I just came back from a few days in sunny Aruba. It was my first time visiting this Caribbean island and it was such a nice break from the dreary New England winter. For this family trip, my husband pushed to bring carry-on luggage only (he hates waiting for luggage). The only thing with just bringing a carry-on was I had all these sunscreens over 4 ounces that I wanted to bring on this trip. Do I only check luggage because of sunscreen options or do I go get some travel-friendly sizes that I can throw in my carry-on? I went with the latter option and headed to Target, CVS and Sephora to grab some new travel-friendly options, and threw in one my favorite SPFs that I never travel without.
When it comes to sunscreens, I always buy a mix of mineral, those that contain zinc oxide and titanium oxide and sit on the skin to block harmful rays, and chemical, which get absorbed by the skin and act like a sponge to absorb the harmful UV rays. I prefer mineral sunscreen formulas for my face because I have sensitive skin, but I usually use both and actually prefer a chemical one for my body as the formulas are more fluid and blendable.
Here are the five sunscreens I brought that worked for the face and body and my entire family used on the six-day trip to Aruba:
Elta MD Spf 46 UV Clear: I’ve mentioned this sunscreen on the blog before and been using it daily for many years. It was introduced by many dermatologists I’ve met or interviewed and I haven’t found anything else that compares to it. It’s by far the best everyday moisturizing mineral SPF out there in my opinion and leaves no harsh white cast due to a transparent zinc formula. This one is specifically formulated for those with sensitive skin (acne sufferers, rosacea prone, etc) so it won’t irritate or make you break out. It has hyaluronic acid for moisture, niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 to even skin tone, and lactic acid to gently exfoliate. It helps protect skin, but also leave it more even and smooth with a nice healthy glow. This is the sunscreen I used to put on my face at the start of the day when we were eating breakfast outside, when I went for that morning run and our first time of the day into the warm sunshine.
Neutrogena Hydroboost SPF 30: I stocked everything with a high SPF for this trip, but I also like having the option of SPF 30 in a sunblock. I’ve tried Neutrogena’s Hydroboost Line before for skincare, but have yet to try it in for SPF so threw it in my cart This one had a great consistency with almost a bluish hue, but it was nice and moisturizing without being greasy. I applied it to my face and body most days and it withstood quality beach and pool time. Normally, I try and steer clear of any chemical sunscreens, but this one did not bother my skin like others have in the past and it smelled and felt great. I will definitely buy it again for summertime.
La Roche Posay Anthelios Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50: I am a huge fan of La Roche Posay sunscreens and have been buying all types of them for years. They’re a little pricey, but they’re great and you can find them at CVS and Target. I wanted a mineral sunscreen for the body and face and this one was calling out to me on the shelf in the right carry-on friendly size. It is thicker than the other formulations (usually mineral are) and found this one was a little tough to blend in. It did though, protect our skin very well. Not sure I’ll buy this one again, as I prefer the other La Roche Posay formulas, but it definitely works if you have sensitive, fair skin.
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Mist Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 55: I always love a good face mist and wanted to try one as a sunblock. This one is ultra-sheer, which sold me right away, and I knew the mist application was a good, easy way for the kids to apply their face sunblock. It’s a little pricier than regular lotion formulas, but I have to say this one was a hit with my kids and husband. It was easy to apply and felt light and never irritating on the skin. We also applied this to our upper body even though it’s geared towards the face. This face mist is definitely one we will keep around for our summer adventures or for early morning workouts in the sunshine.
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 50+ Wetforce: When I was a beauty editor at a celebrity weekly, I remember trying out the Shiseido sunscreens for the first time and loved them. So when I popped into Sephora the day before my trip, I wanted to check out some new sunscreens out there. None were calling out to me, except this one. First, it was on sale, a rarity at Sephora, and two, it had zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as well as some other ingredients so it was a mix of mineral and chemical ingredients. I found it to be a better consistency than other sunscreen brands in the store and the price was right. This one blended so nicely and it gave great coverage in the hot Arubian sun. It wasn’t greasy or too matte and it did not irritate my skin, which is always a plus. They just came out with a newer formulation that I want to try, but I wish for the price it was a bit larger in size. This one was at 2 ounces, which is great for travel, but not the best on your wallet.
Do you guys have a favorite sunscreen that fits in your carry-on?
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