★★★★★ 3
I Wanted to Like It
Style: SPF 50, Size: 1 count (Pack of 1)
I really wanted to like it because of the great reviews it gets with backpackers and generally with people that don't like "greasy hands syndrome" after applying sunscreen. But after using a stick I found that it's just not that good.
The good: small, lightweight container. Not greasy. Good protection, I was in the sun all day hiking multiple days straight and only put on sunscreen twice per day and I didn't have any burning... and I burn easily.
The bad:
Value: the $12.53 sunscreen container only lasted about 8 days. And that was just my arms, neck, and half my face since I wore a shirt and long pants and a wide brim hat every day when hiking. I would expect this amount of sunscreen to last a lot longer than that on such a limited area. I'm not a big person either.
Application, chafing: it's the opposite of greasy, almost chalky. You use the stick to apply to your skin in stripes, then you have to "blend it in" by rubbing with the backs of your hands so your palms don't get chalky. Since the stick is so dry this requires a fair amount of force and it chafes as you rub it around. When your skin a bit sandy it hurts.
Application, crumbling: on a chilly but sunny morning, about 45 F, I applied sunscreen and small chunks of the stick crumbled off. I watched precious chunks of the already overpriced sunscreen drop to the ground.
Residue: while it's not greasy, it's physical sunblock so it gives your skin the characteristic whitish sparkle. That's to be expected. But what I didn't foresee is it will rub off on anything your skin touches. My gear had white chalk-like marks (technically titania powder?) on my shirt collars, backpack straps, sunglasses, and a few other high-touch items.
Overall I think it's a neat idea. I'm not overly disappointed with my purchase. But for $12.50 I expect sunscreen to be easier to apply and for the container to last longer than about 8 days. I can't burn $50/month in the summer months when a single container of chemical sunscreen will do the job.
Pro tip: you can buy food-safe 3 oz TSA travel containers. Load one of those up with chemical sunscreen and you have something that beats this in every way except for the greasiness, which you can mitigate by picking a lower SPF sunscreen (the 30 SPF you wear is infinitely better than the 50 SPF you skip!).
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Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2025
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