The stick format sunscreens provide effective sun protection comparable to that of creams with the same protection factor, but their price can be up to five times higher for an equivalent volume, and their application is less practical in extensive areas of the body, according to a report from the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU).
The work has been carried out on three solar sticks SPF 50 and SPF 50+, and confirms that the declared protection in the products is correct in all cases: "Mustela Stick" of High Protection for the whole family SPF 50, "Nivea Facial Stick" SPF 50+ and "Decathlon Sport" SPF 50+ Sunscreen Stick.
The tests conducted by the organization combine "in vivo" and "in vitro" measurements in an accredited laboratory, following the ISO 23698:2024 HDRS standard, which allows for rigorous verification of the announced level of photoprotection.
OCU emphasizes that, although the three sticks achieve good results in "protection, comfort, and ease of use, there are some limitations compared to traditional creams," as "it is difficult to apply a sufficiently thick and even layer; and it is easy to leave areas unprotected, as it is hardly visible."
The report also highlights that users appreciate the ease of use and comfort of these formats, which do not leave a whitish trace on the skin after use and receive good ratings regarding texture, as they are not too greasy or sticky.
"Mustela stands out for its light and creamy texture, ease of application, quick absorption, and pleasant aroma; Decathlon excels for its fragrance and for easy application with a practically invisible finish, although its format is somewhat compact and hard; while the Nivea facial stick has been the best rated, especially for its texture, ease of application, absorption, and invisible finish, with fragrance being the main aspect to improve," the analysis describes.
Regarding labeling, OCU indicates that the three products comply with current regulations, although it detects aspects susceptible to improvement, such as the difficulty in reading the information on the small Mustela packaging or the fact that the ingredient list for Decathlon only appears on the outer packaging.
In relation to the cost, the consumer organization warns that these sticks, although they may seem affordable due to their smaller size, are clearly more expensive when compared by volume to the creams of the same brand and factor. Thus, the Decathlon stick is priced at 36 euros per 100 milliliters, compared to 7.20 euros for its equivalent cream, while the Nivea facial stick reaches 80 euros per 100 milliliters compared to 22 euros for the facial cream.
For this reason, OCU concludes that stick sunscreens are an interesting option as a complement for summer, especially to protect small and delicate areas, such as the face or the eye contour, but are less suitable for covering large body surfaces, such as the back or the limbs.