Sunscreen should be included among your must-pack items for any vacation, as it provides critical protection from UV radiation that can cause cancer and hasten skin aging.
The ideal travel-sized sunscreens are sweat and water-resistant and reapplyable frequently. Furthermore, they’re smaller than full-sized bottles to comply with TSA rules when carrying luggage.
Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun Barrier Sunscreen
Neutrogena offers both lotion and spray versions of their sunscreen product that claim to be sweat and waterproof for four hours, featuring a light pineapple scent. Furthermore, aloe vera helps soothe dry summer skin conditions. As with all sunscreens, a liberal application is vital if you want maximum sun protection; we suggest applying at least 2mg/cm2 (about an ounce) every two hours and after swimming, excessive sweating, toweling off, or prolonged exposure to the sun.
This beach-strength sunscreen offers a lightweight, non-greasy lotion designed for active families. With broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and clinically proven sunburn prevention capabilities, this lotion is non-comedogenic, hypo-allergenic, and free from fragrances, parabens, phthalates, and PABA.
Consumer Reports conducted extensive testing on this sunscreen as part of its Sunscreens Test Program and awarded it an average score. Testing included laboratory and panelist evaluation, as well as skin cast analysis. Evaluation criteria for fair skin included its UVA protection capabilities, white cast, oil content, and other factors influencing how it appeared. SkinSAFE reviewed its ingredients and determined that it is 82% top allergen-free and free from gluten, coconut lanolin, petroleum propylene glycol mineral oil, etc.
Coppertone SPORT Sunscreen Spray
Sunburn can ruin any day. Protecting yourself with a broad-spectrum sunscreen that won’t clog pores or leave behind a white cast is crucial. Coppertone Sport Mineral Spray SPF 50 was chosen as the top travel size sunscreen as it scored well across all categories tested by Consumer Reports (CR) and was easy to apply, even for full body coverage. Plus, it’s free from chemical UVA blockers such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, so it is safe for sensitive skin.
For active adults, this high-performance sunscreen stays put even when sweating profusely, remaining water resistant for up to 80 minutes and leaving skin light and airy. With continuous spray that works from any angle for complete coverage and moisturizers that help bolster antioxidant defenses, this sunscreen makes an ideal companion on hikes, runs, or any outdoor adventure!
This product boasts a light, subtly fragrant fragrance that won’t overwhelm or bother sensitive skin and doesn’t cause any irritation in our testers. Furthermore, this item is hypoallergenic and free from PABA, phthalates, parabens, dyes, and PABA/PHTLA blends, in addition to being selected by SkinSAFE so users can use it with peace of mind!
It may be slightly more expensive than some of our top travel-size sunscreens, but this sunscreen still offers one of the most cost-effective solutions on this list. With its excellent score across all categories evaluated by Consumer Reports (CR), it will provide reliable protection for you and your family while out and about – plus, its compact bottle makes it easy to transport!
Reef Repair Sunscreen
If protecting coral reefs in the oceans is essential, consider this natural mineral-based sunscreen with only two active ingredients – zinc oxide and titanium dioxide – that won’t leave your skin feeling oily or greasy. It offers excellent coverage without clogging pores, ideal for beachgoers seeking to do their part to save reefs from environmental stressors like climate change, pollution, and overfishing.
Labels on these sun care products provide clear information on what’s free from and contains, so you can be confident you are making an ethical choice that benefits the environment and skin health. Plus, this one’s safe for babies and kids – perfect for family trips to the pool or beach! This one may cost slightly more than other sun products, but its organic and sustainable ingredients are dermatologist-tested without added fragrances or parabens!
Another TFG reader favorite, this reef-safe sunscreen is easy to apply and applies smoothly without leaving a white film behind. Plus, its pleasant fragrance makes it something you want to keep around when traveling to destinations that prohibit certain chemical ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate (both known for causing damage to coral reefs) from being included in sunscreen formulations.
Reef-safe products can be identified by looking for products with “reef-safe” written directly on their label or that only include non-nano zinc and titanium as active ingredients. Furthermore, you should apply it every 2 hours or after swimming or sweating – two is sufficient!
At Blue Lizard, we recognize that your vacation may not require only reef-safe sunscreen, but it’s best to be ready. Our testers liked its hydrating liquid texture, which easily rubs onto skin without leaving behind a white cast or greasiness, plus its handy cap that changes from translucent to blue when UV rays reach harmful levels.
Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protector Lotion
Are you searching for an anti-sticky sunscreen lotion to stand up against harsh elements and heavy sweat? Look no further. With an SPF 50 formula that features four FDA-approved ingredients (avobenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, and oxybenzone), this broad spectrum SPF 50 formula provides just that solution. Unique to this sunblock is that it strengthens when exposed to moisture or sweat. Shiseido achieves this through their WetForce Technology: negative ions in lotion combine with positive ions in water and effort to form an invisible sun protection barrier. HeatForce technology works similarly, activating when exposed to external heat to strengthen and enhance this overall barrier it creates.
A non-sticky, fast-absorbing, dermatologist-tested waterproof formula that won’t leave a white cast was created using this process. Furthermore, its light yet pleasant fragrance quickly blends into the skin without leaving residue behind; one Allure tester even put this product through rigorous tests in South Florida’s scorching sun without experiencing redness or stinging on their face despite two hours of running around with children and splashing through water with them!
Contrary to many chemical-based sunscreens, this one is free from fragrance, oil, talc, PABA/DEA/MEA/EOBHA phthalates, and phthalates; additionally, it’s SkinSAFE verified, meaning it does not contain gluten, coconut milk fragrance paraben mineral oil retinyl palmitate soy triclosan and avobenzone as potential issues.
This natural-looking and breathable sunscreen is the ideal solution for anyone seeking an all-natural experience with their sunscreen application. Additionally, its chlorine/saltwater resistance makes it suitable for pool use; just be sure to reapply every two hours outdoors, immediately after swimming, towel drying off, or anytime after towel drying off when toweling dry – use a nickel-sized amount on your face and one ounce (shot glass-sized amount) all over. Plus, it’s reef-safe and cruelty-free, too.
