Ursa Major started in a Vermont barn. Not a metaphor. An actual barn with hay and everything. The founder was tired of sunscreen that smelled like a chemistry lab.
The wild part? This stick is obsessed with being *polarizing*. It smells like pine forest and black pepper — half my friends gag, the other half want to bathe in it.
It’s a 100% mineral SPF 30 face stick. $28. I bought it because a backcountry guide told me it “doesn’t freeze in my pack at -10°.” Sold.
The Stick Format
No liquid TSA rules. You can apply it blind on a chairlift.
Zero White Cast
Zinc oxide usually looks like you’re in a mime troupe. This one disappears in 10 seconds flat.
No Weird Fragrance
It’s scented with real essential oils — but it fades fast. You won’t smell like a Yankee Candle.
Photo: National Cancer Institute / Unsplash
Ursa Major doesn’t do filler ingredients. The hero here is 20% non-nano zinc oxide — the gold standard for reef-safe sun protection. But the real magic is the botanicals that make it feel less like sunscreen and more like a moisturizer.
- Aloe Vera: calms redness instantly, no sting
- Green Tea: antioxidant boost that fights city pollution
- Sunflower Oil: rubs in silky, not greasy
- Vitamin E: keeps skin from drying out after 8 hours of sun
Photo: Oleksandr Brovko / Unsplash
The texture is waxy but not waxy. It glides on like a solid oil — zero drag. First impression? “Oh, that’s actually pleasant.” I wore it hiking in 90° humidity and it didn’t melt into my eyes.
Week 3 surprise: It’s not water-resistant enough for a swim. The brand says 40 minutes. They’re being generous. For dryland activities? Perfection.
Photo: Derek Owens / Unsplash
Six hours in direct sun on a glacier. Zero burn. My face felt hydrated after, not tight and crispy. The only downside: reapplying over makeup is a mess — this is a bare-face stick.
Photo: Vya Naturals / Unsplash
It’s the only sunscreen I’ve ever finished completely — and then bought again. If you want a SPF that feels like an afterthought instead of a chore, this is it.