16 Expert-Recommended Sunscreen Sticks to Bring on Your Next Getaway
Sunscreen may be a dermatologist and skin-care expert's BFF, but — like Taylor Swift and cilantro — if it has its devotees, it also has plenty of haters. For those who just can't get behind standard lotion formulas, allow us to introduce you to the sunscreen stick, the lazy (or busy) person's dream.
Beyond being travel-friendly and TSA-approved, sunscreen sticks also check many similar boxes to their lotion and spray counterparts, including protection against UVA and UVB rays, and both mineral or chemical options.
It's in application where the main differences lie: "Full-body coverage with a stick can be difficult," Dr. Michelle Henry, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, tells Fashionista. "Lotions are typically applied by hand and rubbed into the skin, allowing for better control over the amount of coverage; sprays can provide convenient application, but it can be challenging to ensure uniform coverage; and sunscreen sticks offer targeted application, making them useful for areas like the face, lips and around the eyes."
They're also, of course, highly portable, compact and won't spill or leak when being toted around for the day or stashed in a carryon for travel.
But ensuring you're getting adequate coverage (i.e., using enough of the product to amount to the SPF listing on the label) with a sunscreen stick can be tricky. According to Dr. Henry, four back-and-forth swipes should do the trick. "Rub it in afterward for an even layer of coverage — and for comprehensive sun protection, use the sunscreen stick in combination with a sunscreen spray or lotion," she advises.
Our experts advise choosing an SPF of 30 — and, in a twist that may surprise some people, they don't necessarily recommend seeking out numbers that are higher than that. "If adequately applied, sunscreens with sky-high SPFs offer only slightly better protection from a sunburn than an SPF 30," says Dr. Hadley King, a board certified cosmetic and medical dermatologist also based in New York City. "The difference in UVB protection between an SPF 100 and an SPF 50 is marginal…But it is important to keep in mind you will need to reapply every two hours — or after swimming or sweating — to maintain the SPF."
Ahead, we've rounded up the best, expert-approved sunscreen sticks to tote around wherever you may go. Keep scrolling to see (and shop) them all.
Live Tinted Hueguard Invisible Sunscreen Stick SPF 50, $28, available here
Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50, $32, available here
Glow Recipe Watermelon Dew Balm SPF 45, $30, available here
Supergoop Glow Stick Sunscreen SPF 50, $30, available here
Avène Mineral Sunscreen Balm Stick SPF 50, $24, available here
Pipette Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 30, $15, available here
CeraVe 100% Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50, $11, available here
Kinlo Sunscreen Stick Spf 30, $15, available here
Sun Bum Face Stick SPF 30, $13, available here
EltaMD UV Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 50, $38, available here
Kopari Sun Shield On-The-Glow Sheer Stick Sunscreen SPF 40, $29, available here
Coola Refreshing Water Sunscreen Stick Spf 50, $30, available here
Mini Bloom SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen Stick, $14, available here
Skinbetter Science Sunbetter Sheer SPF 56 Sunscreen Stick, $55, available here
Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+, $10, available here
Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Sport Stick SPF 50, $39, available here
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