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1. Not to state the obvious...but don't forget the sunscreen!!!! Black Girl Sunscreen's moisturizing, sweat-resistant SPF 30 sunscreen is a favorite among us BuzzFeeders as it's sure to shield your skin from sun damage and prevent hyperpigmentation and fine lines. Plus, it won't leave you looking like Casper the Friendly Ghost.
Black Girl Sunscreen is a Black woman-owned business whose sunscreen is designed not to leave a white cast on melanated skin. It's ultra sheer, water-resistant, and super nourishing thanks to its all-natural ingredients. Plus, it's cruelty-free! They also make sunscreen for kids with SPF 50.
Promising review: "I adore EVERYthing about this sunscreen — it nourishes my skin, feels silky smooth after application, leaves no white cast, is reef-friendly AND is from a beautiful business owned by women of color! (Plus the fragrance-free version truly is fragrance-free!). I have had no sensitivity and it doesn't clog my pores or feel 'plastic-y'— it's perfection. Thank you!" —Annie
Get it from Target for $15.99 or from Black Girl Sunscreen for $18.99.
2. Or for super easy application (and reapplication), carry Coola's Classic SPF 70 Sunblock Spray. The reef-safe formula not only offers broad spectrum protection, but a lovely peach blossom scent and ultra-sheer finish suitable for all day wear. Plus, it's water resistant for up to 80 minutes so it's a great option for pool or beach days.
Promising review: "I just recently went on vacation to Pensacola. Florida. I was on the beach every day and each day I applied this before going. I didn’t have to re apply at all and I did not get sunburned. It has a nice soft smell and works well." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $28+ (available in packs of one or two).
3. Whichever way you go, try out Spot My UV's SPF-detecting stickers, too. They give you a heads up when it's time to reapply sunscreen if that's something you are ~famously~ bad at doing.
The waterproof patches last 12 hours or through six applications of sunscreen — whichever comes first. When purple, it's time to reapply and when clear, you're good to go!
Promising review: "I am very sensitive to UV rays and I burn very easily. Discovering these UV stickers was the best thing to ever happen to my vacations. They take the guesswork out of knowing when to reapply your sunblock, helping you stay burn free without watching the clock and doing math. These work with both lotion and spray on sunscreen. One sticker works all day long and doesn't come off while you are out having fun." —Rachel W.
Get them from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in packs of 16, 32, and 48).
4. And carry a handheld fan so the SPF you so liberally applied doesn't melt off your face the second the sun hits it. Add it to your mental check list before you head out your Airbnb door — you know, phone, keys, wallet...handheld fan — and you'll be good to go.
The fan has two speeds and can be recharged by any USB cable.
Promising review: "I have used this mini fan for more than three months now. It’s good quality and works well so far. The fan is small in size but powerful enough that it blows out a large amount of air. I took it with me to Disney World and thanks to this fan, I had a nice vacation and I will use it this whole summer. It’s really a life saver on really hot days — highly recommend!" —Cruz
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in nine colors).
5. Or, if your pit stains laughed in the face of that device, kick things up a notch with a portable neck fan. It has three speed settings that are so powerful, you almost won't miss your hotel's central air.
Depending on the setting you use, the fan can last four to sixteen hours. Once it needs to be recharged, just connect it to any USB cable.
Promising review: "I was in Paris for the first time this year and did a lot of walking. I melt in the heat and can honestly report that this little device really helped me. No one wants to look like a wet mess on vacation and, for once, I was able to remain cool, calm, and collected." —Sandra Wates
Get it from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in five colors).
6. Carry a time-marked water bottle and get to chugging because hydration is super important and if you're sweating buckets, you've gotta be on top of that H20 intake!
This bb also comes with a latch lid that protects the spout so you don't have to touch it, which is especially handy when you're on the move.
Promising review: "This is the second one I have bought! Absolutely love them and would 100% recommend to anyone looking for a great travel bottle." —Jade4vengeance
Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in three colors).
7. Slip a tube of anti-blister balm in your backpack or purse because look, those sandals you packed are super cute but the jury is still out on whether or not they'll rub so bad your feet end up looking like raw meat.
Promising review: "I thought this stuff was a bunch of BS, I was like pssh what a waste of $8 ON AMAZON FOR THIS LITTLE THING. Well, I put it on today on spots where my flats rub off the skin. My feet survived an entire day, INTACT! Highly recommend. This product made wearing shoes that rub on your ankles/backs of your feet doable!!!!" —Jamie
Get it from Amazon for $9.
8. And go the extra mile prepping for long days out with blister prevention tape. Sometimes, even the most comfortable shoes can't contend with eight straight hours of walking and that's where these guys come in handy.
Promising review: "I am a person who gets blisters anytime I take a decent walk, even if it’s in tennis shoes I’ve worn before. I tried this on vacation because I knew I’d be doing a lot of walking. After hiking up and down a mountain, I came back to the hotel that night with zero blisters and all patches were still stuck after 12+ hours of walking and hiking. I do stick them on first thing getting up and walk around with them a few minutes before putting my socks and shoes on to ensure they’re stuck really good. Amazing product! I’ll never go without this again." —k. partain
Get it from Amazon for $9.25+ (available in beige and black).
9. Consider clothes with built-in UPF protection. Athleta's cropped feather-light pants do 👏 not 👏 wrinkle 👏, dry in a flash in case you need to wash 'em in the sink before the next leg of your trip, and offer UPF 50+ protection. That's a win-win-win.
Promising reviews: "I can't think of anything I don't like about this pant. The material is wonderful and easy to care for. I like the crop as you can so easily dress them up or down. I have found traveling with two pairs of these, four or five tees, a wrap, a pair of sandals and flats, and wearing sneakers I can be gone for a week in a carry-on only. Couldn't live without them." —LaVon V
"These are light and breezy with good coverage for the sun sensitive. They look great on and can be warn many ways. They fit true to size and I love that they are not at all clingy even when I get a little sweaty on my walks. This is actually my second pair, as I was getting a little sad when my original pair was in the wash. I highly recommend!" —Jackie S.
Get them from Athleta for $89 (available in women's sizes 0–26 and in two colors).
10. Don't forget your packable floppy hat! That way, your scalp doesn't suffer any third-degree burns while you're hanging out by your resort's pool. The wide brim will also keep your schnoz in the safe zone because, if you're anything like me, your nose *will* burn after just 0.01 seconds of sun exposure.
Promising review: "Honey, this hat was giving me everything I needed it to give! I felt Gone With The Wind fabulous in this hat for my cruise vacation. It provided the adequate shade for my face and shoulders while allowing me to shade myself from people I didn’t want to talk to! Bay-bay! It was EVERYTHING I needed it to be AND the size XL fit over my braids. So my girls with protective styles or just big hair, this is the hat for you! 🎉" —1922blue
Get it from Amazon for $24.69+ (available in sizes M–XL and in eight colors).
11. Or, if baseball caps are more your style, an adjustable option with a magnetic closure meant to work *with* instead of *against* your ponytails and buns. This way, you don't have to spend 10 minutes adjusting buckles or straps and trying not to pull out any hair in the process.
Ponyback is a small brand from Stacey Keller. When she couldn't find a hat that worked well with all hairstyles, she set out to make her own.
Check it out on TikTok here.
Promising review: "I can't believe how perfect this hat is — I wear my long curly hair up 90% of the time and this works for ponytails, messy buns, braids, or any combo. It's SO comfy I don't even realize I am wearing it until my kids say to me 'no hats at the table' haha. This hat will be my summer lifesaver." —Nancy K.
Get it from Ponyback for $38+ (available in sizes XS/S–L/XL and in 11 colors).
12. Travel with a trusty stick of Megababe's Thigh Rescue because traipsing around a new city for a few hours in a pair of shorts or a skirt shouldn't result in a days-long angry red rash.
Megababe is a woman-owned small business from entrepreneur, body acceptance advocate, and influencer Katie Sturino.
Promising review: "This product works amazingly! I usually put on deodorant but eventually my inner thighs rub really bad and I get terrible rashes. But this product is amazing; I walked the Vegas strip for six hours only had to reapply about three times but it works amazing I had zero chafing! Def recommend for my thick-thigh girlies!" —Jackie
13. And pack a pair of ultra-stretchy, sheer, and cooling Thigh Society shorts you can slip on under skirts, dresses, and anything else you'd usually chafe in. These babies don't roll, ride up, or give you dreaded swamp bum — they're basically just like a second skin. Plus, they pack down to basically nothing so you don't have to sacrifice room in your suitcase.
Thigh Society is a woman-founded, size-inclusive small biz from Marnie Consky.
I have two pairs of these — in black and nude — and I am simply in love. Chub rub has always been a part of my life and until now, I didn't have a great way of preventing it. I've tried various sport shorts and slathering my thighs in deodorant, but those methods just weren't cutting it. These shorts are unbelievably lightweight and breathable, superrrrrr stretchy (but not in a way that bags out after extended wear), and they do. not. roll. or. fall. down. I wear them under all of my skirts and dresses (because I also have an irrational fear that everything I wear is see-through when the sun hits it), and I will definitely be buying more!
Promising review: "It’s not an exaggeration to say these shorts are life changing. I’m a chubby living in hot, steamy Florida. Chub rub is inevitable when wearing skirts and dresses. I’ve tried a number of lady boxers and petit pants. They all either rolled up, down, or one leg rode up. They were also hot and non breathable. These shorts are perfection. No more chub rub, no more swamp a$$! I’m in love. I wish there were more color choices!" —Rachel
Get a pair from Thigh Society for $39 (available in women's sizes XS/S–5X/6X, in four lengths, and 11 colors).
14. Consider wearing a rash guard if your plans include water sports like paddle boarding, kayaking, surfing, or even just lounging on the beach. This long sleeve has built-in UPF 50+ and interior loops so you can even connect it to board shorts.
Promising reviews: "Bought this to go tubing in Arizona — perfect. Loved it! Can't wait to take it on our next vacation. Awesome fun color and very comfortable, even when wet." —eg
"Wore this rash guard in Florida on a recent vacation. It worked well — lightweight and protected against the sun and jellyfish. Could also see wearing this in lieu of a wetsuit when scuba diving in warmer waters." —Jenn
Get it from Amazon for $26.98 (available in women's sizes XXS–XXL and in 19 colors). And check out a men's version for $19.99.
15. Spritz yourself with a cooling body spray made with ingredients you can 100% pronounce! (Pure essential oils, water, and witch hazel.) Spritz it on whenever you're getting clammy and it'll help ya cool off before you start spraying sweat like you're in a Cathy comic.
Rooted Earth is a Maine-based small biz established in 2013 that specializes in small batch skin care and herbal apothecary goods.
Promising review: "I bought 2 ounces and I am so glad I did. The heat and humidity in California right now are overwhelming. I am 81 and generally stay inside in the afternoon. But today I walked out unafraid, into the heat, carrying my Made In The Shade. I sprayed it on my throat, into my shirt and walked in full sunlight, never at all feeling I was going to collapse in the heat. Thank you, Sara, for putting together such a wonderfully effective product. I have recommended it to two friends." —Carolyn Berger
Get it from Rooted Earth on Etsy for $8.99+ (available in three sizes).
16. And pack a cooling towel, mmkay? It'll be your best buddy whenever hiking, fishing, tanning, or doing your outdoor activity of choice. Soak it in some cold water, wring it out, toss it around your neck, and you *won't* end up looking like a freshly boiled lobster.
Promising review: "We LOVE this thing. We vacationed in Egypt for scuba diving in June. After the diving part, we toured many places in Cairo and surrounding places, mostly on foot. Yes, it was freaking HOT. Being used to a humid climate, the well-intentioned 'yeah, but it's a DRY heat' didn't lessen the discomfort we felt. This was a lifesaver. It will always be in my travel pack, and I can use it for gardening and any other activity outside during the summer. I highly recommend!" —Native Texan
Get it from Amazon for $13.97.
Good luck out there!
