4.5
93% of reviewers would recommend to a friend
Vacation
4.5 • 622 Reviews
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4.5
93% of reviewers would recommend to a friend
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
2y ago
This was created by ad agency guys, right? An intoxicating combination of retrosexual branding from the 80s/90s, nostalgic scents, and R&D/technology has created a throwback product that performs for modern sunscreen-users. I have only used the basic tube product, but I am curious about the 'orange gelee' remake, although I have never used the original gelee product. To be fair, I like the sun, don't live in a cancerous sunny environment (sorry, Australians), and do not need to apply that much sunscreen, so I am not the target customer. I'm probably a Hawaiian Tropic kind of guy, but, if I were bored/curious I might go for orange gelee in the summer since it sounds intriguing/exciting/novel.
Obsessed with this brand. I love love love the smell - so much so that I've purchased their air freshener to make my bathroom smell of eternal vacation. I love their fun marketing and activations, and proudly wear the vacation dad hat around. Coolest sun car brand out there. Only downside is the price but then again, can you put a price on being COOL?
Love most of the products. Priced fairly. My favorite is the “whip cream “ sunscreen! So fun to put on. Sometimes people walk by and do a double take but it’s fun. Smooth, great smell and just works.
I had been recommended Vacation soo many times I thought I'd give it a try. I used the mineral sunscreen for my last vacation and was disappointed by the wear and lack of water repellent nature. I got sunburnt too easily and ended up using most of the bottle within a week because I had to re-apply so often. I like that its under 100ml so you can travel with it (smart) and the formula does rub in well without white-casting or being pasty. But for the price point and actual performance... you're just buying a brand.
Purchased purely for the packaging but the scents and textures transport me to the vacation I wish I was on. So fun and nostalgic!
3y ago
I love their signature scent, their packaging, and their 90s styled marketing emails are a hoot too
Love the aesthetic & strategy of this brand. The sunscreen is nostalgic in both its packaging and scent, but the performance of the sunscreen is standard. A fun purchase for gifts or if the branding is up your alley (it is up mine), but otherwise I would skip it.
What’s not to love about a well executed throwback brand that makes a great product? First and foremost, I love the actual sunscreen they make. It goes on easy, they have lots of different types and spf levels, and all of them smell like, well, they smell like vacation. Tropical, airy, but not overly scented like the Hawaiian Tropic that many of us remember from our childhoods. It’s just enough of a scent to give you the sense memory but not so much that it’s overwhelming. Then there’s the branding itself. Vacation is fun, nostalgic, and we’ll executed. They have a clear idea of who they are and they do it really well. The only ding I’d give them is on price, but compared to similar sunscreen brands, they are where you’d expect them to be. Overall, really dig this brand and have already Re upped a couple of times on their products.
3y ago
Vacation sunscreen spray is my ultimate travel buddy! 🌞✈️ Whether I'm chasing sunsets or catching waves, this little lifesaver has my back – literally! 🏖️ 🌴 It's lightweight, so no more feeling like a greasy coconut in the tropics. 🌊 It's water-resistant, because let's face it, waves have no chill. 🌞 And the best part? No sunburn surprises! So here's to sunny adventures, endless summers, and Vacation sunscreen spray – my go-to for carefree fun in the sun. 🌞🏄♀️
3y ago
Loved the classic whip that I got via Thingdrop. Good sun protection, doesn't irritate my skin, and finish is dry to the touch. Also smells great without being too overpoweringly tropical. Plus, the whipped cream can is just super fun!
Verified purchase
Deceptive marketing, they look all cool and retro, but their website promotes all their good ingredients, but if you dig deeper, they are a chemical sunscreen that contains Avobenzone. This stuff messes with your hormones. However, in their ingredients, they say "Coconut Oil, Aloe Vera, Banana Extract, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Vitamin E, and Full list of ingredients below." They don't show all the chemicals upfront used in their products.
I have tried the classic lotion and eau de toilette from vacation and they are nothing short of amazing. The scent and branding of Vacation’s products is what draws you in, and you will stay for the high performing formulas.
Amazing smell and product.
Verified purchase
I looooove this stuff Branding: 10000/10, even the packing slip was on theme! It's such a specific aesthetic but it's one that I love. They lean into it so well and get every last detail in on it. Classic Lotion SPF 30- I really like this stuff! I'm an esthetician so I never skip sunscreen and have tried more than I can keep track of. I was a little worried since it has coconut oil in it but so far nothing has caused any congestion. The fragrance is nice, if you're sensitive I can see it being too much like some reviews have stated, but for me I don't smell it on my face after I'm done applying it. I describe it as smelling like sunscreen in the sun at the beach- it has hints of Banana Boat with some watery and warm elements to it. Super Spritz- I like trying new products for reapplying sunscreen throughout the day so this launch is what made me finally pull the trigger to place the order and get everything I've had my eyes on. It smells nice and fresh, and the sprayer lets off a perfect mist. It did burn my lips a little bit but that's something I also experienced with the Supergoop (Re) Setting spray. Well Tipped Pool Boy candle- This was a bit of an impulse add. It smells similar to the sunscreen but with some musky notes. I haven't lit it yet but it smells great although it was a bit messy when it arrived.
Feedback
Overall I love the branding and I can't wait to try the Chardonnay Oil and Classic Whip!
One of my friends gifted me the Vacation perfume and it is definitely reminiscent of its namesake! It smells like the best version of sunscreen without the chemical smell that sometimes comes with sunscreen. I hate to compare it to sunscreen scent because it is so much better than that. It definitely is something I am more likely to wear in the warmer months.
Feedback
I would love an expansion of the line to include wintery vacation scents because the original formula is so lovely. (Yes, I realize the premise is based on the iconic sunscreen, but c'mon a winter fragrance could be great!)
Out of all the mineral sunscreens I’ve used (at least 5 different brands), this is by far the one that blends in the best and easiest. Even on my paler skin, I can generally notice a white cast from other brands - but not this one! I can’t promise people with darker skin tones wouldn’t have white cast, though, but I would recommend trying it out. For a body sunscreen that you would go through fairly quickly, it’s a little more expensive but still affordable enough that I don’t feel bad buying it for the better experience! I got it in-store at Ulta.
4y ago
A fun and affordable luxury reminiscent of 90s beach/pool days. Vacation is old school cool mixed with modern principles of safe and clean self-care.
The branding is such a big part of the Vacation experience, and they execute it flawlessly. I received the Classic Whip sunscreen and it has the exact look and feel of whipped cream, it’s uncanny! It does rub in a bit sticky at first, and the smell is quite strong and sweet, but it dries smooth and the smell fades and becomes more subtle. I’m a fan!
Smells like summer.
4y ago
Smells great and the branding is so fun. The “whipped cream” sunscreen feels and looks exactly like Reddi-Wip or shaving cream and melts into skin—it feels very moisturizing.
Feedback
The “whipped cream” sunscreen is fun but I’m not convinced it’s not a gimmick. TBD how long it will last—a LOT of sunscreen comes out with one squeeze and for the price, I’d hate for this can to only last a couple beach days.