Sunscreens and tanning oils

tcnoble · March 2015

What level SPFs do you pack for vacation?

We are heading to Secrets Maroma Beach at the end of this month - WOOHOO!!! FI and I have both been using a tanning bed (yes, we know how bad most people think they are) so that we will have somewhat of a base tan when we land in Mexico.

I haven't been on a beach vacation in several years, not since I went with family and my mom took care of packing what we needed.

What sunscreens and tanning oils do you usually bring? What SPF levels? Just looking to see what others generally bring. FWIW, neither of us burns easily, and we definitely want to get tan!

kaos16 · March 2015

i'd go higher than you think for at least the first few days....the sun is stronger closer to the equator. I pack 30 when I vacation and reapply often. . . . to prevent burning

Maggie0829 · March 2015

The furthest south I have vacationed was Key West and I used a SPF of 30, but I made sure to reapply quite often. I came home with a pretty awesome tan but never once burned.

I would suggest nixing the tanning oil and using nothing less then SPF 30. Remember the further south you are the closer to the equator you are, meaning the suns rays are crazy strong so the quicker you will burn.

And really, no matter where you vacation, if you plan on being out in the sun for any length of time then you need to use some sort of sunscreen unless you want to look like the crazy tan Mom or the grandmother from There is Something About Mary.

[Deleted User] · March 2015

With all the mexico and caribbean trips we do (@sandals whitehouse in Jamaica now) we pack 30spf. We use coopertone sport. Remember to dry and reapply right after getting out of the water (salt water attracts the sun).

kaos16 · March 2015

@monkeygirl18 how is Jamaica? we fly in Friday, staying at The SPA Retreat in Negril......any suggestions?

tcnoble · March 2015

Well needless to say I am really glad I asked... because I was on the idea of "Well I'll buy 15 for the first few days then hit the oil!" haha I'm sure FI will thank you guys for the SPF 30 suggestion..

tcnoble · March 2015

I always put 30 on my face - so I think I will add some 30 lotion for the beginning and maybe some 12 or 15 dry oil for the last few days. When I've done tropical vacations before I would use straight oil - no SPF - and never burned. It's just been a long time and I don't want to be a shade monster because I underestimated the sun!

Maggie0829 · March 2015

tcnoble said:
I always put 30 on my face - so I think I will add some 30 lotion for the beginning and maybe some 12 or 15 dry oil for the last few days. When I've done tropical vacations before I would use straight oil - no SPF - and never burned. It's just been a long time and I don't want to be a shade monster because I underestimated the sun!

It's not only about preventing you from burning it is the whole protecting you from getting skin cancer and looking like a really worn out leather purse when you are 60.

tcnoble · March 2015

Maggie0829 said:

tcnoble said:
I always put 30 on my face - so I think I will add some 30 lotion for the beginning and maybe some 12 or 15 dry oil for the last few days. When I've done tropical vacations before I would use straight oil - no SPF - and never burned. It's just been a long time and I don't want to be a shade monster because I underestimated the sun!
It's not only about preventing you from burning it is the whole protecting you from getting skin cancer and looking like a really worn out leather purse when you are 60.

My mom always tells me that... I just want to be tan! I will definitely be picking up some SPF 30!!

amelisha · March 2015

There is nothing worse than nursing a sunburn on vacation. It hurts, you look dumb, and you can't hang out in the sun anymore afterwards. Don't mess around with it and just get proper sunblock, especially because most people don't apply it properly anyway and it doesn't do as much good as it should.

I think it's crazy not to protect your skin, personally...we buy high-quality SPF 30 or 45 (although much higher doesn't have much point as the increase in efficiency isn't significant beyond that), usually the kind that's a physical barrier rather than just a chemical one, and we reapply every couple of hours and after we get in the water.

Neither of us wants to look like a baseball mitt when we're old, lol. And we've both been on vacations where we've gotten a burn and then had to hang out in the shade for the rest of the week...not good.

If you really want to be tan, why not get a good spray tan? Lots of them look awesome now and you don't have to risk skin cancer and wrinkling up like an old shoe in a few years.

climbingsingle · March 2015

Skin cancer runs in my family. You wouldn't catch me with anything less than SPF 30.

And like Maggie said, it's not just about burning. You should be protecting yourself against cancer. And tanning will age you much, much faster. I worked with a woman that tanned religiously. She was younger than my mom, but looked 10 years older. And I swear to you, her chest looked like leather. It was really gross.

[Deleted User] · March 2015

@kaos16
Love it. This is our third time here (Sandals Negril in '09, Sandals Whitehouse last year and right now).

I don't know anything about where you are staying (resort wise)

As for advice: be prepared to see poverty. That being said, the Jamacians are a proud friendly bunch. Show them respect and they will return it. I will say, that they can be pushy (vendors) but give a polite "no thanks mon" and keep walking. Do sit and chat with them if you have a chance. They will be more than happy to tell you about their culture.

In our travels here we have done a dune buggie tour (really fun), horse back riding, Ricks Cafe (it was cool, I jumped off the 10ft cliff which was no easy feet as I'm deathly afraid of heights and hubby jumped off the 30ft cliff), margaritaville (ehh... tourist trap),YS Falls(really pretty), Black River (you get to see crocs up close and personal) Appelton Rum Estates (we got to try 8 different kinds of rum at the end of our tour) and still to be done on this trip is Floyds Pelican Bar (drift wood bar about 1/4 mile out in the ocean).

Other than that, just relax (you are on island time now) and have fun!

kvruns · March 2015

Definitely at least 30. I'm someone who tans easily but I've still gotten a bit burnt on tropical vacations from not reapplying enough. A group of us all got burnt in Cabo in January and spent the next day in the shade nursing our burns which sucked.

You also don't want to run out since it is typically way more expensive on the resort so bring more than you think you need even of the 30 type stuff and then supplement with the lower SPF if you want to try lower later in the week.

And as someone who is sitting here with a bandaid on my cheek after having stiches removed today thanks to a skin cancer spot, please wear something! I do way better with sunscreen and hats nowadays than I ever did and was REALLY surprised to find out I had a cancer spot a month ago. But the nurse today even said the damage was probably done long ago when I didn't do as good of a job protecting.

tcnoble · March 2015

I haven't vacationed in about 10 years - since I was in high school - and back then I was totally oblivious and dismissive of skin care issues... I guess it's time I start paying attention and taking care of myself! Thanks for all the tips ladies - I will definitely be stocking up so we are in good shape for the sun.

STARMOON44 · March 2015

If you're dumb enough to use tanning beds and care more about being tan than getting skin cancer go for the oil. If not, SPF 30, reapplyed frequently, and worn every day. Not every ten years when you go on vacation. Every day.

delujm0 · March 2015

I never go below SPF 50 (and usually use 70-100), but i'm fair and incapable of tanning, and i figure that it would be better to not get skin cancer and wrinkles than it would be to be bronzed when i get home from vacation anyway.

Agree with the others - closer to the equator the sun is very strong. The last thing you want is to get burned on the first day and then be in pain for several days afterwards. this happened to my friends when we went to Hawaii a few years ago. They wound up sitting in the shade and applying aloe constantly for more than half of the trip. Reapply often. You'll still get some color if you're using 30. If you find that you're not getting any color, switch to 15 after the first few days...but i'd avoid the oil entirely.

WinstonsGirl · March 2015

I use 30 of higher always. But I'm a pasty white girl who does burn easily. I also wear SPF in the winter on my face (nothing else is exposed) even though it's usually dark when I go to work and home. And put me in the column of skin cancer survivor, so I will always advocate sunscreen.

TheArtemisMoon · May 2015

Tans are overrated. I stick with the spray on, water resistant type. I know they say that anything above SPF 45 doesn't help but I disagree. I have 75 & 100 and I'm pretty sure I'd look like a lobster. Hello Banana Boat lol.

[Deleted User] · May 2015

@monkeygirl18 We booked Whitehouse for our honeymoon this coming September. Got any suggestions/recommendations?? We have a Honeymoon Beachfront Walkout Room...not club level or anything.

CMGragain · May 2015

I just came back from my oncologist monthly appointment. In the lobby, waiting to be seen, was a 40ish man with half his face bandaged, post surgery. You don't want to ever look like that. SPF30.

kmmssg · May 2015

tcnoble said:

Maggie0829 said:

tcnoble said:
I always put 30 on my face - so I think I will add some 30 lotion for the beginning and maybe some 12 or 15 dry oil for the last few days. When I've done tropical vacations before I would use straight oil - no SPF - and never burned. It's just been a long time and I don't want to be a shade monster because I underestimated the sun!
It's not only about preventing you from burning it is the whole protecting you from getting skin cancer and looking like a really worn out leather purse when you are 60.
My mom always tells me that... I just want to be tan! I will definitely be picking up some SPF 30!!

Please read this article on buzzfeed and then think about if you really want to be tan.

kmmssg · May 2015

My link won't show up!! Go to buzzfeed and look up skin cancer treatment.

@knotriley - I have pasted a link several times and it vanishes when I try to post my reply.

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