Sunscreen Stick or Spray for Your Face? How to Apply Each

A sunscreen stick can be convenient when you want to reapply without carrying a bottle of lotion. A spray can also work, but keep the nozzle away from your face. The American Academy of Dermatology advises spraying sunscreen into your hands first, then applying it to your face. With either format, the practical challenge is getting an even layer over every exposed area.

For a related guide, read Why Does Your Face Feel Dry After Washing? Causes and Gentle Solutions.

Choose a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, as the AAD recommends. Check the directions on your own package before you leave home. It is easier to practice with a new format in front of a mirror than on a windy sidewalk or in the middle of a hike.

Use overlapping passes with a sunscreen stick

The AAD advises making four passes back and forth over each area you want to protect, then rubbing the sunscreen in for even coverage. Work in small sections so you know where you have already been. On the forehead, for example, use overlapping strokes and then blend around the edges near the hairline. Repeat on the cheeks and chin.

Look at the shape of the stick before you buy it. A wide stick covers a flat cheek quickly, while a smaller one may be easier to position near the sides of the nose. Follow the label around the eyes. If you find yourself repeatedly skipping a spot because the stick is awkward to maneuver, use a format you can spread there comfortably.

A smooth glide alone does not tell you how much product you have applied. Pay attention to whether you completed the passes in each area and blended them. If you have a narrow mirror, turn your head to check each side rather than relying on the front view.

Put spray sunscreen in your hands before applying it to your face

Avoid spraying sunscreen toward your eyes or mouth, and avoid inhaling it. Spray it into your hands first, then rub it evenly over the exposed skin on your face. Wind can blow spray away from where you intend it to go. If you are outdoors and cannot get out of the wind, a stick or lotion may be easier to apply.

For a related guide, read What Order Should You Apply Skin Care Products? A Simple Morning and Night Guide.

Check the label for flammability warnings and keep the spray away from open flames and heat as directed. If your plans involve a grill or campfire, read those instructions before you get there. A separate sunscreen that you can apply without a spray may simplify your packing for that outing.

Make a small coverage checklist

Pick a repeatable order, such as forehead, cheeks, nose, chin and jaw. Then look at the areas outside the center of your face, including your ears, hairline and exposed neck. Those areas are easy to miss when you start with the goal of covering only your face.

If you are wearing glasses, a hat or a mask, check the edges when it is practical to do so. Sunscreen belongs alongside other protective measures such as shade and a wide-brimmed hat. A hat can cover part of your face while the sun angle changes during the day.

Pick the format you can reapply consistently

The FDA advises following the package directions and reapplying at least every two hours outdoors, and more often if you are swimming or sweating. A water-resistance claim lasts for the period shown on the label. Keep the product where you will remember it when you leave the house, and check the label before storing it somewhere that gets hot.

If you already have a lotion you apply evenly at home, you can keep that as your usual first application and carry a stick for later. Choose the format that works with the mirror, time and conditions you realistically have. That simple test is more useful than comparing how tidy the containers look.

Sources

• American Academy of Dermatology: How to Use Stick and Spray Sunscreens
• FDA: Sunscreen and Sun Protection

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