Our SPF Essentials
Hi, travelers!
Welcome to the Pack & Prepare section of our blog! This section will house all of our tips, tricks, and favorite travel products that help make your next adventure a little bit easier. As summer approaches, it is so important to make sure that you are taking care of your skin and are wearing SPF every day. We wanted to share our SPF essentials list so you can have an idea of what we find works best.
Ryan’s Essentials
Unseen Clear & Invisible Face Sunscreen from Supergoop!
My biggest SPF essential is a facial sunscreen. I find it incredibly important to wear, not only when it’s sunny, but also as an everyday facial product. My skin type is a mixture of dry and oily, so it was really tough finding the perfect sunscreen! But, the Supergoop! Unseen sunscreen is my favorite on the market. It makes your skin super smooth, not oily, and is literally invisible, so it works on every skin shade. This is not a cheap buy though; most I’ve seen online run about $35 - 38. However, I also recommend the Trader Joe’s Daily Facial Sunscreen which is only $8.99. These two products contain the same active ingredients and are very similar! I have been using the Trader Joe’s sunscreen for the past few months and it is amazing!
I feel like this has been a staple for so many people for so long, but I believe it’s for a reason! The Hawaiian Tropic SPF 50 sunscreen lotion provides coverage with a great scent. It’s available at nearly every major retailer, so it is very accessible, and I recommend this if you are traveling somewhere warm, as the scent of coconut really adds to the vibe! It’s cheap, reliable, and smells great!
Aquaphor Lip Balm Repair Stick for Chapped Lips - SPF30
I also feel like you cannot go wrong with an Aquaphor product (this is my “old reliable” of the list). This no fuss product is what it is: lip balm with SPF. Again, Aquaphor Lip Balm is at nearly every major retailer, so it is super easy to find. This product does the job, easy to apply, smooth, and protective. To me, it is a must buy!
Vaseline® Lip Therapy® Aloe Vera Stick
When I am not using Aquaphor, I use vaseline for my lip care. This product is an actual life saver! This vaseline lip balm is made with aloe, however, I know at 5 Below, they have a multipack, that’s what I usually buy. The multipack has one aloe, one regular, and one cocoa butter lip balm for under $5. This is an essential for a reason: it is compact, soothing, and relieves any sunburn pain right away. Say you forgot your spf lip balm; this product is here for you. I recommend getting the SPF Aquaphor for use during especially sunny days and keeping this Vaseline Aloe Lip Balm in the fridge or freezer so it will be extra cold when you return to your hotel room.
Lillian’s Essentials
Hydrating Sheer Lip Balm SPF 30 from MDSolarSciences
I am not a huge makeup person, but I like to spruce up occasionally, whether that be with a little mascara or gloss. One of my favorite things that I always carry in my purse is this balm from MDSolarSciences. It’s a lip tint that adds just a touch of color, while still looking natural and hydrating your lips with jojoba and shea butter. Mine is in the shade Spice, but there are seven shades to choose from! The best part is that it has Broad Spectrum SPF 30 to protect your lips from the sun.
Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ from Trader Joe’s
Instead of drugstore sunscreen that leaves a white cast or feels greasy, the spray sunscreen options at Trader Joe’s are lightweight, non-greasy, and offer a nice misting with the pressure technology in their caps. It is water resistant, has Vitamin E and Aloe, and is fragrance-free, which I love. Trust me, I also find the scent of Coppertone nostalgic, but for those of us with tattoos (of which I have several), fragrance-free options tend to be the best non-irritant! The best part about it? It retails for $5.99, around the same price you’d get for a drugstore sunscreen.
Neutrogena® Beach Defense Sunscreen Stick Broad Spectrum SPF 50+
I’m a runner, and one of my least favorite spots to put sunscreen on is my face. I grew up often scrunching up my nose and closing my eyes, taking a spray sunscreen, and spraying all over my face in hopes I cover everything without inhaling anything. Having this face stick has been a game changer! I love that it applies really smoothly and doesn’t feel sticky, and I can use it on every crevice of my face, along with my ears and down the part in my hair. It’s also super easy to pack, as it’s small and is 1.5 oz, so it won’t be flagged by airport security.
I’m breaking the rules a little bit since this isn’t specifically an SPF product, but it helps greatly when dealing with sunburn or sun damaged skin! I think Aquaphor’s Healing Ointment can be slept on when dealing with peeling skin since many often turn to Aloe Vera. I’ll admit that I’m not a huge fan of straight up Aloe Vera, as you have to be careful not to touch your face or eyes after use (who wants more burning and irritation after trying to deal with burning and irritation?!). Aquaphor is the perfect solution for sensitive, peeling skin post sunburn. It’s also a great way to care for and moisturize tattoos, and I’ve used it several times when doing the tattoo healing process!
Important note! It is petroleum based, so it locks in moisture and keeps bacteria out. But avoid applying directly after a sunburn; it will trap heat and make your skin inflamed.
What are some of your SPF essentials? If you didn’t have any prior, hopefully this list is a good starting point for you when packing for sun-filled vacations!