Sun Bum Original Sun Stick SPF 30
61/100 overall score
Sign in to see this product's score for your skin.
About this sunscreen
The Sun Bum Original Sun Stick SPF 30 is a chemical sunscreen using older-generation filters: Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, and Ethylhexyl Salicylate. The stick format wears with a balanced finish and low white cast, though it feels somewhat heavier and may sting if it reaches the eyes. It is low in pore-clogging potential and workable under makeup. With a score of 60.8/100 and moderate protection, it is a convenient on-the-go option rather than a top performer.
Ingredient & SPF scores
βοΈ
UV protection
Moderate
46
- +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
- +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
- +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
- Γ0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
- +1 Label claims (SPF 30)
β’οΈ
Health safety
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- β40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
- β3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
π€§
Allergens
Low
70
- +100 Starting score
- β18 Fragrance
- β12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
π₯
Eye sting
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
- β8 Fragrance
πͺ¨
Heavy feel
Medium
57
- +100 Starting score
- β12 Cera Alba at #5, wax film
- β2 Polyethylene at #14, wax film
- β6 Ozokerite at #11, wax film
- β6 Paraffin at #12, wax film
- β5 Cetyl Alcohol at #7, rich gel-network thickener
- β12 Stick/balm format with a wax skeleton
π΄
Comedogenic
Low
93
- +100 Starting score
- β7 Ethylhexyl Palmitate at #8, heavy comedogenic ester
π
Fungal acne
Low
86
- +100 Starting score
- β14 1 long-chain (C12+) esters that feed Malassezia (Ethylhexyl Palmitate)
π
Fabric stains
Medium
50
- +100 Starting score
- β50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
π§
Moisture
Balanced
LightNourishing
- β 1 1 fatty-alcohol emollients (Cetyl Alcohol)
β¨
Finish
Balanced
MatteDewy
- β 2 1 slippy emollient esters (Ethylhexyl Palmitate)
π
Makeup base
Okay
PillsPrimer
- β 8 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
π
Water resistance
Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
- +3 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
- +17 4 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.
- β¨ Vitamin C
- β¨ Vitamin E
Full ingredient list (15)
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.
-
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
-
Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 12 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter
- β 8 UV protection
- β 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 12 wax film
- β 7 wax water lock
-
6 BHT
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
-
Fatty alcohol, an emollient and thickener, not the drying kind
- β 5 rich gel-network thickener
- 1 β nourishing fatty-alcohol emollient
-
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 7 heavy comedogenic ester
- 2 β dewy slippy emollient ester
- β 14 feeds malassezia
-
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
-
10 Fragrance
Fragrance
-
11 Ozokerite
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 6 wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
-
12 Paraffin
Occlusive, seals moisture into the skin
- β 6 wax film
- β 4 wax water lock
-
13 Polyester-8
Film former, locks the formula onto skin for water resistance
- β 3 film former
-
14 Polyethylene
Emollient, softens and smooths skin
- β 2 wax film
- β 2 wax water lock
-
Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin
Does the Sun Bum Original Sun Stick SPF 30 leave a white cast?
White cast is rated low, so it generally goes on without a heavy residue. It is an all-chemical formula, which helps it avoid the mineral white cast.
Is the Sun Bum Original Sun Stick SPF 30 mineral or chemical?
It is a chemical sunscreen. It uses older-generation filters: Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Homosalate, and Ethylhexyl Salicylate.
Is the Sun Bum sun stick good?
It scores 60.8/100 with moderate protection. The stick format is convenient for on-the-go reapplication, though it feels a bit heavier and may sting near the eyes.