Header of new review on ValentinaChirico.com with flay lay of sunscreen stick on silky background.
Skincare & Skin Treatments,  Tested by me (reviews & swatches)

By Wishtrend Pore Smoothing Bakuchiol Sun Stick – review

 

What if your sunscreen could do more than protect from UVs? By Wishtrend Pore Smoothing Bakuchiol Sun Stick counts as a skin treatment and much more…

 

Product packaging showing brand's name seen from the top.

 

The pocket but mighty By Wishtrend Pore Smoothing Bakuchiol Sun Stick does extra work to shield your skin, keep your pores in check and prime too.

Bakuchiol Sun Stick: product & packaging

By Wishtrend Pore Smoothing Bakuchiol Sun Stick (regular price of $22) is a solid sunscreen in an 18g stick. The slick and flat package makes it particularly practical for everyday and on-the-go applications. It offers high UV protection (SPF50+ PA++++), but its most interesting feature is its multifunctionality. It doesn’t only protect your skin from UV rays, but it also shrinks the size of enlarged pores, smoothes out skin texture and preps it for a flawless makeup application.

By Wishtrend sunscreen stick standing on a wooden surface.


Stats on testers’ 2-week experience reported pore size reduced by 45.89%, skin texture improved by 14.62%, and skin elasticity by 8.56% which all sounds quite promising (as per the brand’s website).

Formula

Wishtrend in-house sun stick is a chemical sunscreen, and its key ingredients are bakuchiol – which is very popular among Korean skincare enthusiasts as a natural alternative to retinol – niacinamide, peptides and caffeine. Bakuchiol contributes to the plumping and anti-ageing effects of this product, while niacinamide regulates sebum production to help make pores less visible. This sunscreen takes care of the needs of oily and combo skin but its formula – free from essential oils, artificial colouring and fragrances – is highly tolerable for sensitive skin as well.

The ingredient list of By Wishtrend Pore Smoothing Bakuchiol Sun Stick printed on the back of the packaging.

 

Texture and scent

By Wishtrend Bakuchiol Sun Stick has a very light and delicate scent that’s somehow soothing. It vaguely reminds me of lavender and chamomile sleep balms but it can’t be perceived upon application unless you smell the stick. The stick glides effortlessly on the skin with a slightly buttery but non-greasy and non-oily texture that feels silky when all set. It appears naturally dewy to soft matte. As this is a chemical sunscreen it’s also invisible.

Texture of By Wishtrend Pore Smoothing Bakuchiol Sun Stick in its stick

 

How to use Bakuchiol Sun Stick:

This is the last step of your morning skincare routine. Just twist the end and apply the stick on all areas exposed to sunlight: your face, neck, and decolletage. The section of the stick is so slim you can reach the corners of your nose and follow your jawline with ease; although you can still use your fingers to spread the sunscreen further and evenly.

Skin comparison on a hand showing the smoothing effect of By Wishtrend sun stick.

 

As with all chemical sunscreens, it’s better to apply this sunscreen stick at least 15 minutes before sun exposure to allow the formula to sink and work at its potential. It should be reapplied throughout the day to ensure continuous protection from UVs.


PROS:

  • it has a high level of SPF protection;
  • a non-clogging formula;
  • it contains skincare ingredients;
  • it’s multifunctional (SPF, multi-skincare treatment and primer);
  • free from artificial colouring and fragrances;
  • cruelty-free and vegan;
  • also suitable for sensitive skin;
  • travel-friendly.

CONS: 

  • direct touch-ups with the stick can feel less hygienic;
  • touch-ups aren’t practical with makeup on.

By Wishtrend Bakuchiol Sun Stick is a user-friendly product that fits into your crammed handbag as your busy lifestyle. Just twist the end and “draw” your face as you’ll do with children’s roll-on sunscreen (minus the fun colour). The easy-peasy application is one of my favourite features of this product but there’s more.


Note: as a loyal reader of the blog you can enjoy an additional 15% OFF by using the code VALENTINA15 at the checkout. It can also be applied during many ongoing promotions.

We all love multiway products – think of face creams that turn into cleansing balms, for example – but the Bakuchiol Sun Stick is on another level. Its multifunctionality means that your skin can enjoy many aesthetic and cosmetic benefits from every single application without changing the way you use this sunscreen.

A hand holding a Korean travel-friendly sunscreen stick.

 

If I can’t see its protection to the naked eye (remember, no white cast), I certainly feel, touch and see the level of skin care it delivers. It instantly evens the skin texture, making it look and feel smoother. It also makes the pores look less noticeable. Its pore-minimising action and silky finish are very similar to what any blurring face primers do and feel like during and after the application.

enlarged-pores-combo-skin-before-by-wishtrend-pore-smoothing-bakuchiol-sun-stickenlarged-pores-combo-skin-after-by-wishtrend-pore-smoothing-bakuchiol-sun-stick
before (above) – after (below)

 

I find that makeup applies more easily and sets better; moreover, I can notice how my skin feels smoother and taut – taut in a good way. I also include By Wishtrend Pore Smoothing Bakuchiol Serum and Vitamin A-mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream in my skincare routine, so these three complimentary products contribute to a firmer and more elastic skin that feels very soft and plump to the touch.

Face sunscreens have seriously evolved in recent years, so we can expect more coming up and consider them as an active part of our skincare routine. Whether you want to counteract ageing or control sebum production, there’s a sunscreen right for that. As the Bakuchiol Sun Stick can do both and more, it’s a product you won’t forget in the morning, in every season.
This is a must for me!

Pinnable image of By Wishtrend Pore Smoothing Bakuchiol Sun Stick.

Valentina Chirico aka Valens

 

Source:
On niacinamide and enlarged pores

Valentina Chirico: a past as an archaeologist, a present as an editor between London and Bedfordshire. An expat born in Southern Italy from an expat family. She holds an MA in Egyptology from the University of Birmingham and contributed as a co-author and postgraduate ambassador to the UoB PG Recruitment Blog before fully embarking on online editing. Besides archaeology, beauty and arts, this alumna loves travelling and shares an uncommon sense of humour. Online since 2009 with ValentinaChirico.com and later with ItalianMemories, Valentina is a storyteller and wants to inspire you a good laugh or to aim higher, to the stars.

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Italian Memories, Italian culture and lifestyle, semi-serious travel guide, Valentina Chirico