Sun Bum Paper Tube SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Stick Review

Overview

Sun Bum’s Paper Tube SPF 50 Face Stick is the brand’s classic chemical sunscreen formula repackaged into an FSC-certified paperboard tube instead of the usual plastic push-up tube. It’s aimed at anyone who wants a mess-free, twist-up sunscreen for the face and ears without carrying a bottle of lotion — a reasonable niche for day hikers, trail runners, and thru-hikers who reapply sunscreen constantly and don’t want greasy hands every time.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	26.0 g (0.92 oz)
SPF	50, Broad Spectrum
Water resistance	80 minutes
Packaging	FSC-certified paper tube
Reef compliant	Yes (Hawaii Act 104)
Oxybenzone / Octinoxate free	Yes
Cruelty-free / Paraben-free / Gluten-free	Yes
Oil-free / Hypoallergenic	Yes
Active ingredients	Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene

Performance

This is a chemical (organic-filter) sunscreen, not a mineral one — it uses avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene as actives rather than zinc oxide. That matters on trail in a couple of practical ways. First, it goes on clear and rubs in fast, with none of the white-cast or ghostly forehead look you get from mineral sticks — useful if you’re also wearing sunglasses and don’t want product smearing the lenses. Second, because it needs about 15 minutes to bind to skin before it’s effective, you have to actually plan ahead at the trailhead rather than swipe it on as you’re already hiking into direct sun.

On sweat and water resistance, Sun Bum rates it for 80 minutes of swimming or sweating before reapplication is needed, which is respectable for a stick format but shorter than what you’ll get from a lotion in a squeeze bottle applied more generously. In hot, sweaty conditions — think exposed ridgelines in July — I’d plan on reapplying closer to the 1-hour mark than the stated 80 minutes, since sticks by nature go on thinner than lotion and it’s easy to under-apply. One backpacking-focused source on sunscreen sticks in general notes that stick formulas are smaller and lighter than liquid but don’t spread as far because they’re more viscous — that tracks with my experience here too; you need a few more swipes than feels intuitive to get adequate coverage, especially on the nose and ears.

The scent is the classic Sun Bum coconut/tropical smell, which some hikers like and others find cloying after day three of the same tube. It’s not overpowering, but if you’re sensitive to fragrance on a long trip, it’s worth knowing going in. On the sensitivity front, reviewers of the broader Sun Bum stick lineup mention the formula being gentle on sensitive skin, and one long-term user specifically praised it as “THE ONLY facial sunblock that does not run into my eyes” even during multi-hour sessions in the sun — a meaningful data point for anyone who sweats heavily on climbs.

The standout feature for this specific SKU is the packaging. Instead of the usual plastic push-tube, it ships in a paper tube and cardboard packaging that’s recyclable, which is a genuine upgrade for anyone trying to trim plastic waste from their kit. The trade-off: paper tubes don’t love moisture. On a humid coastal trail or a rainy PCT section, expect the tube to soften faster than the plastic version, and don’t expect it to survive a dunk in a creek. It’s also worth flagging that one reviewer was caught off guard to find beeswax in the ingredients when the site didn’t list it — worth checking if you’re vegan or have a beeswax sensitivity, since Sun Bum’s site listing doesn’t always reflect the full ingredient panel.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Compact, twist-up format — no squeezing, no greasy fingers
• Goes on clear, blends fast, no white cast
• FSC-certified paper tube meaningfully cuts single-use plastic
• Reef-safe formula, oxybenzone/octinoxate-free — fine for use near lakes and coastal trail towns
• 80-minute water resistance rating is decent for a stick
• Widely reported as gentle enough for sensitive skin and safe near the eyes

Cons

• Chemical filters need ~15 minutes to become effective — plan your application timing
• Sticks apply thinner than lotion; easy to under-cover if you rush it
• Paper packaging is more vulnerable to humidity and rain damage than plastic
• Strong coconut scent won’t be for everyone on a multi-week trip
• Contains beeswax, which wasn’t always clearly listed — check if that matters to you
• Small 0.92 oz size means frequent restocking on long-distance hikes

Who Should Buy This

This is a good pick for day hikers, weekend backpackers, and anyone who wants a low-mess, fast-absorbing facial sunscreen without carrying a full bottle. It’s also a solid choice for eco-conscious buyers who specifically want to reduce plastic tube waste in their toiletries bag. Thru-hikers in consistently wet or humid regions should be more cautious about the paper packaging holding up over weeks in a hip belt pocket, and mineral-sunscreen users with sensitive or acne-prone skin may want to stick with a zinc-based stick instead.

Verdict

Sun Bum’s Paper Tube SPF 50 Face Stick delivers the same reliable chemical SPF formula the brand is known for, now in genuinely better packaging for anyone trying to cut plastic waste — but that paper tube is also its biggest liability in wet conditions. For fair-weather day hikes and shorter trips, it’s an easy 7/10; for soggy, multi-week thru-hikes, budget for a backup or expect to babysit the tube in a dry bag.