Safeguard your skin with eight of the best sunscreen sticks, according to reviews
Protecting your skin is only a few swipes away with one of these best-selling options.
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These days, applying sunscreen is a whole lot easier with the swipe of a sunscreen stick. Although creams and lotions with broad spectrum protection are the typical first line of defense, sunscreen sticks work just as well, says Dr. Kim Nichols, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Greenwich, Connecticut, and a spokesperson for The Skin Cancer Foundation, an educational organization whose aim is to help people understand how to protect their skin from the sun and identify the signs of skin cancer. "When using sunscreen sticks as your primary sun protection, it’s essential to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application," she says. "Apply a liberal amount to all exposed areas of the skin, making sure to cover the entire area adequately. Be careful not to miss any spots."
That said, you also may be wondering, how many times should you glide the stick over your skin? According to Nichols, it depends on where you’re applying it. "For larger areas, you may need to glide the stick several times to cover everything adequately," she explains. While the size of the area is crucial, application technique is also key. "To ensure complete coverage, overlap each stroke of the sunscreen stick slightly," says Nichols. She notes that this method will "ensure that you don’t miss any spots and that the sunscreen is evenly distributed." As is the case with any sunscreen, "make sure to reapply every two hours or as directed on the product label," says Nichols.
Now that you know how to use one, keep reading to learn more about eight of the best sunscreen sticks that will protect you all-year round, rain or shine.
1. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Stick
Safeguard skin from the sun with the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Stick.
Chances are pretty high that Neutrogena is the brand behind your daily moisturizer and facial cleanser, but they also want to keep your skin protected from harmful UVA and UVB rays with the Ultra Sheer Dry Touch SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen Stick, a mineral-based sunscreen stick that claims to glide "easy on skin" while keeping skin protected, feeling soft, and hydrated–minus the infamous white cast that's commonly associated with mineral sunscreens. The formula purports to be poolside and beach day friendly as well, given that it promises to be "water resistant for up to 80 minutes and doesn't run into the eyes and sting." It calls on zinc oxide to shield the skin from UV rays.
2. Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50
Reapply sunscreen over makeup with the Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50.
If you’re looking for a chemical-based option, turn to the Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50. The top-rated sunscreen stick aims to produce "a hydrating, invisible finish that can be re-applied anytime, anywhere, over or under makeup." Made with all skin types in mind, the stick uses avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene, chemical sunscreen ingredients to safeguard the skin from the sun.
3. Supergoop! Glow Stick Sunscreen SPF 50
Give your skin a glow and keep it protected with the Supergoop Glow Stick Sunscreen SPF 40.
Let your sunscreen do the job as both a skin protector and highlighter with the help of the Supergoop! Glow Stick Sunscreen SPF 50. According to the brand, the chemical sunscreen stick produces a "dewy, glowing finish and doubles as a face and body highlighter." It ensures skin is protected from the sun’s rays with chemical sunscreen ingredients such as avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene.
4. Sun Bum Sunscreen Face Stick SPF 30
Defend your skin against the sun's powerful rays with the Sun Bum Sunscreen Face Stick SPF 30.
Sunscreen gets a bad rap for oftentimes smelling unbearable, but the Sun Bum Sunscreen Face Stick SPF 30 (in theory) does not. In fact, it promises to smell "like summer" and provides protection from UVA and UVB rays. Like many other sunscreen sticks on this list, this formula is chemical-based and uses avobenzone, octocrylene, octisalate, and homosalate for sun protection.
5. Aveeno Protect + Soothe Mineral Sunscreen Stick
Keep sensitive skin protected with the Aveeno Protect + Soothe Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50.
Sensitive skin types don’t have to worry about a thing when applying sunscreen, given that the Aveeno Protect + Soothe Mineral Sunscreen Stick is made with this specific skin type’s needs in mind. Given that it’s a mineral-based sunscreen, this formula uses zinc oxide to shelter skin from the sun.
6. EltaMD UV Stick Face and Body Sunscreen SPF 50
Protect your skin daily from the sun with the EltaMD UV Stick Face and Body Sunscreen SPF 50.
Not all sunscreen sticks are designed for the face and body, but the EltaMD UV Stick Face and Body Sunscreen SPF 50 does. This face and body mineral-based sunscreen claims to be "easy to apply and ideal for on-the-go and reapplication." Zinc oxide serves as the sun protectant.
7. Coola Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 30 Sunblock Lotion Stick
Enjoy applying your sunscreen alongside a coconut scent with the Coola Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 30 Sunblock Lotion Stick.
Applying sunscreen doesn’t have to be a drag, especially when the Coola Organic Face Sunscreen SPF 30 Sunblock Lotion Stick is laced with an enticing coconut scent. It purports to give "water-resistant sun protection while helping fight free radicals"—a.k.a. molecules that come from environmental stressors like UV rays and pollution that can have adverse effects on the body (i.e., wrinkles, dark spots). As a chemical-based sunscreen, this formula uses chemical ingredients that include avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene.
8. MDSolarSciences Solar Stick SPF 40
Shield your skin from the sun's rays with the MDSolarSciences Solar Stick SPF 40
For a mineral-based stick that’s tiny enough to take with you in the smallest of purses, try the MDSolarSciences Solar Stick SPF 40. The sunscreen stick avows to be "oil-free, non-streaking, and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes" for reapplication. It relies on zinc oxide to defend the skin against the sun's rays.
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