Everyone and Their Mom Is Making a Sunscreen Stick. These Are the Best.

It’s labeled an “airy sun stick,” and I’d say that’s an accurate description. It doesn’t feel like sunscreen at all. It’s housed in an ergonomic, curved mini-deodorant-shaped stick and goes on completely clear. It feels smooth, leaves no greasy residue, and smells incredible. Senior editor Crystal Martin liked this one, too. “I like the matte and smooth finish,” she says.

This caught my 8-year-old’s attention right away, but I enjoyed using it too. It’s only slightly larger than my AirPods case, so it’s easy to throw into any bag. It contains 25 percent zinc oxide, so there’s a slight white cast at first, but it rubs in clear. Compared with the Centellian, it feels more like a traditional sunscreen, but it never looks or feels greasy on my skin.

It’s a serum stick-sunscreen hybrid. The formula is packed with collagen peptides, soothing cica (centella), and brightening vitamin C. The translucent yellow stick melts into skin nicely and feels hydrating without being heavy.

You know sunscreen formulas have evolved when they’re compared to suede, but that’s exactly what this stick’s finish feels like. It mattifies and subtly blurs skin, and it was developed with darker skin tones in mind, so there’s no white cast. Senior writer Ambar Pardilla is a recent convert. “It’s simply invisible,” she says. “It’s coming with me to the Dominican Republic later this month.” She says it also makes a great makeup primer: “My face looks smooth, not caked.”

This 100 percent mineral formula also contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid, so it’s moisturizing and has a nice slip to it. Like the Bubble stick, it leaves a bit of a white cast initially, but it disappears with a little rubbing. It layers well under makeup and feels lightweight on the skin.

This was the most comparable to the Eadem stick, with the same velvety, blurred finish, only at a drugstore price. It feels smooth rather than greasy, so it layers well under makeup with no pilling. It also lives up to its name — there’s no white residue whatsoever.

This best-selling stick has long been a Strategist staff favorite and a Best in Class sunscreen. It’s completely clear, waterproof, and hydrating and has recently been upgraded with SPF 60+. “This one feels like I’m rubbing highlighter all over my face, in that impossibly dewy way,” says Pardilla. “And since it’s a stick, I can really get the sides of my nose, underneath my eyebrows, along my ears, and roll it around my neck.” Great point.

The genius of this sunscreen is the teardrop shape of the stick itself. It makes it even easier to swipe under the eyes and around the nose. It also uses Waterglide Technology, which gives it excellent slip (no tugging across skin) and a cooling feel that’s especially nice on a hot day. It dries down to a satin finish and has the brand’s signature nostalgic beachy scent.

The original Unseen Sunscreen is beloved for its primerlike feel and invisible protection. The stick delivers the same finish in an easy-to-travel-with solid format. You don’t even have to rub it in — just swipe and go.

This one is made specifically for tweens and teens (I have three), but, of course, works on adult skin too. The mineral sunscreen feels cooling and soothing. The ice-block swivel design of the stick is a little cumbersome, but kids do love cool packaging. The price point is also a bit high for a kid product, but if they use the sunscreen regularly, it’s worth it to me.