Of all the travel essentials that we pack these days, sunscreen is probably the number one thing that we absolutely must not forget under any circumstances. Carrying a good bottle of sunscreen is crucial no matter where you go, and it’s one of those must-have items that you should keep in your luggage at all times!
Related: “Ultimate Travel Guide to Vietnam”
What sunscreen does and why it’s important
Most people know what sunscreen does already, but if you’re still a bit unsure or haven’t used it before then it’s simple: it protects your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.
UV rays are a form of radiation that the sun emits. They’re mostly absorbed by the planet’s atmosphere, but some of them get through and reach us. The reason we get sunburn is solely because of our exposure to UV rays. It can cause redness, pain, inflammation, or even premature wrinkles and fine lines. You might even damage the skin cells in your body, potentially increasing the risk of skin cancer.
So if you want to keep your skin looking young and supple, make sure you wear sunscreen whenever you’re exposed to the sun!
Not all sunscreens are the same
Now you might think that you can just buy a random bottle of sunscreen when you’re on holiday and it’ll be fine–and you’d kinda be right. Most sunscreen is perfectly fine as long as you get it from a reputable brand and it’s not some fake product.
However, you can do a lot better than just buying a random overpriced bottle of sunscreen at the airport. You need to be looking for sunscreen that has an SPF rating of 50 or above. This is usually just shortened to SPF50+. SPF is a scale that rates how well the sunscreen can protect you from sunburn, with 50 being one of the higher ratings. If something is SPF50+, you can rest assured knowing it’ll protect your skin.
We’d suggest getting something like a hydration sunscreen too which will provide moisture for your skin while also guarding it against UV rays. This means you have one less product to carry with you. Having just a single product that covers both sun protection and moisture is super convenient if you don’t like traveling with lots of products too.
Keeping a reliable bottle with you is just convenient
Having a bottle of sunscreen in your toiletry bag is just plain convenient, especially if it’s a brand you know and love. Trying out different products while you’re on holiday can be a little scary at times because you could have an allergic reaction to some ingredients, or it might be really harsh on your skin.
Finding something that you can rely on while you’re in your home country will make things so much easier for you when you travel. That’s why we highly recommend that you do a bit of research, try out different products, then stick to the same bottle of good and reliable sunscreen to protect you.
