Cocoa Butter Formula Eventone Suncare Sunscreen Stick SPF 50
Portable Budget SPF
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Compact, portable stick format ideal for on-the-go facial reapplication
- +Moisturizing cocoa butter and shea butter base prevents typical sunscreen dryness
- +SPF 50 broad-spectrum protection with five chemical UV filters
- +Water resistant for 80 minutes — suitable for outdoor activities
- +Budget-friendly at under $6 for the 0.5 oz stick
- +Works well as a combined lip, ear, and nose sunscreen
- −Contains 6% oxybenzone — now banned in several jurisdictions and widely avoided
- −Cocoa butter base is comedogenic and can trigger facial breakouts
- −Discontinued — no longer available from Palmer's
- −Stick format makes it easy to under-apply and get less protection than rated
- −Fragrance in a facial sunscreen is a concern for sensitive skin
The full review.
The UV filter system is straightforward mid-2010s chemical sunscreen engineering. Five filters — avobenzone for UVA, homosalate and octisalate for UVB, octocrylene pulling double duty as a UVB filter and avobenzone stabilizer, and oxybenzone rounding out the broad-spectrum coverage. Together they deliver SPF 50, which on paper is respectable protection for a stick format where under-application is the norm. The combination was standard for its era, before the industry’s accelerating pivot away from oxybenzone.
About Palmer’s
Palmer’s has not replaced this specific product in its lineup, which suggests the brand may be rethinking its approach to sun protection entirely. The Eventone Suncare range, which also included SPF 30 lotions and sprays, has been quietly wound down. For anyone who relied on this stick, the current market offers numerous oxybenzone-free sunscreen sticks at similar price points with lighter, more universally tolerable bases.
Myth
There was a brief window when Palmer’s Eventone Suncare Sunscreen Stick made a lot of sense. Around 2015, the sunscreen stick format was gaining popularity as a reapplication tool — something you could swipe on at the beach without greasy hands or a mirror. Palmer’s, a brand built on cocoa butter body care, saw an opportunity to bring its moisturizing expertise to a category that desperately needed it. Most sunscreen sticks at the time felt like rubbing a candle on your face. Palmer’s felt like rubbing cocoa butter on your face, because that is essentially what it was.
Reality
And oxybenzone is the elephant in this compact little tube. When this product launched, oxybenzone was a common sunscreen ingredient with decades of use behind it. Since then, research into its endocrine-disrupting potential and environmental impact on coral reefs has led to bans in Hawaii, Palau, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with a measurable shift in consumer preference toward oxybenzone-free formulations. Palmer’s decision to discontinue the Eventone Suncare line likely reflects this shift — the ingredient that once helped achieve SPF 50 in a convenient stick format became the ingredient that made the product unsellable to an increasingly informed customer base.
How to Use
Sunscreen sticks require multiple firm passes to deposit enough product, and the waxy texture can make it feel like you have applied more than you actually have.
Who Should Buy
Dry-skinned users loved the moisturizing feel and praised the ease of reapplication.
Texture
Setting aside the oxybenzone debate, the application experience had genuine strengths. The cocoa butter and shea butter base created a glide-on texture that was more comfortable than most competitors. It doubled as a lip and ear balm, which is exactly what you want from a stick sunscreen. The compact tube fit in a back pocket or beach bag without leaking. And Palmer’s pricing kept it under six dollars, making it genuinely accessible as an everyday carry sunscreen.
Scent
The fragrance is present but not overwhelming — the familiar warm cocoa butter scent that Palmer’s is known for. On a sunscreen stick designed for facial use, any fragrance is debatable, but it fades quickly after application.
Packaging
The compact tube fit in a back pocket or beach bag without leaking.
Best Season
This product served its purpose for a specific moment in sunscreen history — affordable, moisturizing, portable. That moment has passed. The sunscreen stick market has evolved toward mineral and hybrid formulas with cleaner profiles, and Palmer’s cocoa butter DNA may find a better home in that next generation of products than it did in this one.
Common Praise
Dry-skinned users loved the moisturizing feel and praised the ease of reapplication.
Common Complaints
Oily and acne-prone users reported breakouts and a heavy, greasy sensation. Several users noted that despite the SPF 50 rating, they still experienced sunburn — likely a function of the stick format encouraging insufficient application rather than a formula failure.
Pairs Well With
N/A
Conflicts With
But the same cocoa butter base that made application pleasant also made this a questionable choice for facial use. Cocoa butter is comedogenic — it can clog pores and trigger breakouts, particularly on the chin, forehead, and nose where sunscreen stick application is heaviest. For a product positioned around preventing dark spots and uneven tone through the Eventone branding, the risk of causing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from clogged-pore breakouts is an ironic formulation tension.
Best for
N/A
Works for
N/A
Not ideal for
Oily and acne-prone users reported breakouts and a heavy, greasy sensation.
AM routine
N/A
PM routine
N/A
Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list
Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 15%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 10%, Oxybenzone 6%. Inactive Ingredients: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Dimethicone, Fragrance (Parfum), Methyl Dihydroabietate, Microcrystalline Wax, Mineral Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Fruit Powder, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Tocopherol
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
This sunscreen uses a five-filter chemical UV protection system typical of mid-2010s formulations. Avobenzone (3%) is the only UVA filter, absorbing radiation between 310-400 nm. Octocrylene (10%) stabilizes Avobenzone and absorbs UVB to prevent its known photodegradation. Homosalate (15%) sits at its maximum FDA-allowed concentration and octisalate (5%) provide the main UVB absorption, while oxybenzone (6%) absorbs both UVA and UVB.
The oxybenzone inclusion requires discussion given evolving research. A 2019 FDA study in JAMA found oxybenzone reached systemic blood levels above the FDA's 0.5 ng/mL threshold of concern after one day of typical use, raising questions about endocrine disruption potential. A 2016 study in Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (Downs et al.) showed oxybenzone contributes to coral bleaching at concentrations found in recreational swimming areas. These findings drive regulatory action and consumer preference shifts, even if their real-world significance at typical exposure levels remains debated.
The five-filter approach provides robust UVA/UVB coverage. A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (Wang et al., 2011) showed SPF 50 products block about 98% of UVB radiation compared to 97% for SPF 30; this marginal improvement matters for high-risk individuals. The stick format presents a practical challenge—research in JAMA Dermatology (2019) found stick sunscreens deposit less product per application than lotions, which can reduce effective protection below the labeled SPF.
References
- Effect of Sunscreen Application Under Maximal Use Conditions on Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients — JAMA (2019)
Dermatologist Perspective
Dermatologists agree sunscreen sticks help encourage reapplication—the most common failure in sun protection. Board-certified dermatologists note any sunscreen is better than none, and the Palmer's stick's convenient format overcomes a behavioral barrier. However, dermatologists increasingly recommend oxybenzone-free formulations, especially for patients with hormonal concerns or for children. The comedogenic cocoa butter base is another concern dermatologists raise for patients with acne or rosacea. Dermatologists generally recommend stick sunscreens as supplementary reapplication tools rather than primary sunscreen because application thickness is difficult to control consistently.
Where it fits in your routine.
Apply the stick directly to exposed skin with firm, even strokes. For facial use, use several overlapping passes on the nose, cheeks, forehead, ears, and lips for full coverage. Apply 15 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply every 2 hours during sun exposure and immediately after swimming, toweling off, or heavy sweating.
At about $5.99 for 0.5 oz, this offered affordable SPF 50 stick protection. The pocket-friendly format and moisturizing base worked well at drugstore pricing. However, the product's discontinuation makes its value academic. As a legacy brand, Palmer's pricing reflects accessibility rather than premium positioning, and this product was no exception. Limited remaining stock may sell at clearance prices, but do not buy a discontinued oxybenzone-containing sunscreen for ongoing use.
Best for dry to normal skin needing a portable, moisturizing sunscreen stick for on-the-go reapplication. It works well in beach bags, hiking packs, and daily carry for users who use chemical UV filters including oxybenzone.
Choose an alternative if you avoid oxybenzone for health, environmental, or regulatory reasons. Acne-prone and oily skin types should avoid the comedogenic cocoa butter base. Because this product is discontinued, select a currently available product for reliable long-term sun protection.
Product details.
It has a warm cocoa butter fragrance typical of the Palmer's brand signature. The scent is noticeable during application but fades within 30 minutes.
A compact twist-up stick in a pocket-sized tube. It is portable and leak-proof for bags, pockets, and beach trips. Palmer's uses brown and gold branding.
The cocoa butter and shea butter base provides immediate moisture. You need several passes with the stick to get enough product for SPF 50 coverage. Most users feel no stinging or irritation, but those sensitive to oxybenzone may feel mild warmth.
1-2 months with daily facial application and regular reapplication
12 months
spring summer
The backstory.
Palmer's launched the Eventone Suncare line to address sun protection specifically for melanin-rich skin, where hyperpigmentation and uneven tone are primary sun damage concerns rather than sunburn alone. The sunscreen stick was the most portable format in the range, designed for easy facial reapplication. The product has since been discontinued, likely in part due to growing consumer resistance to oxybenzone-containing sunscreens.
About Palmer's
Legacy Brand (20+ years)Palmer's is manufactured by E.T. Browne Drug Co., founded in 1840. While the brand is a household name in cocoa butter body care, its sunscreen range was a more recent extension. This Eventone Suncare Sunscreen Stick has since been discontinued.
Common myths.
Higher SPF numbers always mean better protection
SPF 50 blocks about 98% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 blocks 97% — a small difference. Protection depends on using enough product and reapplying every 2 hours. The stick format makes under-application easy because of the swipe-on mechanism.
Darker skin tones don't need sunscreen
Melanin provides some UV protection, but darker skin tones still face UV-induced hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and photoaging. Palmer's Eventone line targets these concerns in melanin-rich skin.
FAQ.
Is Palmer's Eventone Sunscreen Stick SPF 50 discontinued?
Yes — Palmer's discontinued this product. Select online retailers may have remaining stock, but Palmer's no longer produces it. Check the brand's updated product lineup for a current Palmer's sunscreen alternative.
Does Palmer's Eventone Sunscreen Stick contain oxybenzone?
Yes — this formula uses 6% oxybenzone as one of its five UV-filtering active ingredients. Oxybenzone faces scrutiny for endocrine disruption and coral reef harm, and jurisdictions like Hawaii and Key West have banned it. This likely caused the product's discontinuation.
Can I use this sunscreen stick on my face?
The stick works on the face, including ears, nose, and lips. But the cocoa butter base is comedogenic for acne-prone skin, and oxybenzone may irritate sensitive facial skin. Oily or breakout-prone skin types should choose a non-comedogenic liquid sunscreen instead.
Is this sunscreen water resistant?
Yes — this sunscreen stick is water resistant for up to 80 minutes. Reapply after swimming, toweling off, or heavy sweating. Reapply at least every 2 hours during continuous sun exposure, even without water contact.
Why does this sunscreen contain cocoa butter?
Cocoa butter is Palmer's signature ingredient and forms the moisturizing base that sets this stick apart from competitors. It prevents the dry, tight feeling many chemical sunscreens cause. However, the cocoa butter also makes this formula comedogenic, a trade-off for its moisturizing benefits.
What the community says.
"Extremely portable stick format for on-the-go reapplication"
"Moisturizing cocoa butter base prevents dry, tight feeling"
"Affordable SPF 50 protection at drugstore pricing"
"Easy application to ears, nose, and lips without mess"
"Contains oxybenzone, which many consumers now avoid"
"Cocoa butter base can feel heavy and greasy on oily skin"
"Some users reported inadequate sun protection despite SPF 50 claim"
"Noticeable fragrance that some find unpleasant in a sunscreen"
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