Equilibra Protective Sun Stick SPF 30+
65/100 overall score
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About this sunscreen
Equilibra Protective Sun Stick is a chemical SPF 30+ stick on an older filter set of avobenzone, octocrylene, and titanium dioxide. It has a dewy finish, stays lightweight, keeps white cast low, and does not sting, with a low pore-clogging profile that suits most skin for targeted application. The stick format is handy for face, ears, and other spots. Protection is rated good and the overall score is 65.1, held back somewhat by the dated lineup.
Ingredient & SPF scores
☀️
UV protection
Good
66
- +28.5 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #6, UV filter (UVA1 +15.2)
- +12.8 Octocrylene at #9, UV filter
- +26.4 Titanium Dioxide at #12, UV filter (UVA1 +4)
- −3.1 UVA2 coverage saturated
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
☢️
Health safety
High
67
- +100 Starting score
- −30 Octocrylene at #9 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- −3.5 Avobenzone at #6, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
🤧
Allergens
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- −18 Fragrance
- −18 8 declared fragrance allergens
- −3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
👻
White cast
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- −7.5 Titanium Dioxide at #12 (nano)
- +0.7 PHSA dispersant, fights agglomeration
🔥
Eye sting
Low
61
- +100 Starting score
- −16 Avobenzone at #6, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −7 Octocrylene at #9, migrates into eyes with sweat
- −8 Fragrance
- −8 7 declared fragrance allergens
🪨
Heavy feel
Low
84
- +100 Starting score
- −6 Titanium Dioxide at #12
- −10 Ricinus Communis Seed Oil at #3, heavy oil
🔴
Comedogenic
Low
68
- +100 Starting score
- −32 Ethylhexyl Palmitate at #2, heavy comedogenic ester
🍄
Fungal acne
High
0
- +100 Starting score
- −12 1 free fatty acids that feed Malassezia (Squalene)
- −50 3 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Ricinus Communis Seed Oil)
- −50 4 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Laurate, Glyceryl Behenate)
- −10 2 different Malassezia-feeding families high in the list
- +22 Penalties exceed the scale, floored at 0
👕
Fabric stains
High
25
- +100 Starting score
- −45 Avobenzone at #6, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
- −15 Octocrylene at #9, co-stains alongside avobenzone
- −10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
- −5 Titanium Dioxide at #12, white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
💧
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- ← 1.5 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- → 3 3 emollient lipids (Squalene, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil)
✨
Finish
Dewy
MatteDewy
- ← 1 1 sebum-absorbing powders (Silica)
- → 3 3 emollient lipids (Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Squalene)
- → 6 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Palmitate)
- → 8 Occlusives seal moisture in (Ricinus Communis Seed Oil)
🌊
Water resistance
Not resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
Nothing flagged in the ingredient list.
How we rate 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.
- ✨ Aloe vera
Full ingredient list (36)
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.
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 32 heavy comedogenic ester
- 6 → dewy slippy emollient ester
- ↑ 36 feeds malassezia
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Botanical extract
- ↑ 10 heavy oil
- 8 → dewy occlusive
- ↑ 36 feeds malassezia
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
-
Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone)
- ↑ 28.5 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
- ↑ 16 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 45 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
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Plant oil, an emollient
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Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 12.8 UV protection
- ↑ 7 migrates into eyes with sweat
- ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Mineral UV filter (Titanium Dioxide), low in the list, likely a minor contributor
- ↑ 26.4 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
- ↑ 5 white marks, worst on dark fabric (washable)
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
-
14 Silica
Mattifying powder, absorbs oil and blurs the finish
- light ← 1.5 sebum-absorbing powder
- matte ← 1 sebum-absorbing powder
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Emulsifier, keeps oil and water blended
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Plant oil, an emollient
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
17 Aroma
Fragrance
-
18 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
Supporting ingredient
-
Botanical extract
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 9 feeds malassezia
-
22 Maltodextrin
Humectant, pulls water into the skin
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
25 Tocopherol
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
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Botanical extract
-
Botanical extract
-
28 Citronellol
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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Botanical extract
-
30 Linalool
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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Soothing, skin-conditioning active
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32 Limonene
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
-
33 Squalene
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- 1 → nourishing emollient lipid
- 1 → dewy emollient lipid
- ↑ 12 feeds malassezia
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Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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35 Coumarin
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
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36 Citral
Fragrance component, a declared allergen
Does the Equilibra Sun Stick leave a white cast?
No, white cast is rated low. It wears with a dewy, lightweight finish and does not sting, which is convenient for targeted application from a stick.
Is the Equilibra Protective Sun Stick SPF 30+ mineral or chemical?
It is mainly chemical, using avobenzone and octocrylene with some titanium dioxide, an older-generation filter combination.
Is this sunscreen any good?
It scores 65.1 out of 100. Protection is good at SPF 30+ and the stick format is handy, though the dated filter lineup holds the score back.