The best facial sunscreen stick is the one that suits your skin type and that you actually pull out of your bag during the day. For combination to oily skin that needs touch-ups over makeup, we recommend the Matte Sun Stick by Beauty of Joseon. For all skin types, the simplest combination remains the same: a generous sunscreen fluid in the morning, then the stick for touch-ups.
The stick does not replace your cream. It complements it. In this guide, you will see how to choose a Korean stick according to your skin, how to apply it without ruining your complexion and what skincare to pair with it. If you want to compare formats, all our sunscreens are gathered in the Korean sunscreen collection.
Sunscreen stick or cream: what each format is really used for
A sunscreen stick is a solid balm that you glide directly over the skin. Its advantages are concrete: no need to wash your hands, it fits in a pocket and it goes over foundation without moving everything around. It is the ideal format for reapplying at the office, on public transport or on a terrace.
Its limitation is just as concrete. The SPF displayed on a sunscreen is measured in the laboratory with a generous layer of product. With a few quick passes of the stick, you apply much less over the entire face. In the morning, it is therefore better to use a cream or fluid, which you spread easily in a sufficient quantity. The stick then takes over during the day, when the first layer has worn off with sebum, sweat or hands touching the face.
Remember this division of roles: the cream protects, the stick maintains.
How to choose a Korean sunscreen stick according to your skin
Korean sticks look similar from afar, but their finish varies greatly. Some aim for a matte effect, others for a more comfortable glowy effect. Your skin type determines the right choice.
Combination to oily skin: aim for a matte finish
Your skin already shines by midday. A balm rich in oils would add shine to your T-zone. Look for a stick that promises a matte or dry-to-touch finish, and always blot away excess sebum before applying it. The stick adheres better to skin that is clean on the surface.
Dry or mature skin: prioritize comfort
A very mattifying stick can mark dry areas and accentuate the appearance of fine lines at the end of the day. If your skin feels tight, choose a more comfortable stick, or keep a hydrating sunscreen serum in your bag and touch up with your fingertips.
Sensitive or reactive skin: keep it simple
If your skin turns red quickly, limit friction. Glide the stick without pressing hard and avoid going over the same spot several times while pulling the skin. Always test a new sunscreen on a small area before using it on the entire face.
Dark skin: watch out for the white cast
Mineral filter sticks can leave a grayish cast on dark skin tones. Do a test on the jawline, in natural light, before adopting it.
The Matte Sun Stick by Beauty of Joseon, our Korean stick for touch-ups
The Matte Sun Stick by Beauty of Joseon is designed for combination to oily skin that struggles to find protection that does not make it shine or move the foundation. Its role: to allow you to reapply your protection in a few gestures, even with makeup on, without having to go back to the bathroom.
It is particularly suitable if you:
- wear makeup every day and do not dare reapply your cream over it;
- have a T-zone that gets shiny quickly;
- spend time outdoors, in the city or outside, and want an easy touch-up to carry;
- forget your protection because the cream stayed at home.
If you already like the brand's sunscreens, our article Beauty of Joseon Sunscreen: review and guide by skin type helps you choose the fluid to pair with it in the morning.
Cream in the morning, stick during the day: the fluids to pair with it
Your stick only gives its best on a proper base. Here are the Korean fluids to apply as the last step of your morning routine, according to your skin.
- All skin types, including oily, acne-prone and sensitive: the Relief Sun Rice + Probiotic SPF50+ PA++++ by Beauty of Joseon. Delphine summarizes her experience thus: "I love the texture and it does not feel sticky even when you sweat." (customer review left on our site).
- Skin that wants a hydrating sunscreen: the Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum by SKIN1004. Helene writes: "Fluid and covering sunscreen at the same time. Blends very well at the end of the routine, does not pill." (customer review left on our site).
- Sensitive, reactive or combination skin: the Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50+ by COSRX. An honest feedback to know: "Good product but the finish is quite 'shiny'" (A., customer review left on our site). If your skin is oily, keep that in mind.
- Dehydrated, dull or mature skin: the Ginseng Moist Sun Serum SPF50+ PA++++ by Beauty of Joseon, which combines protection and hydrating care.
- Those who want to forget their sunscreen under makeup: the Ultra Light Invisible Sunscreen SPF50 PA++++ by COSRX, designed for daily use, alone or under foundation.
Comparison: which Korean sunscreen for which moment of your day
| Product | Format | Best time | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick | Stick | Touch-ups during the day | Combination to oily skin, with makeup |
| Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Rice | Cream | In the morning, last step | All skin types, including sensitive |
| Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua Fresh Rice + B5 | Cream | In the morning, before makeup | All skin types that want a complexion base |
| SKIN1004 Water-Fit Sun Serum | Serum | In the morning, end of routine | Skin that is looking for hydration |
| COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream | Cream | In the morning | Sensitive, reactive or combination skin |
| Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen | Cream | In the morning | Skin that wants a hydrating sunscreen daily |
The logic is simple: one line of the table for the morning, the stick for the rest of the day.
How to apply a sunscreen stick over makeup
It is the gesture that scares, and yet it is simple. As Cédric, co-founder, says: "We often think that we need to remove all makeup to reapply sunscreen. That is not the case."
- Blot your skin. Place a blotting paper or a clean tissue on your T-zone, without rubbing. The stick glides better and does not mix sebum with foundation.
- Move zone by zone. Forehead, nose, cheekbones, chin. Glide the stick slowly while pressing lightly, rather than pulling the skin.
- Focus on exposed areas. The nose, the tops of the cheekbones and the forehead receive the most sun. Go over several times.
- Blend the product. Tap with clean fingertips or with a sponge, without sweeping.
- Clean your stick. Wipe the top with a clean tissue before closing it.
Are you wondering if your foundation with SPF is enough instead? Our article Does makeup cancel out your sunscreen? summarizes.
The mistakes that lower your protection
- Using the stick alone in the morning. A few passes do not deposit enough product over the entire face. Start with a fluid.
- Making a single quick pass. A lightning-fast back and forth leaves a layer that is too thin. Take the time to go over again.
- Forgetting hidden areas. The ears, the jawline, the neck and the hairline are often forgotten.
- Sharing your stick. It touches the skin directly. Keep it for yourself, especially if your skin tends to mark.
- Leaving it in the sun. In a car or on a beach towel, the heat softens the balm. Store it in the shade, in a pocket of your bag.
- Waiting to see redness to touch up. Reapply before going out, after sweating, after swimming or after wiping your face.
Find your sunscreen routine in a few questions
Are you hesitating between a matte finish and a more comfortable finish, or do you not know which fluid to apply in the morning? Take our free skin diagnostic. In a few questions, you will know what skin type you are dealing with and what skincare suits it. Then, all you have to do is slip the stick in your bag and get into the habit of touching up.
