The SunMer Day Shield Sun Stick SPF50 exists because most riders and runners don't skip sun protection out of ignorance. They skip it because it's awkward.
Ask anyone at a café stop why they haven't reapplied and you'll hear the same answers. My hands are sticky. It ran into my eyes last time. The bottle's in the car. A study of nearly 700 runners found exactly that: they understood why sun protection matters, but named forgetfulness and discomfort as the biggest reasons they didn't use it consistently. Only around a third used it often.
That's a design problem, not a knowledge problem. So we started with the moment you actually need protection: two hours in, gloves on, sweat on the brow, a climb still to come.
What was wrong with what we had
- Lotions need two free hands and leave grease on bar tape, gloves and phone screens.
- Sprays drift in the wind, are hard to aim at a face, and are bulky in a pocket.
- Big bottles live in the car or the bathroom, not on the bike.
All of them were designed to be applied once, at home, before the day starts. None were designed for the reapply.
Why a stick works in motion
A stick solves the problems that matter outside:
- One hand. Uncap, swipe, recap. No palms to wipe.
- Precise. It goes exactly where the sun lands hardest: nose, cheekbones, ears, the back of the neck, the backs of the hands. It stays away from your eyes.
- Pocketable. Small enough for a jersey pocket, a running vest, a saddle bag or the zip pocket of a jacket.
- No spills. Nothing to leak in a bag or freeze on a winter morning.
What's inside
The Day Shield Sun Stick is SPF50 with broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection from 100% mineral filters. It's COSMOS Natural certified. The formula glides on smoothly and blends in, so the stick works on sensitive areas like the nose and ears as well as the face.
The test
Testing our new SPF 50 Sun Stick meant taking it to the extreme: a 70 km group ride across Paris-Roubaix cobbles in 40°C heat with no shade. From pre-ride prep to quick café stops, having it pocket-sized meant effortless, on-the-fly top-ups on my nose, cheeks, and neck. It feels nothing like traditional sunscreen—no stickiness or runny mess, just a dry, breathable, light-chalk finish that absorbs cleanly through heavy sweat. It’s engineered specifically for face and neck rather than full-body coverage, delivering reliable defence that backed my performance every KM.
What it's for, and what it isn't
The Sun Stick is built for faces, ears, necks and hands on long days in motion, and for reapplying without stopping the rhythm. It isn't designed to cover arms and legs on a full summer's day: for that, use a body sun cream or covering kit, and reapply often. Any sun protection works only if there's enough of it on your skin, so apply generously and go back over the high points.
How to use it in motion
- Before you leave: apply to nose, cheeks, forehead, ears, neck and the backs of your hands.
- At the first stop, or after heavy sweating or towelling off: swipe again, especially on the nose and cheeks.
- Carry it where you can reach it: a jersey pocket, not the bottom of your bag.
Questions riders and runners ask
Is the Sun Stick SPF50 mineral? Yes. It uses 100% mineral filters for broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection.
How often should I reapply? Reapply regularly during long sessions, and always after heavy sweating, towelling or getting wet.
Can I use it on my whole body? It's designed for the face and the most exposed small areas. For large areas, use a body sun cream as well.
Will it fit in a jersey pocket? Yes. It's designed to.
Shop the Day Shield Sun Stick SPF50
