Trying to reapply sunscreen on the go, but can't do it every two hours (as recommended)? It's time to incorporate a sunstick into your routine - and if you like to look your matte best, there is none better than the Beauty of Joseon Matte Sunstick (complete with soothing mugwort and green tea extract). 

This is a wax-based sunstick (like most) containing a variety of emollients and oils to provide a soft, blurring effect. It contains extracted fatty acid chains that help fill gaps in skin to blur pore appearance and creates a creamy, mattifying effect. Apart from the general bases that make it a create sunstick to top make-up, it also contains a variety of herbal extracts to help brighten and relieve skin.

Artemis Capillaris extract (Mugwort): as the titular character in the sunstick, it must be important. And it is! Mugwort is a herb traditionally used in Joseon era beauty to reduce blemishes and repair acne. [If you'd love to learn more about Joseon era ingredients - read about it here]. With its peaceful effect on redness, infusing antioxidants in skin cells and improving skin healing – it's a masterful ingredient in helping soothe redness and acne. 
 
Turmeric root extract: a powerful anti-inflammatory agent that helps soothe inflamed skin, providing relief to cells and reducing harmful bacteria on skin surface. Its benefits are both topical (as here, applied directly to skin) and also in your diet. 

Green tea: a rich agent that provides antioxidants, protection against UV and soothes redness (reducing appearance of blemishes and blood vessels under skin). You’ll find it commonly in anti-aging remedies due to its ability to help refresh skin cells. 

Panthenol: Vitamin B5 which is commonly used in the best moisturizers for its deeply moisturizing and soothing effect. If you have sensitive skin, you should be looking out for this on all the top moisturizers to help nourish and protect your skin barrier. 

Hyaluronic acid: a powerful biomolecule that draws and holds water to itself like a magnet. When hyaluronic acid is absorbed by your skin cells, it draws water in and holds it throughout the day to maintain plump, hydrated skin. 

It also contains chemical sunscreens that reflect and absorb UVA and UVB radiation to provide a strong protection of SPF+50 and PA ++++ to ensure complete protection throughout the day (every two hours when you are outside and active!) 

This stick is a green-tinted sunstick designed to reduce redness – so best suited for red/pink skin that needs colour correcting. Some users with bronze/darker skin tones have noted a chalky cast with use, so keep conscious of what the added green might do to your skin tone. 

It’s also not easily applied over the top of a face of make-up (like the majority of sunsticks), so if you are looking fine and require a top-up it's best to look for a soft liquid sunscreen. (Our recommendation is the Beauty of Joseon Rice + Probiotic for a whisper-soft top up). 

But if you are looking for a lazy top-up on the go, that will immediately vanish that forehead shine common to oily/combination skin types – this stick fits the bill. 

I used the sunstick after my general skincare routine, including use of a liquid sunscreen (which provides an important base of sun protection). I wasn’t wearing a foundation layer and after my routine of glowy serums and moisturizers, I had a strong shine to my face and highlighted pores. The sunstick is not sticky and also not too powdery, instead forming a gentle, soft line of matte anywhere it was applied. It was not overly visible or green, but the effect is quite obvious in a before-and-after comparison.

The above is my cheeks before and after application. You can clearly see the blurring effect the sunstick creates, even without the addition of other makeup. The redness is toned down, there is no longer an oily shine and it was very lightweight and pleasant to wear.  

Here is another before-and-after of my nose, which shows prominent pores and redness, after which is smooth and toned down with a single application of the matte sunstick. This product did not cause any breakouts over two weeks of use and was easy to re-apply throughout the day at work to prevent me feeling ‘oily’ or ‘shiny.’ I didn’t find it too green and it never left a cast – and for my combination skin it provided the perfect balance to reduce oily zones on my face. 

If you are looking for a sunstick that provides lasting blurring effect and can give you a quick matte glow with absolute minimal effort – this is a perfect product. If you live in a humid, hot environment and are looking to tone down shininess from the weather, this is a great every-day product that will balance your appearance and also provide a good hourly top up for sun protection. 

It’s important to note that sunsticks are a great top up for sun protection, but in the harsh Australian sun they do not replace good liquid sun protection. Ensure you always have a good liquid sunscreen on for the start of the day or wear a cute sunhat if you feel unprotected. Good sun safety is the best way to prevent premature aging of skin!