Can stick innovations encourage greater sunscreen use?

By Lynsey Barber | Published: 18-Jun-2025

Demand for the format is rising thanks to its precision and mess-free application on the go

Sticks are a familiar format for make-up but they are also becoming an increasingly popular choice for new sunscreen products, thanks to their convenience and precision.

Fears around skin ageing, along with increased use of actives, are making sun protection a staple of more and more consumers’ everyday morning beauty routines.

Nevertheless, nearly half of consumers still do not apply sun protection daily, according to a recent UK survey by Face the Future.

Another survey from 2023, Application habits and practices of regular sunscreen users in the United States, found that even among those who do use regular sun protection, up to 60% of users fail to reapply throughout the day.

Now, sun sticks are stepping out of the shadows, offering a portable and practical way to top up on the go. “With a simple swipe, sun sticks make it easy to reapply sun protection without any mess or residue left on hands,” Dana Peterson, ICONS|ICS Director of Marketing and Communications, tells Cosmetics Business.

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