BABO Botanicals Sheer Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Sport Stick SPF30- Natural Zinc Oxide- Shea Butter- Fragrance-Free - Water Resistant - Made Safe Certified

The Zinc Mineral Sunscreen Stick may not be flawless, but it outperforms its competitors in many aspects. While there is a minor downside—leaving a slight white mark that requires manual redistribution—its positives outweigh this issue. Although it doesn't fully absorb into the skin like high-quality creams, it's gentle, non-irritating, and provides excellent protection. Additionally, it's scent-free, feels natural, doesn't harden or cake, and lasts for an extended period. I personally use it during outdoor activities like sailing in the summer and skiing in the winter, and I find it to be the best sunscreen product I've ever used.

I love having a sunscreen stick handy with me in my backpack, and this stick fits the bill. While this stick does apply OK and the product can be smoothed out and rubbed into the skin easily, it did crumble a bit and applied in tiny chunks in places (basically, it doesn't apply totally smooth - it did on our foreheads and noses, but not on our cheeks, temples or chins). However, as long as you rub it in, which you most likely will do anyway and it does rub in well, you'll be covered. There was no white cast with it (big YAY!) and my fair-skinned son's face was fine after a 3-hour morning bike ride through Cades Cove. I'm more olive-skinned, so I'm less likely to burn in the mornings than my son, but I feel like it did stay put despite the large amount of sweating I did the last hour of the ride as it neared 11:30 am. The smell is sweet - very much like shea butter (which is an ingredient along with a variety of fruit oils) - and I don't think it's off-putting at all. I feel like despite the slight application issue, this is a great sunscreen considering its ingredients, non-toxic rating, natural scent, and that it works well. I will most likely purchase again. The photos I've included are the container, and the sunscreen applicator tip, which shows that it's uneven because it doesn't apply totally smoothly on the face. The two of my hand show it after direct application and then after it's rubbed in (no white cast!!!).

We have tried a zillion sunscreens on our kids. My son HATES having the stuff applied, and I hate having them look like ghosts--so my dream is finding a safe sunscreen that isn't pasty white and that does not take forever to apply and rub in. I had pretty much given up hope... I bought this despite the bad reviews out of desperation (and the fact that my kids LOVE their shampoo in the pink bottle that is also great with long hair/tangles), but expected to hate it--so did not try it until yesterday. IT IS FABULOUS! My highly critical son who hates sunscreen LOVED the smell and asked me to only buy things from this company from now on. He told me I had to write the company a letter thanking them for making this product. These are the spontaneous outpourings from a 5 year old boy as I am swiping his face with the stick. Applying it was a breeze! We were done in no time, and mommy and all 3 kids were happy. No mess, no tantrums, no ghost faces! I am buying a case of the stuff! So--there may have been a bad batch (as mentioned below), but the product I just got (summer of 2015) was absolutely fabulous!

Pros: This stick fits very easily in any purse, which means it's easy to keep on hand for those times when you don't really anticipate being out in the sun, but end up there. It seems to offer very good sun protection, as I haven't been burned yet while wearing it (I burn easily). It has a pleasant, very light scent and doesn't leave much of a white cast. Cons: It can be very hard to spread over any area much larger than your face - so it isn't super practical as your main sunscreen solution. I've been caught out in the sun a few times and tried to spread it over my arms and legs, and since it's not much bigger than a chapstick, you can imagine that takes a while! Also, it doesn't really taste great - not that I've purposely eaten it, but I usually apply an SPF lip balm and this doesn't work great for that because it tastes odd.

[UPDATE BELOW] I thought this would be convenient to keep in a bag for sunscreen touch-ups on the go, or for applying to my toddler's face and hands. But unless there is a trick to it I don't know, I can't figure out how to get the stick to actually apply. Unless you press on it very hard (and I mean, really shove it into your skin) it doesn't do anything. It's uncomfortable to press that hard on my arm, let alone a toddler's arm, or anyone's face. Love their clear zinc sunscreen cream, though, so we just use that all the time instead. UPDATE, 7/28/2014: The company reached out to me upon reading the above review, and explained (see comments) that there was a batch made with bad shea butter, that seemed to be causing the problems I had and, based on other low-rated reviews, it looks like others have had too. They replaced the item with a newer version, and it slides on the skin like butter - cliche, I know, but absolutely true. In between my bad experience with the product and receiving the replacement, I tried a few other zinc-based sunscreen sticks that I liked a lot, but this really does go on even more smoothly than any of those - and actually smells nice too (not something I need/look for in sunscreen, but is a pleasant bonus.) If you've had a bad experience with this stick, you probably did get one from the crummy batch. It might be worth contacting them about it - customer service was fabulous to work with.

There is no scratchy stick inside a tube as some other concerning reviews mentioned. I intentionally unscrewed one and broke it in half to check (actually it's easy to return all back in tube and continue use with no worries of scratching a cheek by anything). Fits well into lifestyle needs for kids.

I have been using clear zinc sunsticks for years, but the one I had been using has been discontinued. So I took a chance and ordered this one. The first one I received did not spread easily, it was almost like it was dried out. I realize now, reading other reviews, that it was part of the bad batch. I ordered a few more and they are fantastic. It goes on easily and it is easy to spread around. I use it on my face, lips, ears and under my chin. It doesn't melt in the sun and heat, which is a huge bonus, since I am a scuba diver and keep one in my dry box when we are diving. Others have mentioned this but it is not completely "clear". It is white when you put it on and you can smear it around to where the white isn't as obvious but my face definitely has a white cast after applying. But that is fine with me, the white is what protects your face from the sun! I actually wear it extra thick for that reason, I don't care how I look, I would rather not get burned and get skin cancer. The stick form is what I love, creams and lotions don't do well in heat and sun. This is portable, doesn't melt and protects my face, I can't ask for any more than that! If i have one complaint, it would be the cost, my other sunstick was $3 cheaper per stick, this one is now almost $10 per stick.

I looked at the ingredients and found this (on Amazon): Ingredients: Active Ingrdients: Zinc Oxide 20%Inactive Ingredients: Avocado (Persea Americana) Oil*, Beeswax (Cera Alba)*, Buriti (Mauritia Flexuosa) Fruit Oil*, Carnauba (Copernicia Cerifera) Wax*, Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) Seed Butter*, Coconut (Cocos Nucifera) Oil*, Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Seed Oil*, Non-Gmo Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sesame (Sesame Indicum) Seed Oil*, Shea (Butyrospermum Parkii) Butter*, Tapioca Starch**Certified Organic Ingredients Then when I got the product I looked at the ingredients list (I recommend you do this to verify the non-toxic ingredients listed) and noticed it had Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil. I needed to return this item ASAP! If you know anything about heavy metal exposures, you know that rice absorbs arsenic (even the organic rice does this) from the soil. White rice is BETTER than brown rice since it has it's outer layers removed and arsenic tends to get most concentrated in the outer layers. Not so great for your sugar spike but that's not the point here. The level of arsenic in rice bran oil varies. But I prefer not to risk it on products I consider to be non-toxic and use on my skin. These non-toxic companies need to start changing their ingredients to be truly non-toxic. We already pay an arm and a leg for organic non-toxic products so clearly these companies need to do their share for us planet and health conscious consumers. By the way, A LOT of non-toxic sunscreens have rice bran oil and rice in their ingredients list. Do your research people! Verify what I have said. Also I don't respond to messages on Amazon, just so you know, don't think I am ignoring you. I just need to have my say and have you do your own thinking, research, and come up with your own conclusions.

This is the size of a lipstick, and you can’t return the product. I made a mistake not verifying the size, why should you!

I like that it is a stick. It is easy to use.

Excellent product and supplied very swiftly- thank you

Muy satisfecha con este protector solar para la cara. Máxima protección. Fácil de aplicar y de absorción rápida. Sólo usamos protectores minerales y este nos ha gustado mucho. Lo volveremos a comprar

This stuff smells so good (fresh-not too sweet or flowery )and having it in stick form is so handy.Great if you’re on the go or to carry while running or some other activity.I keep mine at the front door and apply before a run.Haven't found to be filmy or chalky at all.If you don’t live somewhere disgustingly hot would be great to keep in your vehicle;I suspect heat would make it melt like a tube of lip balm.