Say Goodbye to Greasy Hands—14 Sunscreen Sticks for Easy, Mess-Free Protection (2024)

The last thing you want to worry about while enjoying some much-needed R&R is a scathing sunburn and long-term skin damage. That’s why SPF is a must-have for days spent outdoors, and sunscreen sticks are a practical and accessible way to protect your complexion. “Sunscreen sticks are portable, won't spill in your bag, and are generally easy to apply,” says Dr. Carmen Castilla, M.D., a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist. We’re also proponents of the convenient protection that a sunscreen stick provides.

We conducted hours of research on the best sunscreen sticks, evaluating each on its active ingredients, SPF level, and how well it kept the skin protected throughout the day. We also considered its water resistance and how it felt on the skin. After consulting with a board-certified dermatologist, we landed on this selection of top-rated sunscreen sticks.

Our Top Picks

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What We Like

  • Can be used on the face and the body

  • Fragrance-free

  • Water-resistant

  • Contains antioxidants

What to Consider

  • Doesn't glide across the skin easily

SPF: 50+ | Active Type: Mineral | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Elta MD makes some of our favorite sunscreens, and the brand’s face stick comes highly recommended by Dr. Castilla. “This is a bit creamier than the usual sunscreen stick, making it a little easier to absorb into the skin.” She adds that “a sunscreen stick should contain an SPF 30 at a minimum,” and this formula boasts SPF 50 with 22% zinc oxide (which can block UVA and UVB rays), so you know you’ll have substantial sun protection and the most sensitive or acne-prone skin covered (literally). It’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so the hottest days are no match for Elta MD’s staying power. Although this is a more expensive pick, we love that the stick houses a good amount of product that should last you a while and is infused with antioxidants to further defend against free radicals.

What We Like

  • Great value, has a lot of product

  • Water-resistant

  • Can be used on the face and the body

What to Consider

  • Dries matte, so those with dry skin should apply a hydrating moisturizer beforehand

  • Can leave a white cast

SPF: 50 | Active Type: Mineral | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty Free: No

The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face & Body Mineral Sunscreen Stick is a reliable and budget-friendly option to toss in your beach bag. The water-resistant formula features 21.6% zinc oxide to help shield the skin from the sun’s damaging rays, offering broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection. Given how much product you get in each stick (1.5 oz), the under-$20 price point is pretty impressive. “The stick itself is a bit longer than a typical sunscreen stick, making it easier to get coverage on the cheeks,” adds Dr. Castilla. While it’s advertised as a “sheer” formula, some reviewers note that the formula still leaves behind a chalky white cast.Also worth noting: Since it dries matte, it may not hydrate enough for dry skin types.

What We Like

  • Applies completely sheer

  • Water-resistant

  • Noncomedogenic

  • Hydrating

What to Consider

  • May be irritating for sensitive skin types

SPF: 50 | Active Type: Chemical | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty Free: No

Many sun-goers tend to opt for a chemical sunscreen due to its ability to easily absorb into the skin—free of any white cast. Shiseido’s Clear Sunscreen Stick does just that; it provides the face with a layer of near-invisible coverage. Designed with a brand-signature technology that intensifies the effectiveness of sun protection when met with heat and water, this stick is sweat-resistant and will stay strong while swimming.

What We Like

  • Doesn't clog pores

  • Hydrates with natural oils

  • Can also be used on the body

  • Leaves a dewy glow

What to Consider

  • Might be too shiny for super oily skin types

  • Shorter protection window

SPF: 50 | Active Type: Chemical | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The Glow Stick provides top-tier protection without clogging the pores or drying out the skin (we love how it contains several natural oils to deeply hydrate your complexion). Not only does the Glow Stick keep breakouts at bay while adding a natural luminosity to the face, it does so without compromising on skin-protecting ingredients. The efficacious formula features SPF 50 as well as broad-spectrum protection from UVA and UVB rays, all while providing up to 40 minutes of water and sweat resistance for days spent in the hot sun (although since the window of protection is shorter, be sure to reapply often).

What We Like

  • Travel-friendly size

  • Reef-safe

  • Sensitive skin-friendly

  • Inexpensive

What to Consider

  • Can be difficult to blend evenly

SPF: 50 | Active Type: Mineral | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

If you're traveling or frequently get sunburned in easy-to-miss areas, like the ears or scalp, you need to add this to your sun care arsenal. It's smaller than most of the picks on this list (0.5 oz), meaning it can easily reach those spots so that you're completely protected. Dr. Castilla counts Cetaphil’s Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Stick as a top choice for sun protection. She explains that the product is “at a great price point and works well for acne-prone skin.” And the reef-safe formula doesn’t skimp on the defense: Sun-reflecting zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are at the forefront of this ingredient list for optimal protection from damage.

What We Like

  • Can be used on the lips, cheeks, and eyelids

  • Also protects against blue light

  • Great for sensitive skin types

What to Consider

  • May not be hydrating enough for dry skin types

SPF: 50 | Active Type: Mineral | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re a fan of skincare-makeup hybrids that perform double (or triple or quadruple) duty, let us introduce you to Colorescience’s Sunforgettable Color Balms. They provide SPF 50 protection while adding a light wash of color to your eyelids, lips, and cheeks in shades such as bronze, blush, and berry. The balms are also formulated with skin-enhancing ingredients such as hydrating squalene and antioxidant-rich jojoba for a balanced and nourished complexion. However, since you probably won’t be applying this over your entire face, you’ll want to layer it on over your standard SPF application.

What We Like

  • Hydrating

  • Lightweight feel that blends in quickly

  • Adds a dewy finish

What to Consider

  • Not water-resistant

SPF: 50 | Active Type: Chemical | Water Resistant: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Featuring a blend of soothing aloe and moisture-locking hyaluronic acid, this hydrating sunscreen stick is in a skincare league of its own. The chemical formula nourishes and replenishes the skin while simultaneously providing ample sun protection and leaving behind a glowy, dewy finish. We love that it's made with 70% certified organic ingredients and has a lightweight feel that melts into the skin easily. Not only does this impressive stick work to shield against harmful UVA and UVB rays, but it also defends the skin against blue light, infrared radiation, and pollution. We do wish it were water-resistant though.

What We Like

  • Quick shipping

  • Vegan

  • Travel-friendly size

  • No white cast

What to Consider

  • Contains artificial fragrance, which can irritate sensitive skin

SPF: 30 | Active Type: Chemical | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

With more than 9,000 five-star Amazon ratings, Sun Bum’s Sunscreen Face Stick is a top choice for online shoppers. The chemical formula applies completely clear and is sweat and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. While it's on the smaller side compared to some of our previous options, its compactness does make for a great travel sunscreen. The formula is also certified cruelty-free and vegan. It has a beautiful tropical-esque scent that's reminiscent of a beach day filled with piña coladas, but the fragrance might be too strong for those with sensitive skin (or if you just don't like your skincare to be scented).

What We Like

  • Soothes irritated skin with oat essence

  • Water-resistant

  • Fragrance-free

  • Lightweight

What to Consider

  • Takes a bit of rubbing in to distribute the formula

SPF: 50 | Active Type: Mineral | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

Aveeno’s Protect + Soothe Mineral Sunscreen Stick is specifically formulated with sensitive and sunburn-prone skin in mind. The ingredient list features 21.6% zinc oxide for protection against harmful rays, while oat essence (which is a top healing ingredient for eczema and irritated skin) soothes and nourishes the skin. The fragrance-free formula boasts 80 minutes of water resistance and is also incredibly comfortable for all-day wear, thanks to its lightweight and nongreasy finish.

What We Like

  • Has a matte, nongreasy finish

  • Applies clear

  • Glides on smoothly for easy application

What to Consider

  • Not water-resistant

SPF: 50+ | Active Type: Chemical | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Korean sunscreens are already popular for their completely invisible finish, and this stick from Beauty of Joseon is no different. It applies and dries down 100% clear, and we love that it has a matte finish instead of appearing shiny or greasy (which is common with chemical sunscreen formulations). It’s a great pick for oily skin types, as it's made with a variety of ingredients that can cut shine, balance oil production, and smooth the skin—including silica powder, mugwort, and more. The best part of this sun stick is applying it—its smooth texture glides across the skin without any pulling or discomfort, and it has a lightweight finish that feels unnoticeable on the complexion.

What We Like

  • Delicate formula

  • Travel-friendly size

  • Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation

  • Fragrance-free

What to Consider

  • Leaves a white cast upon initial application, but goes away while rubbing in

SPF: 50 | Active Type: Mineral | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No

It's important to put sunscreen all over your face and body—including around the eyes—but a lot of people experience stinging or burning when applying around that area. This is more common when using chemical formulas, but there are a ton of other skincare products that can cause irritation to sensitive spots, such as under the eyes. If you frequently experience that, we recommend this travel-friendly stick from CeraVe. This zinc oxide formula suits the most delicate areas on your face. It’s even a safe choice for young kids, though the brand recommends asking a doctor for children younger than six months. We also love that it comes recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation as a sun protection product that is effective at preventing sun damage.

What We Like

  • Reef-safe formula

  • Suitable for sensitive skin

  • Non-sticky

  • Travel-friendly size

  • Fragrance-free

What to Consider

  • Doesn’t easily glide over the surface of the skin

  • Leaves a white cast, but is fairly easy to rub in

SPF: 50+ | Active Type: Mineral | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re aiming to spend more time in the ocean than out of it while at the beach this summer, you’ll want to stock up on reef-safe sunscreen. Consider this compact and ultraconvenient stick from Blue Lizard. The fragrance-free mineral formula is zinc-oxide-based, so it provides SPF 50+ protection from the sun’s damaging rays without potentially harming marine wildlife in the process. While it does apply with a subtle white cast, it disappears fairly quickly once you rub it into your skin. It absorbs quickly without leaving behind a sticky or greasy residue and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

What We Like

  • Creates smooth, silky finish

  • Applies clear and easily

  • Nonsticky

  • Fragrance-free

What to Consider

  • Creates a primer-like finish that might not be appealing for application on the body

SPF: 56 | Active Type: Mineral | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This luxe buy from Skinbetter’s sunbetter collection feels more like a skin-smoothing makeup primer than it does a sunscreen. The circular stick glides over the skin with shocking ease and creates a silky, blurred, slightly matte finish. The 100% mineral, nonsticky formula, made with a combination of zinc oxide and titanium oxide, offers SPF 56 broad-spectrum protection and is water-resistant for up to 80 minutes—but don’t forget to reapply, of course. It also applies completely clear, so you can swipe it on without worrying about a white cast, and it wears beautifully under silicone-based concealer and foundation.

What We Like

  • Compact size that’s perfect for running belts, pockets, and gym bags

  • Can be used on the lips

  • Reef-safe

What to Consider

  • Feels a little waxy

  • Clumps up a little bit when you glide it over your skin

SPF: 35 | Active Type: Mineral | Water Resistant: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you plan on exercising outdoors, putting on sunscreen should be part of your warmup. We suggest turning to this tiny tube from Badger for active days, whether you’re taking off on a long run, doing some yoga under the sun, or going for a swim. It’s the perfect size for small running belts, leggings with pockets, and gym bags alike. Water-resistant for up to 80 minutes and hypoallergenic, the mineral-based formula has SPF 35 and can even be applied to your lips. While the brand says the formula blends in clear, we did still experience a very minimal white cast. It also leaves behind a slightly waxy finish which may not be appealing for oily skin types.

What to Look for in a Sunscreen Stick

  • SPF Level and Broad Spectrum Coverage: “A sunscreen stick should contain an SPF 30 at a minimum,” says Dr. Castilla. SPF protects the skin from rays emitted by the sun, and the higher the number, the more you are protected. Broad-spectrum SPF coverage is the term used to describe a sunscreen’s ability to safeguard the skin from both UVB and UVA rays, so make sure to use a sunscreen that does both for optimal protection.
  • Pore-Clogging Ingredients: For those with sensitive skin, it is important to look out for acne-triggering ingredients in sunscreen sticks. Some common ones in sunscreen formulas include shea butter, beeswax, and cocoa butter.
  • Reef-Damaging Ingredients: Oxybenzone and octinoxate are two common ingredients found in chemical sunscreens that are highly toxic to ocean life, and products containing them are banned in many regions to preserve coral reefs. However, there are other ingredients in sunscreens, including homosalate, octocrylene, and avobenzone, that are believed to also be dangerous for the environment. If your sunscreen contains any ingredients that can harm coral reefs and ecosystems, make sure to steer clear from the ocean when wearing the product.
  • Color: Mineral sunscreens tend to have a white cast due to zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, while a chemical sunscreen usually goes on clear. Sunscreens with a white cast might not be preferred, but mineral sunscreens are better for sensitive skin and the environment—and they can usually be rubbed into the skin in under a minute for a smooth base.

FAQ

  • Are sunscreen sticks effective?

    “If you apply them correctly, sunscreen sticks can be just as effective as regular cream sunscreens,” says Dr. Castilla. “With sunscreen sticks, you just have to be a bit more cautious about ensuring uniform coverage on the entire face."

  • How do you apply a sunscreen stick?

    A sunscreen stick should be the last step in your skincare routine. Swipe the product across the face, and for sufficient coverage, it should be glided across the face several times to ensure that you don’t miss any spots. And make sure to hit the high points of your face—“sunscreen sticks are best for targeted areas such as tops of ears, nose, and cheeks,” explains Dr. Castilla. It’s also important to reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially if you will be sweating or in the water. While it’s a friendly gesture to share sunscreen with your friends at the beach, Dr. Castilla says that sunscreen sticks shouldn’t be shared with multiple people.

Why Trust Byrdie

Byrdie commerce writer Shannon Stubbs consulted real-world tests as well as customer reviews for the products recommended here. She has several years of experience testing and recommending beauty products, with expertise in skincare, body care, and makeup. She's been a writer at Byrdie since 2022.

Victoria Moorhouse, a freelance beauty writer and editor, updated this article. With over 12 years of experience reporting on the beauty industry and having interviewed leading experts on matters related to sun protection, Victoria knows the importance of sunscreen for preventing premature skin aging and skin cancer. Because she has dry, sensitive skin, she gravitates towards mineral sunscreen formulas that offer hydrating benefits. From this list alone, Victoria has personally tested the options from CeraVe, Cetaphil, Shiseido, Badger, Blue Lizard, and Skinbetter.

Team Byrdie worked with an expert to inform this article:

Dr. Carmen Castilla, MD, is a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist who specializes in cosmetic and medical dermatology.

According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough sunscreen stick skincare products from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.

Say Goodbye to Greasy Hands—14 Sunscreen Sticks for Easy, Mess-Free Protection (2024)

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