Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
CN
CNP Laboratory

AFTER-RAY Soothing Sunstick

SPF 50+ · PA++++ Invisible No white cast — chemical/hybrid filters that disappear on skin. KR South Korea global Formulation variant: global. Region-specific reformulations are tracked as separate products.

Anhydrous stick with modern filters and licorice/houttuynia; fragrance plus citronellol/geraniol/limonene/linalool reduce tolerance.

◐ CHEM Chemical filters Chemical filters — Organic filters absorb UV. Cosmetically elegant; filter selection matters. ((· BS Broad spectrum Broad spectrum — Blocks UVA + UVB across the full sun-damage spectrum. A A-FREE Alcohol-free Alcohol-free — No drying short-chain alcohols (denatured / SD alcohol).
79.3
Composite
Composite score · independent
Ranks #378 of 1558 in the current catalogue. Anhydrous stick with modern filters and licorice/houttuynia; fragrance plus citronellol/geraniol/limonene/linalool reduce tolerance.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%.
Verdict Should you buy it?

An anhydrous SPF 51 PA++++ stick combining Mexoryl XL, bemotrizinol, Uvinul A Plus, and octisalate with licorice and houttuynia extracts. Alcohol-free, but fragrance plus four declared allergens lower its sensitivity ceiling.

Pros
  • Modern filter trio gives PA++++ UVA coverage
  • Anhydrous stick travels and reapplies easily
  • Alcohol-free formula avoids ethanol sting
  • Licorice and houttuynia extracts add soothing botanicals
  • Hyaluronic acid included for surface hydration
Cons
  • Fragrance plus citronellol, geraniol, limonene, linalool
  • Wax-heavy stick can leave a film on oily skin
  • Sticks deposit less film than creams per pass
  • Tone-up or even coverage is uneven from a stick

Who it's for: On-the-go users wanting an alcohol-free stick with modern filters and PA++++, who accept added fragrance and common fragrance allergens.

01 Score breakdown
UV protection How well the product blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 100
Filter modernity Penalises legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen filters. 88
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, known sensitisers. 48
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity, biodegradability of UV filters and surfactants. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, comfort on skin. 72
Health safety Endocrine concerns, systemic absorption signals across the formula. 70
02 Composition · key UV filters 4 filters resolved
UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered
Octisalate Legacy Older organic filter. Photostable in combination; some literature concerns.
Mexoryl XL Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Bemotrizinol Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
Uvinul A Plus Modern Next-gen photostable filter; low irritation profile.
03 At-a-glance facts
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid blends both.
Chemical
Broad spectrum Protects across both UVA and UVB ranges. UVA causes aging and deeper damage; UVB causes burns.
Yes
Formulation & feel
Texture How the formula feels at application — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Cream
Finish How the formula looks on skin once dry: matte, natural, dewy, or glowy.
Natural
Tinted Adds sheer pigment (iron oxides) that masks the white cast common to mineral filters and gives a skin-tone finish.
No
Fragrance-free No synthetic perfume added. Not FDA-defined in the US; the EU requires 'Parfum' + the 26 named allergens on the label. 'Unscented' differs — may contain masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
No
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Does not refer to fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl alcohol, which are emollients.
Yes
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 35 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 3 LEGACY FILTER 2 MINERAL FILTER 0 ADDED FRAGRANCE 1 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 4 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 2
Water· Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. ·Synthetic Wax·Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer·Hexyl Laurate·Cetyl Palmitate·Caprylyl Methicone· Ethylhexyl Salicylate Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated. · Drometrizole Trisiloxane Mexoryl XL ·Dipropylene Glycol· Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable. ·1‚2-Hexanediol· Glycerin Humectant — the workhorse hydrator. ·Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate·Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate· Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter. ·Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate·Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate·Polyhydroxystearic Acid· Fragrance Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive. ·Xanthan Gum·Disteardimonium Hectorite·Propylene Carbonate·Butylene Glycol· Hyaluronic Acid Hyaluronic acid — humectant. ·Phytosterols·Glycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root Extract·Houttuynia Cordata Extract·Caprylyl Glycol·Artemisia Capillaris Leaf Extract·Acetyl Hexapeptide-8· Citronellol Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Geraniol Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Limonene Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added. · Linalool Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 19 Jun 2026. Show in detail
01 Water Water
02 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
03 Synthetic Wax
04 Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer Vinyl Dimethicone/Methicone Silsesquioxane Crosspolymer
05 Hexyl Laurate Hexyl Laurate
06 Cetyl Palmitate Cetyl Palmitate
07 Caprylyl Methicone Caprylyl Methicone
08 Ethylhexyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Octisalate — older filter; well-tolerated.
09 Drometrizole Trisiloxane MODERN FILTER Mexoryl XL
10 Dipropylene Glycol Dipropylene Glycol
11 Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine MODERN FILTER Tinosorb S — broad-spectrum, very photostable.
12 1‚2-Hexanediol 1,2-Hexanediol
13 Glycerin ACTIVE Humectant — the workhorse hydrator.
14 Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate
15 Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
16 Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate MODERN FILTER Uvinul A Plus — modern photostable UVA filter.
17 Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate
18 Polyglyceryl-6 Oleate
19 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid
20 Fragrance ADDED FRAGRANCE Synthetic fragrance blend — a common irritant. Composition is a trade secret; can include dozens of compounds. Avoid if your skin is reactive.
21 Xanthan Gum Xanthan Gum
22 Disteardimonium Hectorite Disteardimonium Hectorite
23 Propylene Carbonate Propylene Carbonate
24 Butylene Glycol Butylene Glycol
25 Hyaluronic Acid ACTIVE Hyaluronic acid — humectant.
26 Phytosterols Phytosterols
27 Glycyrrhiza Glabra Rhizome/Root Extract Licorice (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) Root Extract
28 Houttuynia Cordata Extract Houttuynia Cordata Extract
29 Caprylyl Glycol Caprylyl Glycol
30 Artemisia Capillaris Leaf Extract
31 Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 Argireline
32 Citronellol NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
33 Geraniol NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
34 Limonene NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.
35 Linalool NATURAL FRAGRANCE Known fragrance allergen (one of the EU-26). Naturally found in essential oils; required to be listed by name in the EU. Can trigger sensitivity even when no synthetic parfum is added.