Vacation reviews and discussion

4.5

93% of reviewers would recommend to a friend

Reviews mention

  • Nostalgic, transportive fragrance
  • Innovative, playful formats
  • Lightweight, non-greasy textures
  • Consistently effective protection
  • Occasionally sticky application
  • Strong, lingering fragrance
  • Inconsistent white-cast issues
  • Leaky or flimsy packaging

Vacation wins rave reviews for making sunscreen genuinely enjoyable and, for many, highly effective—lightweight textures, no-sting protection, and a signature nostalgic scent draw repeat use—yet critiques note occasional white cast, stickiness or pilling, strong fragrance, small/leaky packaging, and mixed results with mineral and oil formats. Reviews of Vacation highlight standout formats like Classic Whip, Classic Lotion, and Chardonnay/Champagne oils, but also mention spray-can mechanism hiccups and uncertainty about application amounts with the whipped mousse.

AI summary based on Thingtesting reviews

622 reviews and posts

  • The best smelling sunscreen in the whole world. Like your childhood in a bottle! It can be pricy but our Costco just sold a 2 pack for 50% the normal cost. I have used the Spray and the Lotion, but the lotion definitely works better.

  • I've tried the Vacation Classic SPF 50 and the Classic Whipped Sunscreen Mousse, and I really enjoy both. I'm picky about sunscreens and typically dislike US sunscreens (prefer Asian, European, or Australian formulas for their modern SPF filters), but Vacation's formulas are nice and not too heavy or greasy. And the whipped one is just pure fun and feels good on. I also love that they have 3.4oz tubes so you can fly with them carry-on. Definitely will repurchase.

  • wow their perfume is a 10000000/10. i tried it in a beauty box and i think i would actually purchase it with my own money at full price. it smells so fresh and tropical and the packaging feels so lux which is amazing

  • Best sunscreen out there. Smells so good and works great. Allows some color without getting burnt. Cool retro packaging but a little pricy.

  • These products elicit favorite memories of childhood summers. Whether it's the Classic scent, Baby Oil, or Orange Gelee, they immediately put me in a summer state of mind. Just as importantly, they are effective sunscreens, and make my skin look and feel amazing! I wish they would offer at 15 SPF to use once I have a base tan.

  • Five stars for the branding alone. They absolutely kill it on every level, from website to newsletter, merch to playlists, they've created an unparalleled brand ecosystem. As for the actual sunscreen, I’ve tried the Classic Lotion, Chapstick, Whip, and Spray, and they all smell incredible. Pure, unlocked nostalgia.

  • Vacation sunscreen is like a vacation in a bottle! The formula is clean, safe, and provides excellent sun protection while leaving my skin feeling smooth. The best part? The scent! It’s a perfect blend of coconut, banana, and a hint of pool water that takes me straight to a sunny beach. It's not greasy, and it absorbs quickly, making it ideal for daily use. If you love a nostalgic, tropical fragrance with your sunscreen, Vacation is a must-have! 🏖️🍌

  • Overall, Vacation sunscreens are good quality in cool packaging. I wish their prices were just a little lower. At my local Ulta, they're currently priced above all the other suncare-specific options, which I have mixed feelings about. I've gotten the SPF Baby Oil and the Classic Whip so far. I love the vintage aesthetic, I love the whipped cream canister. Am I willing to pay a premium for that? I am SOMETIMES. The products were 10/10s, with the baby oil being my surprise favorite. I expected the oil to linger longer as it settled in on my skin, but it absorbed very, very quickly, leaving me with a nice glisten that looked like I was sweaty, but in a hot way. The scent was light enough to where I didn't notice it fade away throughout the day since I didn't think about it much in the first place. I did nearly take off a star here due to the price for the quantity given, but I had to raise it back to a 5 since the actual product overall is great and does truly deserve 5 stars. I can be grumpy about the price and still like the sunscreen!

  • I have the classic SPF 30 and really like the smell. It does layer on a bit thicker than my go-to EltaMD but if I'm spending lots of time in the sun or getting a bit sporty, I'll use this one instead. The smell is super beachy and immediately makes me think of summertime fun whenever I use it.

  • I love the vibe and diverse selection of products from this brand - not to mention the super reasonable prices! The SPF 30 Baby Oil is a MUST for any person who typically loves to lather on tanning oil in the summer - it's a great replacement with a much higher SPF for skin protection! I also like their Mineral Lotion 30 SPF, but it's not great for facial use. I can't wait to try more products from Vacation!

  • Ok the branding is IMPECCABLE. one of the best in the game. And they make me want to wear sunscreen? Like, excited to wear it? That’s an enormous win in my book. Plus everything smells incredible. 10/10

  • I love this so much it is so light weight and innovative. Overall, the brand itself is one that I would look out for.

  • Such bomb sunscreen! super easy on my ultra sensitive skin while protecting me from harmful rays!

  • Try SPF classic model. Worth your money.

  • I finally bought the perfume after months of looking at it and I will say it’s a nice summery smell but nothing too luxurious smelling. I don’t regret buying it but I do think the price point is a little high. I think in this case, you are spending the money on the nostalgia.

  • I have tried both the original sunscreen and the chardonnay sunscreen oil and I really do enjoy them. The vibe and packaging combined with the smells make it everything I would want in a sunscreen. It used to be harder to find, but I love that now you can easily find at local Ulta stores and they even sometimes have sales. The only issue is the bottles are only available in small sizes which just don't always make sense for sunscreen and the price is a lot higher than comparable sizes. But I splurge once in a while cause I love the feeling and smells.

  • the packaging is really what drew me in because it’s so cute and fun. quality will have me repurchasing! the scent isn’t super aggressive and the sunscreen doesn’t leave me feeling sticky or with a white cast at all