Best Sunscreen Sticks of 2026

Semi-matte is a rare finish in a sunscreen stick, and it's the reason Abib's Airy Sunstick earned a place here. It glides on like a light balm and settles down instead of sitting wet on the skin, so it doesn't add a second shine layer to an oily or combination face. The stick shape is also easier to angle around the sides of the nose and the mouth than a rounder bullet.

The formula is SPF 50+ and broad spectrum, and the two-pack gives you one for the desk and one for the bag. It's not a matte powder finish, so don't expect it to blot oil all day, but it layers under makeup without the slip of the richer sticks here. The scent is mild and doesn't linger.

The caveat is eye comfort: a swipe too close to the lash line can sting, so we keep it below the brow and use a separate face stick when we need to cover eyelids. That's a small adjustment for a stick that otherwise feels like nothing on the skin.

There's a clear plastic disc on top of the stick that you need to remove before the first twist, which is easy to miss if you're used to opening a sunscreen stick and swiping. Once it's off, Supergoop's Glow Stick is a dry-oil formula with SPF 50 and a PA++++ rating, and it leaves a dewy sheen rather than a matte finish.

That sheen is the reason to buy it. On cheekbones, collarbones, and shoulders, it reads as intentional glow; under foundation, it gives skin a little slip without pilling. The 0.7-ounce size is generous for a face-and-body highlighter, and the formula is oxybenzone-free. We liked it most on dry and normal skin, where the oil blend sinks in and the shine looks healthy.

On already-oily skin, the same glow can read as grease, and a heavy hand can leave the surface tacky for a while. We kept our application to a single pass on the high points and blended with a finger. That's the trade-off for a stick that makes sunscreen feel like makeup.

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are the first things to notice here, because CeraVe's Mineral Sunscreen Stick is a 100% mineral SPF 50 formula. It's fragrance-free and oil-free, and it adds the brand's three ceramides. For a face that reacts to fragrance or chemical filters, that combination is the reason to consider it before the clear sticks here.

The stick is small enough to live in a jacket pocket, and it glides on smoothly enough for quick nose-and-cheek touch-ups. It's water-resistant, so we treat it as a reapply-after-swimming stick rather than a full beach-day body product. The formula is also non-comedogenic, which matters if you're layering it over a moisturizer or under makeup.

We found it best as a dedicated face stick for sensitive-skin days, not as the one stick you use on arms and legs. The pocket size makes it easy to keep with you, and the fragrance-free formula is the reason it stays in our bag. We keep one in the car for school pickup, where a quick nose-and-cheek pass is all we need.

A squirming toddler is the real test of a sunscreen stick, and Aveeno's Baby Continuous Protection stick is the one we hand over for that job. It's a mineral SPF 50 with zinc oxide, fragrance-free and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, and it glides on without the drag we've felt from some zinc sticks. The small format fits in a diaper bag or a jacket pocket, which matters more than a big ounce count when you're applying it to a nose and two cheeks.

We liked it for faces, ears, and the backs of hands, and it layers without a heavy lotion feel. The formula is mild enough for sensitive skin, and the unscented finish is a relief when you're already dealing with a wriggling child. It's also easy to reapply at the park without turning the application into a wrestling match.

For babies and toddlers, the size is the point: it's a face-and-hand stick you can keep with you. We used it on noses, cheeks, and ears, and it never felt like a production. That's a useful thing when the alternative is chasing a child around a blanket with a lotion bottle.

Wet skin is usually the enemy of stick sunscreen, which is why Sun Bum's Kids Clear Face Stick is useful at the pool: it can go on wet or dry. You can reapply right after a swim without toweling off first, and the clear formula doesn't leave a white stripe across a child's face. The SPF 50 formula is water-resistant, and the two-pack makes it easy to keep one in the beach bag and one in the car.

We found the glide smooth enough that kids can swipe it on themselves, which is half the battle. It's formulated without oxybenzone, octinoxate, gluten, parabens, or synthetic fragrance, and it's Hawaii 104 Act compliant. The stick is small enough for a child's hand, which makes self-application easier.

For faces, ears, and the back of the neck, it's the kids' stick we reach for first. The wet-or-dry application is the feature you'll actually notice when everyone is ready to get back in the water. That's the convenience that keeps it in the beach bag.

The coconut-and-banana scent is the first thing you notice, and it's either the reason you'll love Sun Bum's Original Face Stick or the reason you'll leave it on the shelf. Beyond the smell, it's an SPF 30 face stick that's oil-free, non-comedogenic, and enriched with vitamin E. It goes on clear enough that we don't have to blend it into the hairline.

The 0.45-ounce sticks are small, but the two-pack makes them easy to stash: one in a purse, one in a desk drawer. On the face, it feels lightweight and doesn't turn shiny the way the body sticks can. We liked it under makeup, where it disappears into the skin, and for quick reapplication on the nose and cheeks.

SPF 30 is the number to notice. For errands, commuting, and lunch outside, it's plenty. For a long day at the pool, choose one of the SPF 50 sticks and save this one for touch-ups. That's the boundary, and it's a sensible one for a face stick this comfortable.

At the budget end of this group, the Banana Boat Sport Kids stick is the one we grab when we're covering a kid's face, ears, and neck in a hurry. The stick is wide enough to cover more skin per pass than the skinny face sticks here, and it's fragrance-free, which is a plus for a child who doesn't want to smell like sunscreen. It's water- and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes and has a non-greasy feel.

It's the stick you can leave in a backpack, a diaper bag, and the car without wincing. The formula is mild and pediatrician-tested, and it doesn't leave the heavy white residue some mineral kids' sticks do. We found it easy to apply to a toddler's face without a lot of rubbing.

The wide format is also easier for a kid to use themselves, though a toddler will still need help around the ears. For a budget stick, the convenience is the whole point: it's the one you won't mind buying in multiples.

Most kids' sunscreen sticks are pocket-sized; this one is not. Neutrogena's Sheer Zinc Kids stick is 1.5 ounces, which means you can cover a toddler's arms and legs without stopping to twist up a tiny stick every few passes. It's a mineral SPF 50+ with zinc oxide, fragrance-free and water-resistant for up to 80 minutes.

That larger size is the reason it earns a place here. It glides on smoothly enough for faces and ears, and the unscented formula is a good fit for kids who complain about strong sunscreen smells. We liked it for body application first, where the larger surface earns its keep. It's also a sensible stick to keep in the car for quick reapplication on the way home from the park.

If you need a stick for a child with sensitive skin, this is the value pick of the mineral kids' options. The large size means you can cover arms and legs without stopping to twist up a tiny stick, and the fragrance-free formula is easy to live with. It's the one we leave in the beach bag when we know we'll be covering more than just faces.