Is the Round Lab Sun Stick Worth It?

When you think of Korean sunscreens, I’m sure Round Lab is a brand that quickly comes to mind. And for good reason: the Birch Juice SPF has made its rounds across TikTok and social media for being a great sunscreen for all skin types. Spoiler: I prefer Skin1004 over the Round Lab one.

All that commotion over the standard sunscreen lotion, but where’s the chatter around the sun stick?

Yep — Round Lab also makes a sun stick. Abib and Tocobo are not the only K-beauty brand out there with a sun stick.

So how exactly does the Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing Sun Stick perform?

The Case for the Sun Stick

Before we get into this specific SPF stick, let’s chat about why sun sticks are my preferred method of sun protection reapplication (as compared to lotion, spray, powder).

No Fingers, No Problem

When I’m out and about, I like SPF sticks to directly put the sunscreen onto my face and I won’t have to blend it out. It’s nice because I don’t always have access to running water to wash my hands (and I am high key a clean freak). So it feels more hygienic to be able to apply my SPF stick and call it a day.

Once, Twice, Thrice, and More

If you compare a sun stick to a spray or powder, you’re able to get a more even, consistent application (but of course a lotion would give you an even more even application). With powders (like Supergoop’s (Re)setting Powder Face SPF35), you have to apply enough to look like a geisha. And that’s a vibe, but not really the vibe I am looking for nowadays… But I do love to use this as a scalp sunscreen because it’s better than nothing and adds a little texture and volume to your hair!

With sprays, you have to saturate your face, which some people love. But I doubt I would get to enough of a density without making my eyes sensitive. I will caveat this with: the only SPF spray I’ve really tried is the Supergoop (Re)setting Refreshing Mist SPF40. And that one smells like my Method bathroom cleaner… And it also stings my eyes like none other, even when I let it dry down before opening my eyes.

Labmuffin made a great post, showing how many passes you need to do over your skin to get a solid amount of sun protection. And I always keep that in mind when I am reapplying my sunscreen.

Why I Like the Round Lab SPF Stick

I made my friend pick this up for me from Korea (because there was no Abib ones in stock!), so you best believe I will find some benefits to this product!

The Packaging

There is honestly something so satisfying about a deodorant or stick format that has a rotating base that clicks into place. It feels like such a well-thought-out component. And I much prefer that to a standard circular rotating piece or a push-up format.

It also has a flat top to it, as compared to the AHC Sun Stick, which is at a slant. This is a personal preference, but a slant top is easier for application but I lose a lot at the end. So there’s pros and cons to everything. But for the daily usage, a slant top makes more sense.

Smooth Sailing, Easy Gliding

Have you ever used a cleansing balm that doesn’t melt evenly and leaves chunks all over your hands? That’s also my worst nightmare with a sun stick. I don’t want a crumbly mess.

Thankfully, the Round Lab sun stick has a strong bar format with a solid payoff. You can tell where you’ve applied it because it has a slight dewy trail where you swiped. And I have not had any chunks, corners, or bits fall off when applying, even over hair follicles (where a lot of sun sticks can get punctured).

I feel like they optimized for efficient product deposition without bulk degradation. Neat!

Holds up in Heat

I’m in San Francisco, so I can’t say that I am torture testing this as deeply as others can… But I’ve taken this sun stick with me on travels to places that are triple digits and a thousand percent humidity (thanks for the memories and bug bites, Austin TX). And there has not been any sweating or melting of this stick!

In my book, that’s a win. Because a SPF stick is meant to be traveled with, I want to feel confident that it can survive the conditions I am going to. And I want to feel like I am getting all of the SPF 50 benefits this stick has to offer.

Why I Did Not Like This Stick

For the most part, it’s a solid formula and experience using it, but here’s where things took a turn.

Good Structural Formula, Questionable Finish

As I mentioned before, the formula holds up well when you’re applying it across your skin. But once it’s on your skin? It’s overly dewy and has a slight “cooling” feel to it.

Whenever I use this stick (applied over the skin multiple times, obvi), my partner asks me if I am sweating or if I just applied it. And you’d think that over time, my skin would soak it up. Nope, it doesn’t. The formula just sits on top of it all (which love that for sun protection, but hate that for aesthetic purposes).

And it doesn’t matter if I apply this over 1 or 2 layers of mineral or organic sunscreen lotions beforehand (applies hours before). It still ends up looking overly dewy/wet.

Cooling??

The cooling effect when you put it onto your skin is hit or miss. I could see that being amazing when you’re hot and reapplying in the dead of summer. But I feel like it did not give the best experience when it’s already humid outside because then I felt like I was drenched?? Definitely did not help that I also looked dewy. It basically gaslit me into thinking my face was sweaty and that’s why I was cooling down.

Beyond just the simple feeling of cooling, it also has a higher potential for irritation with people with super sensitive skin.

I am curious which ingredient is responsible for the cooling effect. Oftentimes, you’ll get that with a volatile silicone, but I am not sure if that’s at play here since it is a stick format (instead of a capped liquid formula). So I am curious if it is from the Pinus sylvestris leaf oil. But that’s just my guess! On the bright side, that means. it also helping with anti-bacterial properties too (a la Pine-sol).

Final Thoughts on the Round Lab SPF

Would I repurchase this sun stick? Probably not.

I’m in the US, and I would rather get the Shiseiso Sun Stick for multiple reasons:

  1. It’s readily available at all Sephoras

  2. It does not have as dewy of a finish

  3. It’s slightly bigger (even though it is more expensive).

Compared to the AHC stick, I much prefer the Round Lab one though. They’re both pretty dewy, but I found myself opting to use the Round Lab one more than I did with the AHC.

Now I just have to find a friend who will get me the Abib one from Korea… Stay tuned!




Interested in picking one up?




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