This weekend I participated in an avalanche safety course just outside of Seattle at Snowqualmie Pass. Before we started our ascent in the backcountry, I pulled out Joshua Tree’s Sun Stick and rubbed some on my face. What a perfect opportunity to try this sun stick out!
I’m usually a sunscreen lotion wearer, but I was pleasantly surprised with the sun stick variety of application. I didn’t have to wait for a messy, sticky lotion to be absorbed into my skin, which was a plus. With an SPF rating of 33 my face was well protected from the rays on the mountain, though I do usually wear SPF 50 on my face during the summer rafting season.
The sun stick has a pleasant scent to it, containing lavender and tea tree oils, along with other organic ingredients such as jojoba oil, cocoa butter and calendula. The 10% zinc oxide in the sun stick is an excellent natural UVA and UVB blocker. For those of us who have worn zinc oxide before, it can look like white chalk spread on your face. I’m being active in the outdoors, not pretending to be a mime, thank you very much. This sun stick has a skin tone tint so it blends right in.
The stick is advertised to be water, sweat and freeze resistant, and after a full (and sweaty) day on the mountain, the product lived up its’ word. I like the small size of the stick, only .35 oz, and so it fits well in my pocket for quick, easy access re-application throughout the day.
Joshua Tree also has other organic products such as lip balms and hand salves for all sorts of outdoor activities, ranging in prices from $4 to $15. The Joshua Tree sun stick is priced at $8, and you can but it on Joshua Tree Skin Care website.
Photo courtesy of Joshua Tree skin care.