What is a SUN STICK and how does it work?
A sun stick is a popular alternative to traditional lotion and aerosol sunscreens. It offers a variety of benefits, including a more precise way to apply your sunscreen.
Sunscreen seems like an ancient concept, but it really didn’t enter the mainstream until after World War II. The very first sunscreen was invented by a Swiss gentlemen named Franz Greiter after getting a little torched while climbing mountains in the Alps. Baller move, but not without its consequences. Greiter was on to something though and would eventually go on to invent the concept of Sun Protection Factor (SPF) in 1962, followed by “broad spectrum” sunscreen and eventually water-resistant sunscreen.
Fast forward to 2021 and we’re putting sunscreen into a solid form that looks and feels a lot like deodorant. What would Greiter think? He’d probably be pumped that generations of mountain climbers to come will easily be able to roll sunscreen over their face, arms and thighs while dangling from the side of a cliff.
What’s Wrong with Sunscreen?
Everyone’s big complaint with traditional sunscreen is it’s messy. You squeeze it out into your hand, spread it all over your body, struggle to rub it in, inevitably miss a spot, and then you’re left with two sticky, weird-smelling hands. That is exactly what sun stick is trying to solve for.
Sun stick comes in a container with a dial in the bottom that allows you to propel it upwards. You never have to touch it with your hands. You never have to furiously rub it in. You never have to miss a spot—if you rolled it over that spot, you can rest assured, you got it.
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Chemical Sunscreen vs Mineral Sunscreen
Whether to use mineral sunscreen or chemical sunscreen is less a debate and more a personal preference. At the end of the day, they both prevent sunburn.
Chemical Sunscreen
Chemical sunscreens have been around longer and are probably what you’re used to using. You squeeze it out of the bottle and rub it into your skin. It takes about 20-30 minutes to sink in but then it deflects and absorbs UV rays while you’re exposed to them.
- Potential Downside 1: It takes a while to work. Who really waits the 20-30 minutes? Most people just apply it the moment they get to the beach, which means they’re vulnerable to UV ray exposure for that window of time.
- Potential Downside 2: It clogs your pores. If you have sensitive skin or a track record of acne, rubbing anything into your skin might not be ideal.
Mineral Sunscreen
Mineral sunscreen is newer than chemical, and its fundamental difference is it does not absorb into your skin. The minerals used are Zinc Oxide and/or Titanium Dioxide. These minerals sit on top of your skin to form a physical barrier between your skin and the sun. That’s why sometimes you’ll hear mineral sunscreen referred to as “physical sunscreen.” They’re one and the same. They work like a shield by blocking UV rays from ever hitting your skin.
- Potential Downside 1: It can leave a soft white tint on your skin. It’s purely aesthetic, but some people may not want the white streak on their skin, especially influencers in the wild with lots of Instagram followers. Unless of course they’re influencing people to buy mineral sunscreen.
Sun stick comes in both the mineral and chemical variety, so you just have to know what you’re looking for.
SUN STICK by Tiege Hanley
Tiege Hanley’s SUN STICK is a broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen rated SPF 30. It contains Zinc Oxide to block and scatter UVA and UVB rays, and it is water resistant up to 40 minutes. Our man Franz Greiter would be proud! Bonus: SUN STICK is safe for coral reefs, too!
Most sunscreens, including Tiege Hanley’s SUN STICK, are effective for about 2 hours. After that, it’s very wise to reapply. When you get in the water, that time frame goes down, which is why we recommend reapplying after about 40 minutes of splashing around.
SUN STICK will change the way you think about fun in the sun, which is important to us. We’re all about giving men better products for sun protection and skin health.
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Tiege Hanley’s History of Sun Protection
Tiege Hanley has maintained a close relationship with The Skin Cancer Foundation for nearly five years. Tiege Hanley’s AM moisturizer received The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation for its inclusion of SPF 20. A couple years ago we launched a LIP balm with SPF 30 for the same reason—the lips are a prime target for skin cancer due to the amount of sun exposure they get. You can throw on sunglasses and a hat to protect yourself, but what about your lips?
SUN STICK is the next chapter of sun protection at Tiege Hanley. It’s a product we’ve been working on for a long time to ensure the ratio of Zinc Oxide was perfect, the water resistance was legit, and the smooth application and feeling of the product on your skin was pleasant. We’re really proud of the product and so far, our members are loving it.
Sun stick is definitely a product worth trying. Whether you choose Tiege Hanley’s mineral-based broad spectrum SUN STICK with SPF 30 or some other version, you should experience the simple pleasure of protecting yourself from the sun without mucking up your hands. Enjoy!
This company never ceases to amaze me in terms of their customer support. I had an issue where my order was taken extensively long and they were able to send me an additional level three box to an address I was staying at while on business. Skincare happens to be really important to me and they were more than willing to help me out. To say I'm impressed is an understatement.