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The Best Korean Sunscreen Stick Picks That Will Last You All Summer Long
For the beauty enthusiast on the go, summer’s sunshine can present a challenge: maintaining a flawless complexion while fending off harmful UV rays. Reapplication throughout the day can feel like a chore, especially when you’ve got a whole face of makeup you don’t want to ruin.
When you’re on the go, you don’t want to be wiping product over your face with your bare hands and, similarly, if you’re wearing a full face of makeup it’s impossible to reapply the typical cream sunscreen.
However, one product has solved all my reapplication woes; sunscreen sticks. Sunscreen sticks are solid sunscreens that you can swipe directly onto your face — so now there’s no excuse not to give yourself an extra dose of sun protection throughout the day.
Like most skincare products, K-beauty brands have got it right with this form of SPF and today I want to talk through some of my favourite options as well as general SPF favourites from Korean skincare brands.
How to apply a stick sunscreen
I love keeping a stick sunscreen in my bag when I’m out and about during the day, I find it’s the only way for me to actually reapply throughout the day as it can be annoying to get my hands all messy with a typical SPF.
Here’s how I like to apply stick sunscreens, both under makeup and on top of makeup:
Underneath makeup
The easiest way to apply these products is, of course, underneath your makeup when you don’t have to worry about wiping all of your hard work away.
SPF should be the last step of your skincare routine so, once I’ve put on my moisturiser, toner, eye cream etc. I’ll glide the stick sunscreen generously across my face in multiple directions – think cheeks, forehead, nose and chin, but don’t forget about the top of your ears, your hairline and down your neck.
On top of makeup
Putting anything on top of your makeup is a bit of a tricky process, but not impossible. If I’m wearing minimal makeup and not many powder products, I will take my stick sunscreen, rub my fingers over it to warm the product up and then swipe directly onto my skin. Importantly, I’ll only do one swipe in each direction until I cover my whole face to minimise any disruption to my makeup.
If I’m wearing a lot of makeup, I’ll just swipe the stick sunscreen onto my fingers and then press it into my face. It may not be the most mess-free way of application, but it gets the job done with somewhat minimal mess.
The Best Korean Sunscreen Sticks and Creams You Can Buy
As these products become much more popular, we’re spoiled for choice with different sunscreen sticks. Here are some of my favourites:
Beauty of Joseon – Matte Sun Stick
Starting off strong with a Korean beauty brand that most people have heard of by now, Beauty of Joseon. They are best known for their liquid SPF but their Matte Sun Stick is just as good, and much easier to apply when you’re on the go.
The sun stick has a matte finish which is great for people with oily skin who don’t like the greasy look that some sunscreens can often give. It doesn’t leave a white cast, is non-sticky and offers the best broad-spectrum protection that we all want from our daily SPF.
Haruharu WONDER – Black Bamboo Daily Soothing Sun Shield
Haruharu Wonder’s Black Bamboo Daily Soothing Sun Shield is a convenient, on-the-go sunscreen in a stick form. Perfect for oily skin, it offers SPF 50+ PA++++ protection against UVA and UVB rays.
I like it because the balm feels really lightweight, but is packed full of ingredients that are great for the skin like fermented bamboo shoot extract and niacinamide.
What sets this apart from other sunstick products is that it has a soothing and cooling effect on the skin, something that people with sensitive skin are going to love. The product itself has a hydrating, but semi-matte finish which makes it a great choice for daily sun protection for pretty much all skin types.
MISSHA – All Around Safe Block Aqua Sun
Now, we’re moving on to the liquid SPF products that you’ll find me wearing all summer long. Missha’s All Around Safe Block Aqua Sun is a lightweight, gel-textured sunscreen that I would highly recommend to anyone with oily and combination skin.
It’s got the standard SPF 50+ PA+++ protection that I never compromise on with facial sunscreens. But, it’s also enriched with glacial water, botanical extracts, and has a sweatproof formula.
Importantly, it absorbs quickly, leaving a non-greasy finish without the slightest white cast – which is one of the most important things that I look for in any SPF these days.
ROUND LAB – Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen
Although I mentioned that I loved the Beauty of Joseon sunscreen, the Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen has quickly become one of my newest sunscreen favourites.
As someone with dry skin, I like any product that has that little bit of extra hydration in it – as well as SPF 50, of course. With broad spectrum protection and a non-greasy finish, this is a great SPF that feels comfortable on the skin and primes everything nicely for makeup.
What I like about this is that it just feels like a moisturiser, in fact, you could easily skip your moisturiser altogether and just use this instead – you’d still get that hydrated, smooth finish. It makes wearing SPF feel like less of a chore and more of an extension of your existing skincare routine.
Stay protected this summer
I know that sunscreen is not the nicest product to apply, and especially to reapply, but these Korean sunscreens really do away with the idea that sunscreens have to be thick, white, and uncomfortable.
Do you have a favourite Korean sunscreen that I didn’t mention?
