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Today’s sunscreens are more luxurious than ever—with silky textures, elegant scents, and skincare benefits, they’ve become both a necessity and a pleasure. And with the best sunscreen sticks, applying (and reapplying) is effortless. But are these pocket-sized SPFs really as good as they seem? Let the experts put your mind at ease.
Do sunscreen sticks actually work?
Dr. Kristina Collins, a board-certified dermatologist in Austin, Texas, confirms: “Sunscreen sticks are effective when used properly. They offer a mess-free, convenient way to reapply throughout the day, especially on the face, ears, and around the eyes.”
Another perk? Precision. Dr. Anna Chacon, a Miami-based dermatologist, explains: “Sticks give you better control, making them ideal for applying around delicate areas like the eyes and mouth.”
Choosing the right sunscreen stick
Dr. Collins recommends looking for:
– Broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher
– Ingredients suited to your skin type
– Sensitive skin? Zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
– Oily or acne-prone? Oil-free or mattifying formulas.
– Dry skin? Hydrating ingredients like shea or cocoa butter.
For outdoor activities, water-resistant SPF is a must—unless you want premature aging.
And of course, dermatologist-approved options are always a plus. Below, we’ve rounded up the best sunscreen sticks, loved by skincare pros and Vogue editors alike.
### Top Picks:
– The Glow Getter: [Supergoop! Glow Stick](link) ($32)
– Sport-Ready: [Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+](link) ($32)
– Derm Favorite: [EltaMD UV Stick SPF 50+](link) ($38)
– Budget-Friendly: [CeraVe SPF 50 Stick](link) ($10)
– K-Beauty Star: [Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick](link) ($18)
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### Why We Love Them:
#### Supergoop! Glow Stick
Best for: A radiant, hydrated finish
Why? This SPF 50 stick doubles as a highlighter, infused with nourishing oils like buriti and tamanu. “It gives a dewy glow without greasiness,” says Dr. Noelani González.
Perfect for: Dry skin, all skin tones
Downside: May be too shiny for oily skin
#### Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick
Best for: Active lifestyles
Why? Surfers (like Vogue’s Ella Riley-Adams) swear by its water-resistant formula. The clear, lightweight texture stays put even during workouts.
Key tech: WetForce for stronger protection when wet
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Now, go forth and protect that skin—stylishly.
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Effective in water and heat, this sunscreen is a great choice for sports and adventure lovers. Dr. González confirms, “It’s ideal for active individuals.” Reviewers also note it works well over makeup. The formula contains skin-loving ingredients like soy lecithin and licorice extract, which help prevent wrinkles, dullness, and hyperpigmentation.
Type: Chemical (avobenzone 2.5%, homosalate 10%, octisalate 5%, octocrylene 10%)
Key Ingredients: WetForce technology, soy lecithin, licorice extract
Water-Resistant: Yes (80 minutes)
SPF: 50+
Love It
✔ Holds up against sweat, water, and heat
Leave It
✖ Can leave a slight shine
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### The Classic Choice: EltaMD UV Stick Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+
Price: $38 (Blue Mercury) | $30 (Amazon)
Why We Love It: This EltaMD sunscreen stick is a dermatologist favorite, offering the same trusted protection as its liquid counterpart. The vegan, mineral SPF 50+ formula is water-resistant, broad-spectrum, and packed with antioxidants. Designed for face and body, it shields against UVA/UVB rays, blue light, and infrared radiation.
Dr. González says, “With zinc oxide and vitamin E, it provides broad-spectrum protection and is fragrance-free—great for sensitive skin and the whole family.”
Type: Mineral (22% zinc oxide)
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, bisabolol, oryzanol, ethyl ferulate
Water-Resistant: Yes (80 minutes)
SPF: 50+
Love It
✔ Dermatologist-recommended, works on face and body
Leave It
✖ Some find the stick formula tricky to apply on very dry skin
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### The Thirst-Quencher: Glow Recipe Watermelon Niacinamide Dew Balm SPF 45
Price: $30 (Glow Recipe)
Why We Love It: Vogue’s Jenny Berg calls this her summer skincare MVP: “It smells like a watermelon lollipop and glides on smoothly.” The SPF 45 stick version offers the same benefits as the lotion but in a travel-friendly form. With hyaluronic acid for hydration and niacinamide for brightening, it gives skin a healthy glow.
Dr. Collins adds, “It blends skincare and sun protection perfectly—niacinamide brightens and controls oil, leaving a radiant (not greasy) finish. Great for combo skin.”
Type: Chemical (avobenzone 3%, homosalate 5%, octisalate 5%)
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid
Water-Resistant: Yes (40 minutes)
SPF: 45 PA+++
Love It
✔ Fruity scent, silky texture
Leave It
✖ Scent may be too sweet for some; only water-resistant for 40 minutes
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### The Drugstore Pick: CeraVe Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Stick
Price: $10 (Amazon)
Why We Love It: Dr. González says, “This stick has ceramides and niacinamide to strengthen the skin barrier while protecting against UV rays.” The mineral-based, oil-free formula also includes hyaluronic acid for hydration.
Dr. Collins adds, “A great drugstore option for sensitive or eczema-prone skin—fragrance-free and non-irritating.”
Type: Mineral (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide)
Key Ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid
Water-Resistant: Yes (40 minutes)
SPF: 50
Love It
✔ Affordable, dermatologist-developed
Leave It
✖ None noted
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### Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick
Price: $18 (YesStyle)
Why We Love It:
This sun stick offers top-tier UVA protection with its PA++++ rating, helping prevent premature aging. Its lightweight formula glides on smoothly without leaving residue, giving skin a polished, photo-ready finish. Vogue’s Laia Garcia-Furtado raves about its blurring effect, using it even for indoor events. Dr. González notes it controls oil with mugwort and silica, making it great for oily skin.
Type: Chemical
Key Ingredients: Mugwort, green tea extract, silica
Water-Resistant: No
SPF: 50 PA++++
Pros:
✔ Highest UVA protection
✔ Blurs imperfections
✔ Controls shine
Cons:
✖ Not hydrating for dry skin
✖ Not water-resistant
✖ Limited availability
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### Bloom Effects Tulip Dew Shield & Glow
Price: $32 (Amazon)
Why We Love It:
Infused with Dutch tulip extract, this sunscreen protects while nourishing skin with shea butter and natural oils. It also contains stevia for antioxidant benefits—all without fragrance. Dr. Collins recommends it for normal to dry skin types seeking hydration and a radiant glow.
Type: Mineral
Key Ingredients: Stevia, shea butter, grapeseed oil, tulip extract
Water-Resistant: Yes (80 minutes)
SPF: 50
Pros:
✔ Hydrating and softening
✔ Reef-safe
✔ Fragrance-free
Cons:
✖ May leave a white cast
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### Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Stick
Price: $9–$10 (Amazon)
Why We Love It:
Designed for sensitive skin, this mineral SPF 50 stick contains soothing aloe vera, shea butter, and sunflower oil. While it doesn’t change color like the brand’s bottle version, it’s still portable and easy to apply. Dr. González recommends it for kids and outdoor use.
Type: Mineral (zinc oxide)
Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, shea butter, sunflower oil, vitamin E
Water-Resistant: Yes (80 minutes)
SPF: 50
Pros:
✔ Gentle for sensitive skin
✔ Reef-safe
✔ Travel-friendly
Cons:
✖ May leave a white cast on deeper skin tones
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### Coola Refreshing Water Hydration Stick
Price: $30 (Nordstrom, Amazon)
Why We Love It:
This SPF 50 stick features Blue Screen and Digital DeStress tech to protect against environmental stressors while hydrating skin.
Type: Not specified
Key Features: Hydrating, antioxidant protection
SPF: 50
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### Coola Organic Sunscreen SPF 50
This sunscreen shields skin from high-energy blue light, which can create free radicals that damage collagen and elastin. It also protects against pollution and infrared radiation while delivering a soothing, cooling sensation with each application. The lightweight, gel-like formula is non-comedogenic and packed with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, organic coconut water, and organic aloe.
New York-based esthetician Jade Haifa praises this formula, telling Vogue: “While its main job is UV protection, it also helps boost collagen production.” Dr. Collins adds, “Great for dry or dehydrated skin—it’s refreshing, lightweight, and layers beautifully without feeling heavy.”
Chemical or Mineral? Chemical (avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene)
Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, organic coconut water, organic aloe
Water-Resistant? No
SPF: 50
Love It: Blue light protection, hydrating
Leave It: Not water-resistant
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### Avène Mineral Stick SPF 50
This dermatologist-approved stick offers the same soothing benefits as Avène’s classic lotion but in a convenient, on-the-go format. Packed with vitamin E for antioxidant protection, plus allantoin and bisabolol to calm irritated skin, it’s ideal for sensitive or post-treatment skin. Dr. González says, “It’s gentle, non-comedogenic, and infused with Avène’s thermal water to soothe as it protects.”
While it’s great for beach days (thanks to zinc oxide’s blue-light defense), it’s just as useful for everyday wear.
Chemical or Mineral? Mineral (zinc oxide 12%)
Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, allantoin, bisabolol
Water-Resistant? Yes (80 minutes)
SPF: 50
Love It: Soothes stressed skin, blue-light protection
Leave It: Some wish it were larger
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### MD SolarSciences Solar Stick SPF 40
If you love skincare-makeup hybrids, this tinted mineral sunscreen stick is a multitasker. It provides a universal matte glow without a white cast, thanks to vitamins C and E, shea butter, and the brand’s ProVention-R technology—a blend of zinc oxide, vitamin C, and antioxidant-rich extracts (green tea, cranberry, pomegranate).
Dr. González recommends it: “It glides on smoothly and is perfect for active people with normal or combination skin.”
Chemical or Mineral? Mineral (titanium dioxide, zinc oxide)
Key Ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, shea butter, ProVention-R
Water-Resistant? Yes (80 minutes)
SPF: 40
Love It: Gives a radiant tint, softens skin
Leave It: Not ideal for body use
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### Do Sunscreen Sticks Actually Work?
“Yes, they absolutely work!” says Dr. González—with one tip: “Apply four passes back and forth on each area, then rub it in. Focusing on one spot at a time helps ensure even coverage.”
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This version keeps the original meaning while making the text more natural and engaging. Let me know if you’d like any refinements!Apply sunscreen to one arm, then move to the next area.
What are the downsides of sunscreen sticks?
Dr. González explains, “Most people don’t apply sunscreen sticks properly, which means they don’t get enough protection.” However, she adds that once you learn the right technique, sticks are very easy to use.
How much sunscreen should you apply?
For lotions, dermatologists typically recommend using a shot glass-sized amount every few hours. With sunscreen sticks, Dr. González suggests making four back-and-forth passes over any exposed skin and reapplying regularly.
What to look for in a sunscreen stick:
Just like lotions and creams, sunscreen sticks should be broad-spectrum, water-resistant, and have an SPF of 30 or higher.
Meet the Experts:
– Dr. Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD – Board-certified dermatologist in Miami, Florida.
– Dr. Kristina Collins, MD, FAAD – Board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in Austin, Texas.
– Dr. Noelani González, MD, FAAD – Board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in Puerto Rico.