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You’d be forgiven for saying that the SPF market overwhelms you. Booming with different formulations and textures to suit every skin type - which is a good thing, of course – but the snag is how tricky it can be to navigate and find what works for you.
The calm in the storm, however: SPF sticks. Not designed to replace your beloved facial sunscreen or body lotion, but a useful, straightforward addition to anyone’s suncare arsenal to ramp-up protection levels and shield easily forgotten spots, like the nape of your neck or the tops of your ears. Travel-friendly, ergonomically-shaped and always housed in cute packaging, what’s not to love?
Why Should You Use An SPF Stick?
These pocket-sized protectors are easy to throw in your handbag before heading out for day-drinks, or packing for a long weekend in Lisbon (no space in your liquids bag, no problem) for midday top-ups.
The best part? Brands are now focussing on skin-first formulations with the addition of popular ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, so you can tend to fiddly spots like the hair parting, the bridge of the nose, under the eyes and the tops of the ears, without compromising on skin health.
Are SPF sticks effective?
Hailed for their compact convenience, SPF sticks have become a holiday must-have for all beauty insiders. It must be stressed, though, that they’re best used when layered over a traditional SPF lotion to top-up on protection.
What are the benefits of using an SPF stick?
If you’ve ever tried to re-apply traditional sunscreen throughout the day - and experienced the inherent struggle - your first time using an SPF stick will taste even sweeter. ‘You can apply and reapply sunscreen sticks easily with no mess,’ says Dr Hiva Fassihi, consultant dermatologist and La Roche-Posay expert. ‘They also help with the eye stinging commonly associated with sunscreen, thanks to their waxier formation making them harder to smudge and run into the eyes.’
What are the disadvantages of using an SPF stick?
The biggest pitfall of using an SPF stick is not knowing how much to apply to the skin. ‘Sunscreens should be applied at 2mg/cm2 to get the label protection, which equates to roughly ¼ of a teaspoon for the face. This can be difficult to achieve with creams and lotions, and even more difficult with sunscreen sticks,’ explains Dr Fassihi.
‘Another downside is, given their balm-like texture, they’re often trickier to spread and it’s easy to leave spots uncovered,’ says consultant dermatologist and owner of Joonbyrd, Dr Alexis Granite.
Some experts suggest four swipes (over the same spot) is likely to be enough, but even still, Dr Fassihi urges that this may not suffice as standalone protection. In other words, users should be wary and layer with another sunscreen to be on the safe side.
Can you use an SPF stick instead of traditional sunscreen?
It isn’t recommended, unfortunately (but how easy life would be). ‘SPF sticks are not the best choice of sunscreen for general use, but certainly a good addition to your repertoire of sun protection measure during the spring and summer months,’ adds Dr Fassihi.
Do SPF sticks clog pores?
‘Sunscreen sticks often have a thicker texture and do not have the invisible feel of many sunscreen creams and lotions. They often contain oils, beeswax and cocoa butter which are comedogenic ingredients, meaning they aren’t all that friendly to acne-prone skin,’ Dr Fassihi explains.
How often should you re-apply an SPF stick?
‘The number of times your sunscreen should be reapplied over the course of the day is dependent on your activity level and the amount of sun exposure. For example, on a dark wintery day in the office, your morning application of sunscreen is likely to suffice. If you plan to spend the whole day out during the spring and summer months, re-application is recommended every two to three hours,’ Dr Fassihi advises.
The SPF Sticks We Won't Travel Without
'This Caudalie stick was never out of arms reach when I travelled to Greece this summer,' says beauty assistant Chloe Woodland. 'I swiped over my hair-parting, the bridge of my nose and larger moles every few hours, and my sensitive, fussy skin got on just fine.' Enriched with grapeseed and buriti oil, the formula feels nourishing but never greasy, and this slip makes it's so easy to apply, you won't even need a mirror.
The addition of hyaluronic acid and a host of nourishing oils give Hello Sunday's stick a silky, luxurious feel you don't typically associate with solid sunscreen. Better yet, the balm is infused with a lime, geranium and mint fragrance to scent your summer with a refreshing juiciness that really fits the bill.
Clarins are one of the longest standing beauty brands to date, and it's no wonder. The lotions and gels that comprise their suncare line are loved by all beauty editors and insiders alike, so rest assured you'll like them too. This sleek twist-up tube houses a non-sticky, non-heavy formula containing plane tree to protect skin against photo-ageing.
On account of the pretty summertime glow this sunscreen imparts, it's a tad stickier than the neighbouring SPFs in this edit. This has never put us off though - in fact, it makes for quite the radiant primer beneath make-up, and a livening skin-booster when topped up throughout the day. We even like to swipe it across our chest and collarbones to reap its glow-giving benefits.
Mention of juicy, glow-giving formulas are aplenty in the sunscreen world, but here's one for the matte lovers among us. K-beauty brand Beauty of Joseon's Relief Sun cream was met with so much fanfare, a stick format was inevitable; except this time, the formula features mugwort and camelia to soothe skin as it's protected, while silica powder helps to regulate the production of sebum to keep shine at bay.
One-handed sunscreen application is pretty much the dream, right? No mess nor a mirror necessary, Shiseido's clear stick glides on smoothly without leaving a greasy, streaky residue behind - so much so, that you can even apply over make-up without disturbing what's underneath. The water-resistant veil intensifies when heat, water or sweat are detected to ramp up protection levels when you need it most. Clever.
Even the mere mention of watermelon is refreshing in this summer heat, let alone the dewy feel of this stick. Pairing antioxidant-rich fruit with gentle yet effective actives is the name of Glow Recipe's game, and in this case it's watermelon with brightening niacinamide. This powerhouse duo is the secret behind their bestselling serum's success, and now you can enjoy it in a convenient stick form.
For lovers of the legendary Eight Hour Cream, you can consider this stick a safe blind-buy. Formulated with the same hydrating magic, plus defensive UVA and UVB filters, this stick is ideal for targeted swiping over delicate spots - better yet, you'll find them softer and more sumptuous looking than you left them.
Small but mighty, and especially ideal for fiddly spots like the under-eye area or the mouth. Sizing up no larger than a lip-balm, La Roche-Posay take travel-friendly to new heights; easily slipped into small pockets and handbags, you can take one with you everywhere this summer.
This silky sunscreen stick is full to the brim with skin-loving ingredients. From hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica to hydrate and soothe redness on the skin, to deeply-moisturising jojoba oil, this is 360 skin-care in a tube. Note its unique blue hue, too, which provides antioxidant protection and gently exfoliates the skin.
Did you know that Kiko also make reliable suncare, beside the eclectic make-up line? They don't shout about it, but this trusty stick is formulated with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to nourish skin with wear, and features a tropical monoi scent that lingers on the skin long after use.
Chloe Woodland is the Group Beauty Assistant at , , and , working across print and digital features. She’s worked in the industry for two years, beginning her career writing for trade publications and Professional Beauty. When she’s not demystifying the science behind growing your hair, gathering the best make-up products of all time or investigating buzzy skincare ingredients, you’ll most likely find her rewatching Modern Family for the thousandth time or trying to tame her two working cockers (who’ve never worked a day in their lives).
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