Sun stick : the cosmetic trend that demands true technical expertise

The boom of Sun sticks: a compact, travel-friendly… and highly technical format

The sun stick has become a leading format in modern sun protection. At the crossroads of skincare trends, nomadism, and sensorial appeal, it meets a growing consumer demand for practical, effective, and pleasant-to-use products. Its success also lies in the diversity of its finishes: from tinted sunscreen sticks to invisible suncreen stick with high SPF protection. Yet, while its apparent simplicity is part of its charm, its formulation and manufacturing require true industrial expertise.

At ALPOL Cosmétique, a french cosmetic contract manufacturer specializing in sun protection, this expertise is reflected in the development of tailor-made sun sticks that combine advanced galenics, industrial precision, and highly technical formulation.

 

A high-performance sun stick : the result of cutting-edge expertise

The technical expertise behind a sunscreen stick

Formulating a sunscreen stick for the face, lips, or sensitive areas of the body is far more complex than simply pouring a formula into a mold. It is a true technology in itself, requiring:

• A precise combination of waxes with different melting points to ensure a pleasant sensory feel, smooth application, and mechanical stability (no breakage, no recrystallization),
• A formulation that remains stable over time, even with complex UV filters (organic or mineral),
• Careful control of temperature, both during pouring and cooling phases.

ALPOL Cosmétique has therefore invested in a dedicated filling line for hot-poured products, equipped with a high-temperature melter (up to 130 °C) and a positive cold cooling tunnel. The result: the ability to produce innovative textures such as transparent sticks, tinted sunscreen sticks, powdery finishes, or glow-effect formulas…

 

Three sun sticks, three tailor-made galenic finishes

1. Stick on the Beach SPF50+ – Natural satin finish
Formulated with an anhydrous wax base, this sun stick combines:

• Organic filters (DHHB, EHT, BEMT),
• Carrot oil and jojoba oil,
• A signature coconut fragrance.

Its non-greasy finish makes it ideal for sunscreen on lips, face and body.

2. Mineral Sun Stick SPF50+ – Soft powdery velvet finish
Designed for sensitive skin and high-altitude conditions, this stick includes:

• Mineral filters (nano TiO2, nano ZnO),
• A blend of soft-touch powders and elastomers,
• An opaque white galenic base with no fragrance, delivering a transparent finish without any white residue.

This mineral-based sun stick with an invisible finish provides excellent sun protection for lips, face, and sensitive areas of the body.

3. Sunny Stick’it SPF50+ –Invisible, glossy, and lightweight finish
Thanks to its gelling technology (an optimized blend of gelling agents), ALPOL Cosmétique has developed a transparent sun stick featuring:

• Organic filters (DHHB, EHT, BEMT),
• A transparent orange, highly glossy, and sensorial galenic base with a coconut fragrance,
• Infused with carrot oil and jojoba oil.

The Sunny Stick’it delivers an invisible, lightweight, non-greasy, and non-sticky finish. Ideal for lips, face, and sensitive areas of the body, it can be used as a daily facial SPF.

 

ALPOL Cosmétique’s craftsmanship in sun sticks

Each tinted sunscreen stick or invisible sunscreen stick developed by the French cosmetic contract manufacturer is the result of:

• Expert formulation in our R&D laboratories (careful selection of waxes, textures, filters),
• Precise industrialization with strict temperature and dosing control,
• Tailor-made customization to meet the needs of cosmetic brands (fragrance, galenic base, packaging, UV filters, percentage of natural ingredients, etc.).

This approach enables ALPOL Cosmétique to offer highly sensorial sticks that meet the most demanding technical standards and current cosmetic trends such as “skinification,” “solid beauty,” and hybrid galenics like tinted SPF for face.

 

To go further:

• Face sunscreen: why do we need to wear a daily facial SPF?
  
• Tinted SPF for face : the all-in-one skincare
  
• How to develop skin care sunscreen?
  

 

The sun stick: a simple design with complex technology

Behind every invisible, transparent, or tinted sun stick lies true cosmetic engineering. Thanks to its dedicated sun care division, industrial investments, and expertise in solid galenics, ALPOL Cosmétique positions itself as a strategic partner of choice for brands seeking to formulate high-performance and distinctive sticks.