5 Things to Know Before Buying a Sunstick
What to look for in a mineral stick that holds up on the water, the trail and the beach.
Two sunscreens can sit side by side and look identical. One has a label you can read in a breath: coconut oil, beeswax, zinc. The other runs on for lines, and you trust it anyway.
Start with what you'd check on any sunscreen
1. A short ingredient list is one you can actually read
If the label needs a chemistry degree, you're taking it on faith. Three or four ingredients is a list you can read at the beach, and one you can explain to a friend.
2. A water rating should come with minutes
"Water resistant" on its own tells you little. A number of minutes tells you when to reapply after a swim, and that's the line worth looking for.
3. Suntribe's Sun Stick is mostly just zinc, oil and wax
Original White is certified organic coconut oil, certified organic beeswax and Non-Nano Zinc Oxide. That zinc is the only UV filter in it. Four other colours add organic cocoa powder, ultramarine, iron oxide or chromium oxide, and everything smells lightly of coconut.
What it does once you're outside
4. It's rated for 80 minutes in water, and you can see when to top up
The stick is SPF 50, 80 min water resistant, and blocks 98% of UVB. You put it on thick, so it shows. When the colour fades from your skin, add more. It works well on the nose, ears and lips.
Five colours, 30 g, SPF 50
See the zinc stick
The honest part
5. No plastic in the pack, and one thing to watch in the heat
The stick is biodegradable cardboard, and Suntribe ships its orders without plastic, with a free sample inside. The trade-off is heat. It goes on easiest up to 30 °C, and in a hot car or bag it can soften. Keep it somewhere cool.
Before you order
Is it reef safe, and is it fine for kids?
Suntribe lists it as reef safe, baby-safe, pregnancy-safe, allergen-free and cruelty-free, with an INCI Beauty Safety score of 18/20. It's for topical use only.
What if I don't like it?
You can get a full refund within 30 days of receiving your order, even if you've opened it.
What does it cost, and how fast does it arrive?
One stick is $23,99. Two is $45,58, and four is $86,36. Orders ship from Sweden in 1–2 working days, and US standard delivery takes 10-12 days. Shipping is free over 69 USD.