The original zinc stick
Zinc sunscreen sticks since 1995.
The pocket-sized SPF 50+ stick we've made in Australia since 1995. 4 hours water resistant, in skin tones that blend in, bold white and Extreme colours. Mix any 2 or more and save up to 20%.
- SPF 50+
- 4 hours water resistant
- Fits in your pocket
- Made in Australia
Zinc sticks
Mix and match
Build your own pack.
Make your own value pack: skin tones for faces, white for the kids, a bold Extreme colour for the surf. Pick 2 sticks to save 10%, 3 to save 15%, and 4 or more to save 20%.
Your pack
0 of 4 chosen
- 2 sticks 10% off
- 3 sticks 15% off
- 4 sticks 20% off
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Total
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Discount applied automatically at checkout.
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Compare
Original or Extreme?
Every stick is SPF 50+ and 4 hours water resistant. Pick by skin tone, colour and size.
| Product | Original, Light Skin Tone£10.99 | Original, Medium Skin Tone£10.99 | Original, White£10.99 | Extreme Zinc Stick£12.99 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Faces, noses and scars on fair skin | Faces and noses on medium to darker skin | Kids, cricket and surf: see where you’re covered | Long days in the surf, snow or out on the pitch |
| Shade | Blends with fair to light skin | Blends with medium to darker skin | Bright white | 7 shades: skin tones, white and brights |
| Stick size | 12g | 12g | 12g | 15g |
| Save | Mix & match: 2 save 10%, 4 save 20% | Mix & match: 2 save 10%, 4 save 20% | Mix & match: 2 save 10%, 4 save 20% | Mix & match, or the Red, White & Blue 3 Pack |
| Shop | Shop now: Original, Light Skin Tone | Shop now: Original, Medium Skin Tone | Shop now: Original, White | Shop now: Extreme Zinc Stick |
How to use it
Twist, swipe, go.
A zinc stick goes on thick and stays where you put it, so it’s made for the bits that burn first.
- Twist up a few millimetres
- Swipe a thick, even layer onto dry skin
- Cover your nose, cheekbones, ears and shoulders
- Reapply after towelling or heavy sweating, and at least every 2 hours
Reviews
What zinc stick fans say
Let customers speak for us
Absolutely brilliant, perfect colour for my fair skin tone and my skin loves it!
this is the best sunscreen ive ever used. my skin is damaged from lasers and medications so im hypersensitive in the sun. ive tried everything including high end , very expensive ones, this one knocks them all into a cocked hat. excellent and great value for money.
Have applied to several patches of melasma which usually darken in the sun. This product appears to have stopped the darkening so I am now on my 2nd stick.
Great
As someone who has INCREDIBLY sensitive fair skin and rosacea, you can imagine it's quite hard to find a sunscreen that works.
I have used this twice now, and NO breakouts. I tried another non-nano zinc sunscreen and the minute it got warm, it would melt off my face. I always find that no matter what sunlotion I wore, how often I reapplied, my face was always red. Well not today!!! I went horse riding in the sun and you couldn't even tell I had seen the sun! And, no sweating off the lotion!
It does leave a white cast though and that might not be for everyone.
I LOVE that this is factor 50 too!! Please never discontinue this 🥺
It is VERY sticky and thick going on. BUT... it does dry and it works! So normally I do find that an hour or two after putting on other sunscreens, I am so red 🫠 I applied it before horse riding in the sun today, and NO redness 🔥 I am very fair/sensitive skin, so it's really easy for me to turn red/burn, even with factor 50 (which I have to apply every hour for it to work), so you can imagine my surprise when I wasn't red!
I love that it's kinder to skin, no harsh chemicals, inclusive for sensitive skins, non clogging, safer for animals in the sea, and love that it actually works and straight away!
It was easy to order online and arrived when stated and in good packaging, was quick delivery and the product is genuine and does what it should
Very happy with product and protects very well, last for ages even when going in & out the pool, reapply after lunch for a full days protection
Good product.
Very good sun cream, effective and nice consistency. Very quick delivery and communication, thank you
We've just been away in the scorching heat in France and Italy and didn't burn at all using this sunscreen.
I love it! Now I can buy this brand instead of another one I normally buy which is 3x more expensive
Already andaily user of Sunzapper on my face, I now use this body protection cream, which is just brilliant. I swim daily and have no need reapply, keeps me protected all day, my skin feels lovely and soft, blends in easily. I would never use anything else. Plus it’s great for the environment. Buy with confidence. Great customer service!
This is my first sun zapper sunscreen and Tbf I was looking for a replacement from another brand who were becoming too expensive and I found this. It’s still expensive but I like the product and considering its zinc the tan and bronze stick are no white cast and I’ve been using them as a concealer! I have deffo found my new sun favs
New to this particular Sun Zapper product, though not to others. I absolutely love how my mature skin looks, when using this product. I wasn’t expecting my skin to look so good! So easy to use, my skin feels totally comfortable, with a lovely natural highlight. I protect my face daily, so will be using this in the future. I didn’t use other makeup today, I felt just fine without. I live on the coast and also swam all day and knew I had no need reapply.
Using sun zapper factor 50 as I write this. Excellent suncream. I suffer from PLE, but not a trace of it, and I have been sitting in 25 degree heat fot the last three days when using Sun Zapper. I am si impressed with this product, I have ordered more for my next two holidays.
FAQ
Zinc stick questions
What is a zinc stick?
A solid sunscreen in a twist-up stick, made with zinc oxide. It goes on thick and stays where you put it, so it’s ideal for noses, cheeks, ears, shoulders and small areas like scars.
How water resistant are the sticks?
4 hours. Reapply straight after towelling or heavy sweating, and at least every 2 hours.
Can I make my own value pack?
Yes. Add any 2 or more single sticks, Original or Extreme, and the saving comes off automatically: 10% off 2, 15% off 3 and 20% off 4 or more. Use Build your own pack above, or add them one at a time. The Red, White & Blue 3 Pack is already discounted, so it doesn't count towards the saving.
What’s the difference between Original and Extreme sticks?
Original sticks are 12g and come in light and medium skin tones and white. Extreme sticks are bigger at 15g, with a smoother formula in 7 shades, from skin tones to bold colours.
Which skin tone should I choose?
Light Skin Tone blends with fair to light skin. Medium Skin Tone blends with medium to darker skin. White shows exactly where you’re covered, which helps with kids.
Can kids use zinc sticks?
Yes. Our Original zinc sticks are suitable for children over 6 months. Keep babies under 6 months out of direct sun.
What’s in a zinc stick?
Every stick uses zinc oxide plus other UV filters. White and the skin tones add octocrylene, DHHB and ethylhexyl triazone; Extreme adds octinoxate, octocrylene and DHHB. Each stick's full ingredient list is on its product page. For zinc oxide only, try Pure Zinc Surf.
How do I get it off?
Zinc sticks are made to stay on. Use a cleansing balm or oil, or soap and warm water, then wash as normal.
Are your zinc sticks reef safe?
Our White and skin tone sticks contain no oxybenzone or octinoxate, two chemical filters linked with coral damage. Extreme sticks contain octinoxate, so we don't call them reef safe. There's no official reef-safe standard, so that's exactly what we mean.
Guide
Zinc sticks: a quick guide
How to choose a zinc stick, put it on properly and get it off again.
What is a zinc stick?
Sun Zapper started on Australian beaches in 1995, and the zinc stick has been our hero ever since. It’s a solid sunscreen made with zinc oxide, which sits on top of your skin and reflects and scatters UV.
Because it’s solid, it goes on thick and stays put, which makes it ideal for the places that burn first: your nose, cheekbones, ears and shoulders. It fits in a pocket, a wetsuit or a ski jacket.
Original or Extreme?
Our Original sticks are 12g and come in light and medium skin tones and white. Mix any 2 or more, Original or Extreme, and they cost less per stick.
The Extreme Zinc Stick is our upgrade: bigger at 15g, with a smoother formula and a wider range of colours. Both are SPF 50+ and 4 hours water resistant.
Choosing a skin tone or a colour
How to apply a zinc stick
Twist up a few millimetres and swipe a thick, even layer onto dry skin. Go over each area more than once: thin coverage means less protection. Reapply after towelling or heavy sweating, and at least every 2 hours.
For bigger areas like arms, legs and backs, use a cream such as Pure Zinc SPF 50 and keep the stick for your face.
Zinc sticks for surf, cricket and skiing
In the water, 4 hours of water resistance means fewer trips back up the beach. See our surf sunscreen guide. On the pitch, a white or coloured stick shows you’re covered through a long innings. In the snow, UV reflects up off the snow, so cover your nose, cheeks and ears, and keep a stick in your jacket pocket.
How to take it off
Zinc sticks are made to stay on. A cleansing balm or oil breaks it down fastest. Massage it in, then wash with warm water and soap.