Review | the new Baby Oil SPF 30 from Vacation
I'm all about trying new, fun sunscreens. Probably half of my blog posts are about sunscreen alone. So when a bottle of baby oil inspired sunscreen appeared at my door, you can bet my interest was piqued! I was looking at the Baby Oil SPF 30 from Vacation. I was incredibly excited to try it, but had my doubts. Baby oil was iconic for tanning (and burning!!) for decades. How well could a sunscreen modeled off it really work? Well, I figured it out. I tried the Vacation Baby Oil SPF 30 so you didn't have to! Here's exactly how it went.
Scroll to the bottom if you'd like a quick pro/con list rather than all the little details 🙂
Let's Talk Ingredients
I want to highlight a few ingredients that are and a few ingredients that aren't in this sunscreen formula. And while we're at it, you should know that Baby Oil SPF is vegan and cruelty-free. It also claims to be dermatologist tested, allergy tested, and safe for sensitive skin.
What's In Baby Oil SPF
Avobenzone - The bane of washing machines and coral reefs everywhere. Avobenzone reacts with iron in hard water and leaves orange stains on fabrics. I've seen countless beach towels, shirt collars, and swim cover-ups marred with permanent rust-colored smudges. It's also not considered reef-safe by the National Park Service. I thought we, as a society, had moved past the need for avobenzone. I was disappointed to see it included in the Baby Oil SPF.
Vitamin E & Jojoba Oil - Both of these ingredients provide nourishment and a healthy shine to the skin. They help give you that baby oil glow! They're hydrating and form an occlusive layer to lock the goodness into your skin.
Baby Oil Accord - Fragrance designed by a fancy perfumer to remind you of baby oil. But ~elevated~ baby oil.
What's NOT in Baby Oil SPF
Octinoxate & Oxybenzone - These ingredients are notoriously bad for coral reefs and are banned in Hawaii under Reef Act 104. The absence of these ingredients makes Baby Oil SPF Hawaii Act 104 compliant.
Mineral Oil - The ethics of mineral oil as an ingredient are a bit controversial, and to the best of my knowledge, it's all because mineral oil is petroleum-based. Dermatologists don't have a problem with it. I don't mind it, either. But if you're avoiding mineral oil, good news! There is none in the Baby Oil SPF.
Parabens - Parabens are a type of preservative used in cosmetics, among other things. Baby Oil SPF is paraben free.
PEGs - PEGs, or polyethylene glycols, are petroleum-based compounds with a wide variety of uses in the cosmetics industry. Baby Oil SPF does not contain any PEGs.
What Baby Oil SPF is Like
In short, Baby Oil SPF lives up to its name. It looks, feels, and smells just like classic baby oil, with the added benefit of SPF 30. Pretty cool! Applying it felt so luxe and I love the radiance it gave my skin.
Application
A little goes a long way with this stuff, so be cautions about how much you dump into your hand. It smooths over the skin like a dream and sinks in enough that you'll shine in the sun without feeling greasy.
After oiling myself up I felt like one of those hot, gleaming lifeguards from the movies. Below you can see the Baby Oil SPF applied to my left leg with my bare, not-so-shiny right leg for comparison. Despite looking oily, the formula sinks in pretty well. I didn't feel too sticky or slick.
Wear
One significant thing to note about the Baby Oil SPF is that it is NOT water or sweat resistant. This sunscreen is for lounging by the water and rotating under the sun like a rotisserie chicken. Don't slather it on before you swim- you'll wash it away and get burned. Other than that, I thought that the staying power was pretty good. This formula is also excellent for reapplication.
Downside of Baby Oil SPF
I'd say there are two big downsides to this sunscreen: the packaging and the price per ounce.
Packaging
Oils are notoriously difficult to contain, so I can't really blame Vacation or struggling with this one. But the packaging leaks. I received my Baby Oil SPF in a cardboard box that was already stained with oil. If the bottle ends up on its side, oil will leak out. It's not safe for casually throwing in your bag. Mine lives safely inside a ziplock baggie, and I go to great lengths to keep it upright whenever possible! The bottle is pretty small, so I don't want any product to go to waste. That brings us to the next downside.
Price per Ounce
A bottle of Baby Oil SPF will run you $22 for 3.4 fluid ounces. That's a small bottle. A small, leaky bottle. And while a little can go a long way, you need to be generous in your application to achieve the full SPF 30 rating. You are, of course, paying for a formula that feels luxurious and is more cosmetically elegant than a generic tube from CVS. There's nothing wrong with paying for quality!
In Conclusion
Overall, I really like this sunscreen! I love innovative formulas and the companies that do their best to create them. Baby Oil SPF is a unique product that was carefully designed, start to finish. I'll always appreciate formulas meant to step outside the box of traditional sunscreens. Baby Oil SPF feels like a treat to apply.
PROS:
- Cosmetically elegant! Feels great on the skin
- Smells nice
- Hydrating, non-irritating
- Gives you a radiant glow
- Vegan and cruelty-free
CONS:
- Not reef-safe
- Leaky packaging
- Small amount for the price
So what do you think? Would you give the Baby Oil SPF from Vacation a try? Or, if you have already, what did you think of it? I'd love to hear your thoughts!
As always, thanks so much for reading. It means the world to me. I'll see you soon!
xoxo,
Lindsay
