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7 Best Sunscreen Sticks for Your Face, Ears, or Scalp
The best way to keep the sun’s rays off that pretty face.
Sunscreen lotion is a summer essential. We know that already. But it can also take approximately forever to rub in, and one loose cap can turn your beach bag into a greasy SPF crime scene. Sprays aren’t always the clean fix, either—they can feel sticky and be less reliable if you don’t apply enough. But there’s a third option: the sunscreen stick.
Sunscreen sticks are tidy little twist-up tubes, like deodorant, that make protecting those easy-to-miss spots actually achievable. To be clear, they are not a replacement for SPF lotion when you need full-body coverage. But for your face, ears, and scalp? It’s the MVP, especially for quick reapplications or travel, since it slips easily into a backpack or beach bag.
Just make sure not to skimp when using one of these handy little sticks: People commonly under-apply stick sunscreen, so it’s recommended that you make at least four direct passes back and forth over each area for proper coverage when applying. Ahead, we rounded up the best sunscreen sticks out there, including the ones we’re actually swiping on this summer.
Kiehl’s Better Screen UV Serum-In-Stick
Kiehl’s Better Screen UV Serum-In-Stick
I’ve already written an entire ode to Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream—long story short, it’s the one reliable skincare product I have used for years. So when the brand released its own sunscreen stick earlier this year, I couldn’t wait to try it out. As it turns out, this sunscreen stick is so good that we included it in our 2026 Grooming Awards, lauding it for its clear serum formula that glides on without causing any streaks or white cast while providing broad-spectrum SPF 50+ protection to help prevent uneven skin tone and dullness.
| Key Ingredients | Stabilized vitamin C and E complex, avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene |
| SPF | 50+ |
| Size | 0.63 oz |
Neutrogena Beach Defense Water-Resistant Sunscreen Stick
Neutrogena Beach Defense Water-Resistant Sunscreen Stick
When it comes to sunscreen lotion for my whole body, I’m always using Neutrogena. Even for just my face, I’m usually going to go with the brand’s Ultra Sheer Invisible Gel Face Sunscreen. But when I’m headed to the beach or pool, this water-resistant sunscreen stick is the move. It has the same lightweight, fast-absorbing feel that the gel face sunscreen has, as well as a powerful broad-spectrum SPF 50+, and it’s water resistant for up to 80 minutes so you can have fun in the sun and the water at the same time.
| Key Ingredients | Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene |
| SPF | 50+ |
| Size | 1.5 oz |
Dermatone Mineral Sunscreen Stick
Dermatone Mineral Sunscreen Stick
If you’re trying to avoid all the chemical stuff, there are some great mineral sunscreen sticks that use zinc oxide to protect your skin from the sun as well as other natural ingredients. Dermatone makes a reef-safe, sweat- and water-resistant sunscreen stick with zinc oxide and moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and aloe vera extract for a gentle formula that works to protect your skin from the sun while keeping it smooth.
| Key Ingredients | Zinc oxide, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, cocoa seed butter, shea butter, jojoba seed oil, aloe vera extract, vitamin E |
| SPF | 50 |
| Size | 0.5 oz |
EltaMD UV Stick Face and Body Sunscreen
EltaMD UV Stick Face and Body Sunscreen
Another great mineral sunscreen stick option is this one from EltaMD—especially if you have sensitive skin and are worried about irritation or breakouts. Free from parabens, dyes, and fragrances, the formula is both hypoallergenic and noncomedogenic, which means it won’t clog your pores or trigger acne breakouts.
| Key Ingredients | Zinc oxide, bisabolol, vitamin E, oryzanol, ethyl ferulate |
| SPF | 50+ |
| Size | 1.3 oz |
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Clear Stick
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Clear Stick
Japanese beauty brand Shiseido makes our favorite face sunscreen lotion, so naturally we’re also fans of the brand’s sunscreen stick. On top of providing strong SPF 60+ sun protection and being water resistant for up to 80 minutes, the formula includes argan oil, which helps nourish and hydrate the skin. It goes on clear and gives your skin a glowing finish, too.
| Key Ingredients | Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, licorice extract, soy lecithin, argan oil |
| SPF | 60+ |
| Size | 0.7 oz, 2.11 oz |
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Stick
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Stick
This one is for the people who hate putting on sunscreen, like Esquire’s style director, Jonathan Evans—until he discovered Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen. The lightweight, fragrance-free, entirely clear formula makes it feel as if you’re not putting anything on your skin at all, but really, you’re protecting your skin while getting 40 minutes of sweat and water resistance. (Less than some of these other performance sunscreens, but still pretty good.) Plus, meadowfoam estolide helps hydrate your skin, and silica powders help absorb excess oil and make your skin look smoother.
| Key Ingredients | Avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, octocrylene, marina bamboo extract, silica powders, meadowfoam estolide |
| SPF | 40 |
| Size | 0.7 oz |
For those of you who want your sunscreen stick to smell like summer, you can’t go wrong with Sun Bum. The brand has a signature scent that will immediately transport you to the beach, no matter where you are. It’s also a good option for sensitive skin, since the formula includes soothing aloe lotion.
| Key Ingredients | Avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, vitamin E, aloe lotion |
| SPF | 30 |
| Size | 0.45 oz |
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