
White cast?
Finish: Dewy & Skin-like
Description:
When we say this sunscreen stick doesn’t budge, it truly doesn’t budge. This best zinc oxide sunscreen stick pick has a water and sweat-resistant formula for up to 80 minutes and a blend of shea, cocoa butter, and oily polyphenols to nourish skin and provide additional antioxidant protection.
One thing to note is that because this sunscreen stick uses physical filters, there’s a likelihood of experiencing a white cast. But if you don’t mind this, this best zinc oxide sunscreen stick could be worth the purchase!
Stellar Review:
“Amazing product for runners! I ran a half marathon under the sun for more than 2 hours, threw lots of water over my face, and I still had sunscreen! I absolutely love it!” –adamaris r.
Best Matte Sunscreen Stick
Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick SPF 50+ PA++++
UV Filters: Chemical
White cast? No
Finish: Silky, skin-like matte
Description:
Behold: the best matte sunscreen stick to get your hands on! Since its launch early this year, this Beauty of Joseon sunscreen stick is still buzzing everywhere! Not only does this solid sunscreen stick infuse mugwort, camellia, and green tea to calm skin, but it also contains silica powder to mop up excess sebum and give a soft blurred effect to your skin.
Gone are the days when we experience extra shine; we can now comfortably and confidently go about our day looking fresh!
Stellar Review:
“I have oily skin and this is truly a lifesaver for me. I apply it in the morning and it stays matte through the day. It’s like a confidence boost for me since I don’t look greasy. Thank you BoJ! <3” – Valerie
Best Sunscreen Stick for Active & Outdoorsy Days
Coola Classic Sun Stick SPF 30
UV Filters: Chemical
White cast? No
Finish: Smooth, non-greasy
Description:
Organic, water-resistant, AND kid-friendly?! This sunscreen stick’s got it all, and it’s also deliciously scented, perfect for all skin types and ages! We rated the Coola Classic Sun Stick as the best sunscreen stick for active days because it provides UVA/UVB protection and 80-minute water resistance with every application.
It’s also infused with antioxidant-rich plant oils and goes on lightweight and sheer, so you have one less thing to worry about as you enjoy your outdoor adventures.
Stellar Review:
“Absolutely love this sunscreen stick! It is so convenient, applies smoothly, not greasy, great protection, lasts long and smells amazing! Highly recommend!” –Zhanna
Best Sunscreen Stick for Kids
CeraVe Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 50
UV Filters: Mineral
White cast? Yes
Finish: Non-greasy
Description:
We know how important it is for kids to jump in the sun protection game. If you need an extra oomph before you let them go on outdoor adventures, we selected the CeraVe Sun Stick as the best sunscreen stick for kids because of its gentle nature.
Since it’s made with 100% mineral filters, this sunscreen stick may give off a white cast that may require extra time to work into the skin. But once it blends, you can be confident knowing your child is sun protected from head to toe.
Stellar Review:
“My 3 year old has very sensitive eczema prone skin. Other sunscreens have made him immediately break out. We have one sunscreen that doesn’t upset his skin – but it’s white and kinda greasy and difficult to apply quickly to a squirmy impatient moving target. This is easy to quickly apply. [Although] it’s a little hard to rub in and leaves some white residue, it’s not overly greasy, seems to provide good sun protection, and it doesn’t cause a reaction on my son’s skin.” – Alleycat
Best Value for Price
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Stick
UV Filters: Mineral
White cast? Minimal but can be present
Finish: Dry-touch matte
Description:
If you prefer a mineral sunscreen stick that dries clear without leaving behind a pasty white cast, this best-selling sunscreen stick is perfect for your face and body. Since it contains mineral filters, the Neutrogena sunscreen stick is gentle enough for all skin types and leaves your face feeling soft, smooth, and moisturized. It’s also water resistant for up to 80 minutes and doesn’t sting your eyes – so the most sensitive of skin types can benefit from using this sunscreen stick!
Stellar Review:
“Another great product from Neutrogena. This mineral face and body stick is so fantastic for on-the-go use. The convenient application (similar to deodorant) makes it easy to apply all over the face. Doesn’t leave a heavy residue behind either. Always try to have one on hand in my beach bag.” –KD11285
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