Cay Skin Isle Invisible Sunstick SPF 35
69/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Cay Skin Isle Invisible Sunstick SPF 35 is a chemical stick sunscreen built on older-style filters including Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate and Octocrylene. It wears with a balanced finish, stays lightweight, and keeps white cast low, though it may sting more than some on sensitive skin. With good protection and a score of 68.7/100, it is a convenient on-the-go option, with its older filter base keeping the score moderate.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Good
60
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 35)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
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Allergens
Low
97
- +100 Starting score
- β3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
43
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
π
Fungal acne
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- β9 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil)
- +0 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil at #20, jojoba wax ester, fungal-acne exception (not penalized)
π
Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- β15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- β10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
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Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica Silylate)
- β 3 3 emollient lipids (Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
- β 2 Light emollient/solvent (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 3 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica Silylate)
- β 3 3 emollient lipids (Squalane, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 3 1 soft-focus powders in moderation
π
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +7 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
Skincare extras
Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.
- β¨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (24)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, β / β give the direction, and β / β shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
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Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- β 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)
- β 15.2 UV protection
- β 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
- β 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 2 β nourishing light emollient
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
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Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte β 3 sebum-absorbing powder
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Supporting ingredient
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11 Polyester-8
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 7 film former
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Supporting ingredient
-
Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
14 Squalane
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
- β 9 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
- 1 β nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 β dewy emollient lipid
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Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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22 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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Filter booster, photostabilizes the UV filters or lifts their SPF
Does Cay Skin Isle Invisible Sunstick leave a white cast?
White cast rates low and it has a balanced, lightweight finish, so it is generally invisible on application as the name suggests.
Is the Cay Skin Isle Invisible Sunstick SPF 35 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen using older-style filters including Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate and Octocrylene.
Will it sting sensitive skin?
It rates medium for stinging, so it may feel less comfortable on very sensitive skin or near the eyes.