Sunscreen Ranker Independent ranker
MDSolarSciences Solar Stick SPF 40
MDSolarSciences

Solar Stick SPF 40

SPF 40
Our score 81.2 / 100

Fragrance-free; sorbitan sesquioleate adds contact-allergy potential. Petrolatum, polyethylene and shea suggest a substantial film despite silicone slip; wear untested, health screen at baseline.

Tone-up Brightening veil from mineral & tone-up formulas; evens out your skin tone. Sensitive & baby fragrance-free, low-irritant, baby-safe gentle formulas. United States
03 The facts, at a glance
Protection
Filter type Mineral filters (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) sit on skin and reflect UV. Chemical filters absorb UV. Hybrid runs both.
Mineral
Broad spectrum Covers both UVA and UVB. UVA drives aging and deeper damage; UVB gives you burns.
Yes
Formulation & feel
Texture How it feels going on — milk, gel, cream, spray, stick, essence, lotion, powder, or cushion.
Stick
Finish How it looks 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' is different — it can hide masking fragrance. Botanical oils still scent.
Yes
Alcohol-free No drying short-chain alcohols (alcohol denat., SD alcohol, ethanol). Doesn't mean fatty alcohols like cetyl or stearyl — those are emollients.
Yes
Where to buy it
Ulta US In stock
広告 / Affiliate Disclosure · Sunscreen Ranker earns commission on the above links. Rankings are scored independently — no brand pays for placement.
81.2
Composite score · independent
Ranks #1298 of 1759 in the current catalogue. Fragrance-free; sorbitan sesquioleate adds contact-allergy potential. Petrolatum, polyethylene and shea suggest a substantial film despite silicone slip; wear untested, health screen at baseline.
Composite is a weighted blend: UV 25% · Modernity 10% · Sensitivity 15% · Environment 10% · Elegance 15% · Health 25%. That's the recipe.
The score breakdown
UV protection How hard it blocks UVA + UVB across the spectrum at the stated SPF/PA. 71
Filter modernity Dings legacy filters (octinoxate, oxybenzone); rewards photostable next-gen ones. 80
Sensitivity safety Risk for reactive skin — fragrance, alcohol, and known sensitisers. 85
Reef / env. safety Reef toxicity plus how biodegradable the UV filters and surfactants are. 100
Cosmetic elegance Spread, finish, white-cast, and how it actually feels on skin. 68
Health safety Endocrine concerns and systemic absorption signals across the whole formula. 90
02 Composition · key UV filters 2 filters resolved
UVA-I 340–400nm UVA-I (340–400nm) — covered UVA-II 320–340nm UVA-II (320–340nm) — covered UVB 290–320nm UVB (290–320nm) — covered
Titanium Dioxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
Zinc Oxide Mineral Physical filter — sits on skin and reflects UV. Reef-safer.
04 Full ingredient list (INCI) 22 ingredients
MODERN FILTER 0 LEGACY FILTER 1 MINERAL FILTER 2 ADDED FRAGRANCE 0 NATURAL FRAGRANCE 0 ALCOHOL 0 WATCH 0 ACTIVE 1
Titanium Dioxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. · Zinc Oxide Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer. ·Polyethylene·Dimethicone· Butyloctyl Salicylate Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone. ·Petrolatum·Butyrospermum Parkii Butter·C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate·Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride·Methyl Dihydroabietate·Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer·Octyldodecanol·Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate· Tocopherol Vitamin E — antioxidant. ·Behenyl Olivate·Aluminum Hydroxide·Stearic Acid·Sorbitan Sesquioleate·Glyceryl Isostearate·Polyhydroxystearic Acid·Citric Acid·Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone
Source: brand-published INCI. Last verified 2026. Show in detail
01 Titanium Dioxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
02 Zinc Oxide MINERAL FILTER Mineral UV filter — physical block; reef-safer.
03 Polyethylene Polyethylene
04 Dimethicone Dimethicone
05 Butyloctyl Salicylate LEGACY FILTER Salicylate-class booster; supports avobenzone.
06 Petrolatum Petrolatum
07 Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
08 C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
09 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
10 Methyl Dihydroabietate Methyl Dihydroabietate
11 Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer Acrylates/Ethylhexyl Acrylate/Dimethicone Methacrylate Copolymer
12 Octyldodecanol Octyldodecanol
13 Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Vitamin C Ester (THD Ascorbate)
14 Tocopherol ACTIVE Vitamin E — antioxidant.
15 Behenyl Olivate Behenyl Olivate
16 Aluminum Hydroxide Aluminum Hydroxide
17 Stearic Acid Stearic Acid
18 Sorbitan Sesquioleate Sorbitan Sesquioleate
19 Glyceryl Isostearate Glyceryl Isostearate
20 Polyhydroxystearic Acid Polyhydroxystearic Acid
21 Citric Acid Citric Acid
22 Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone Benzylidene Dimethoxydimethylindanone