This amazing sun stick provides clean cooling feeling and moisture supply of glacial water and carbonated water containing abundant minerals. Made of natural ingredients, it moisturizes and soothes the skin tired from the hot UV rays. It also provides vitality with water lily flower extract, a component that protects the skin from UV rays. And what's more, it has SPF50 PA+++ waterproof sunscreen with a strong blocking effect that lasts for a long time even in water and sweat! Plus, it has sebum effect that gives a light and soft finish.
The A.H.C Natural Perfection Fresh sun stick is about become your next favorite sunscreen! A high protecting sunscreen that doesn't leave you with white cast or feeling sticky. Perfect for while on the go and even for reapplying your suncreen over makeup!
How To Use
Use as last step in your morning routine, simply glide over skin. Carry around for reapplying as needed during the day
Ingredients
Dimethicone, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Polyethylene, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Homosalate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hydrogenated Poly [C6-14 Olefin], Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Ozokerite, Orange Oil, Citrus Nobilis [Mandarin Orange] Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Green Tea Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Lavender Flower Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Glacier Water, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Rice Bran Extract, Argan Kernel Oil, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis [Orange] Fruit Extract Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cocos Nucifera [Coconut] Oil, Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus [Sunflower] Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Sea Water, Lactobacillus/Soybean Ferment Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Origanum Vulgare Leaf Extract, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, White Willow Bark Extract, Tremella Fuciformis [Mushroom] Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Epilobium Fleischeri Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Nephelium Lappaceum Branch/Fruit/Leaf Extract, Litchi Chinensis Fruit Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Gardenia Taitensis Flower Extract, Sunflower Seed Oil, Alpha-Bisabolol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dehydroacetic Acid, Purified Water, Sparkling Water, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Capryloylglycine, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Hexylene Glycol, Xylitol, Sarcosine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Oxygen, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Citral, Linalool, Limonene
Infused with a patented UV and IR blocking technology, it ensures you are protected against both ultraviolet and infrared radiation. Read my review on the AHC Natural Perfection Double Shield Sun Stick below.
Let’s be honest, we’ve all purchased a product simply because our favorite celebrities were using it; I mean, if it’s a part of their skincare routine, then it must be pretty good, right? For me, that was the AHC Natural Perfection Sun Stick which came in two variants — Fresh and Double Shield — and although my favorite artists were using the former, I went with the latter because of its unique UV IR blocking formula.
The sun protector comes in a sturdy, green container that is slim enough to fit in your pocket — think cellphone with a pop socket attached. The cover snaps into place too, keeping it from accidentally being opened when placed inside the bag. The stick itself feels really solid, and luckily for me, it did not break despite being dropped at least 3 times. It also features a crescent shape that allows you to go over curved and narrow areas of the face and neck with ease. However, while the bar itself feels silky smooth, application is not.
The first swipes tend to tug on my skin quite a bit, especially if I initially pat the area dry, which I always do before reapplication. After which, it glides on [smooth] like butter. It is lightweight, feeling like nothing on the face, but it does not seem to fully sink into your skin. Instead, it just sits on top of the skin, probably since it is partly a physical sunscreen, and remains waxy to the touch. I would also like to point out its soapy lemon smell. I wouldn’t say it’s strong, but I could still sometimes get a whiff of its lemony scent when I do a duck face. On the other hand, there is no white cast, and it leaves behind a sheer finish for that natural glow.
As mentioned, the AHC Natural Perfection Double Shield Sun Stick also protects against infrared rays through the patented UV IR Block™ Technology infused in it, but how exactly do these rays affect our skin anyway? Infrared is the radiant energy that generates heat, and much like ultraviolet rays, they too can damage the skin and set off a host of other skin problems. One review consolidates current research and provides an overview of these effects. Basically, as our skin converts the absorbed IR into heat, its temperature may rise far higher than the normal range. This excessive heat is what can then cause inflammation and alterations, thus worsening hyperpigmentation and speeding up skin aging.
On top of IR protection, the product also claims to brighten the skin and improve wrinkles. I haven’t observed any significant improvement, and I believe it will take more than one sunscreen to produce such changes, but it does contain ingredients that help in these areas.
Speaking of ingredients, if you want to know what exactly the product consists of, then you are going to have to either look it up online or tear open the package. That’s because the ingredients list is printed on the inside of the box rather than the outside — and I can only assume why. This sun stick from AHC has a rather extensive list which might be intimidating to some. I stopped counting at 120, but there were at least 10 more ingredients after that. It contains quite a few oils and plant extracts as well, which may be bad news for those with allergies and skin sensitivities. These supposedly help soothe and protect the skin from external aggressors. Nevertheless, although it is eye and primary irritation tested, I still recommend going over the list first before purchasing — and as always, patch test!
While I did not experience any redness or itching from the sun stick, I did notice some tiny bumps had developed on my skin, and when I took out the sunscreen from my routine, the bumps gradually went away. I wouldn’t want to simply blame it on the product, though, as it could be a “skincare stick thing.” I have wondered whether wiping the top layer of a stick is enough to remove all the gunk and bacteria that possibly transferred from the skin. I remember getting a very thin strand of hair on the bar and having to wipe off multiple layers only to remove that one strand. On another occasion, I just lightly scratched it off. Any similar experiences? What are your opinions on using skincare sticks?
Final thoughts:
I really wanted to like it, but the tiny bumps and waxy feeling it leaves behind kind of ruined it for me. Lesson learned: do not trust your favorite celebrities…
Kidding aside, I just don’t find sun sticks to be very hygienic, and I don’t understand how some people can comfortably swipe it across their face after rubbing it over their body. On the other hand, I do get why they are popular among consumers. Sun sticks are great for quick, mess-free reapplications on-the-go. No need to look for a sink to wash your hands, just grab your stick and voilà! Moreover, they are ultra-light and compact, so you can easily stash them in your bag or even your pocket! That being said, I will probably give other sun sticks a try too, and despite my experiences with it, I do find the AHC Natural Perfection Double Shield [or Fresh] Sun Stick to be a good, relatively affordable introduction to sun sticks.
**Everyone’s skin is different. What works/doesn’t work for me may not/may work for you. Remember to check the ingredients list and do a patch test before using any new skincare product.
DIRECTIONS / HOW TO USE THE AHC NATURAL PERFECTION DOUBLE SHIELD SUN STICK [according to the label]:
At the last step of the skincare regimen, turn the dial on the bottom of container to raise product about 5mm and apply from the facial center outward. Carry and reapply frequently throughout the day on areas that need UV protection [face and body].
HIGHLIGHTS:
Alpha-bisabolol: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory Helianthus annuus [sunflower] seed oil: antioxidant, emollient, skin barrier repair Glycerin: moisturizing, skin barrier repair Argania spinosa kernel oil: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, emollient Centella asiatica extract: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing Leontopodium alpinum extract: anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory Glycyrrhiza glabra [licorice] root extract: anti-inflammatory, astringent, brightening Panax ginseng root extract: anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
Main reference [ingredient functions]: INCI Decoder [//incidecoder.com/]
FULL INGREDIENTS LIST [from the product label]: Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Polyethylene, Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Titanium Dioxide, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Caprylyl Methicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diisostearyl Malate, Alpha-Bisabolol, Euphorbia Cerifera [Candelilla] Wax, Helianthus Annuus [Sunflower] Seed Oil, Aluminium Hydroxide, Propanediol, Citrus Paradisi [Grapefruit] Peel Oil, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Stearic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Zinc Oxide, Litsea Cubeba Fruit Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Salvia Officinalis [Sage] Oil, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Mallotus Japonicus Bark Extract, Magnolia Sieboldii Extract, Bletilla Striata Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Xylitol, Hyaluronic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Nymphaea Coerulea Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra [Licorice] Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita [Matricaria] Flower Extract, Phytosterols, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Fructan, Lecithin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Buddleja Davidii Extract, Thymus Vulgaris [Thyme] Extract, Sparassis Crispa Extract, Disodium Phosphate, Glycine Soja [Soybean] Sprout Extract, Camellia Japonica Flower Extract, Aralia Elata Root Extract, Magnolia Kobus Bark Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Andrographis Paniculata Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Forsythia Suspensa Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Sodium Phosphate, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Rosmarinus Officinalis [Rosemary] Leaf Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Veronica Officinalis Extract, Mentha Rotundifolia Leaf Extract, Poterium Officinale Root Extract, Xanthan Gum, Thymus Vulgaris [Thyme] Leaf Extract, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Carbonated Water, Olea Europaea [Olive] Fruit Oil, Sea Water, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Magnesium Chloride, Ceramide NP, Butyrospermum Parkii [Shea] Butter, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Glyceryl Linoleate, Glyceryl Arachidonate, Oleanolic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Biotin, Oxygen, Candida Bombicola/Glucose/Methyl Rapeseedate Ferment, Oryza Sativa [Rice] Germ Oil, Cocos Nucifera [Coconut] Oil, Glycolipids, Hydroxyacetophenone, Gossypium Herbaceum [Cotton] Seed Extract, Disodium EDTA, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Citric Acid, Solanum Melongena [Eggplant] Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis [Jojoba] Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa [Tumeric] Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Papaver Rhoeas Petal Extract, Zizyphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Trifolium Pratense [Clover] Leaf Extract, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Lithospermum Erythrorhizon Root Extract, Dioscorea Japonica Root Extract, Chaenomeles Sinensis Fruit Extract, Diospyros Kaki Leaf Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Glycine, Serine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Leucine, Alanine, Lysine, Arginine, Tyrosine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Proline, Valine, Isoleucine, Histidine, Methionine, Cysteine, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Sesamum Indicum [Sesame] Seed Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Anemarrhena Asphodeloides Root Extract, Mineral Water, Glacier Water
Is AHC sunscreen good?
My fave! I have combination/oily T zone and live in hot and humid Miami, FL. I use makeup almost everyday and use this underneath and it wears very well! It leaves no white cast and leaves a slight film on your face which helps my makeup to glide right on.
Which AHC sun stick is best?
We recommend using the AHC Natural Perfection Pro Shield Sun Stick to top up your sunscreen during the day. Turn the dial on the bottom to release 0.5 cm of the stick and apply it across the face and neck. Its compact size is perfect for carrying around in your bag or pocket for re-application.
Does the AHC sun stick have a white cast?
The A.H.C Natural Perfection Fresh sun stick is about become your next favorite sunscreen! A high protecting sunscreen that doesn't leave you with white cast or feeling sticky. Perfect for while on the go and even for reapplying your suncreen over makeup!
Is AHC sun stick chemical or physical?
Based on a combination of physical [mineral] and chemical [synthetic] filters, the sunscreen developed by AHC experts will provide your skin with safe protection against the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation and provide a refreshing finish.