Earth Rhythm Sunstick SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen
60/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Earth Rhythm Sunstick SPF 50 is a stick sunscreen that, despite the mineral label, relies mostly on an older chemical blend of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, ethylhexyl salicylate, avobenzone and oxybenzone alongside zinc oxide. It has a balanced, lightweight feel with a low white cast and is generally low-sting with low breakout triggers. Protection is good, and with a score of 59.6/100 it is a convenient on-the-go stick that sits mid-pack overall.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
61
- +14.4 Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate at #8, UV filter
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #9, UV filter
- +6.4 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #10, UV filter
- +24 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #11, UV filter (UVA1 +12.8)
- +17.6 Benzophenone-3 at #12, UV filter
- +24.6 Zinc Oxide at #13, UV filter (UVA1 +10.8)
- +3.6 Homosalate at #22, UV filter
- −16.6 UVB coverage saturated
- −8.2 UVA2 coverage saturated
- ×0.75 Avobenzone + octinoxate degrade each other in sunlight
- +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
☢️
Health safety
Low
0
- +100 Starting score
- −70 Oxybenzone at #12 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −14 Homosalate at #22, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −12.6 Octinoxate at #8, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −10.5 Octocrylene at #9, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #11, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- +0 3 endocrine-scrutinized filters together
- +10.6 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
🤧
Allergens
Low
91
- +100 Starting score
- −9 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Benzophenone-3, Octocrylene)
🔥
Eye sting
Low
71
- +100 Starting score
- −8 Avobenzone at #11, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −7 Octocrylene at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −5 Oxybenzone at #12, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −5 Octinoxate at #8, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −1 Homosalate at #22, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −3 Octisalate at #10, migrates into eyes with sweat
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
64
- +100 Starting score
- −3 Zinc Oxide at #13
- −12 Cera Alba at #7, wax film
- −20 Microcrystalline Wax at #3, wax film
- −1 Ricinus Communis Seed Oil at #25, heavy oil
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
98
- +100 Starting score
- −2 Myristyl Myristate at #17, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
Medium
46
- +100 Starting score
- −18 2 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil)
- −36 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Myristyl Myristate, Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate, Glyceryl Stearate)
- +0 Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil at #24, jojoba wax ester, fungal-acne exception (not penalized)
👕
Fabric stains
High
15
- +100 Starting score
- −38 Avobenzone at #11, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −20 Oxybenzone at #12, yellow stains on white cotton
- −15 Octocrylene at #9, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- −2 Zinc Oxide at #13, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- → 2 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
✨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- → 2 2 emollient lipids (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil)
- → 1 Occlusives seal moisture in (Ricinus Communis Seed Oil)
🌊
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +17 2 water-locking waxes
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.
- ✨ Vitamin C
Full ingredient list (29)
What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / → shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 20 wax film
- ↑ 10 wax water lock
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- ↑ 12 wax film
- ↑ 7 wax water lock
-
Legacy UV filter (Octinoxate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 14.4 UV protection
- ↓ 12.6 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 5 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 12.8 UV protection
- ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 6.4 UV protection
- ↑ 3 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 24 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 8 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 38 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Legacy UV filter (Oxybenzone), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 17.6 UV protection
- ↑ 5 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 20 yellow stains on white cotton
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13 Zinc Oxide
Mineral UV filter (Zinc Oxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 24.6 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 2 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
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Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 2 heavy comedogenic ester
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
18 Ceteareth-12
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
-
Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
-
22 Homosalate
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 3.6 UV protection
- ↓ 14 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 1 migrates into eyes with sweat
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Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
-
Botanical extract
- ↑ 1 heavy oil
- 1 → dewy occlusive
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
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Supporting ingredient
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Preservative, keeps the formula from spoiling
-
Supporting ingredient
Is the Earth Rhythm Sunstick actually mineral?
Despite the mineral label, it relies mostly on chemical filters such as ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, octocrylene, ethylhexyl salicylate, avobenzone and oxybenzone, with zinc oxide as the only mineral filter.
Does the Earth Rhythm Sunstick leave a white cast?
No, the white cast is rated low. It wears balanced and lightweight and is generally low-sting and low on pore-clogging triggers.
Is the Earth Rhythm Sunstick SPF 50 a good pick?
It scores 59.6/100 with good protection, so it sits mid-pack. It is a convenient on-the-go stick for reapplication rather than a top performer.