When it comes to body sunscreens, I definitely have a “type”; they have to spray, and they have to smell nice. Lotion sunscreens? Not for me - I hate the feeling of sand sticking to the lotion. And I’m not a fan of the typical “sunscreen” scent, so I’m definitely on the picky side when it comes to sunscreens. So on my latest trip to Florida (which was a few weeks ago) I decided to take three sunscreens to compare.
I already had the Coola Citrus Mimosa Sunscreen Spray, so I packed that, along with a newbie (the Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch), and one I had tried in Cabo with Ingrid (the Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun). Here are how they breakdown:
Coola Citrus Mimosa: $32, SPF 35, 180 ml.
Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch: $8.99, SPF 30, 170 ml.
Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun: $9.99, SPF 30, 184 g. (Not sure why this one is in grams and not ml. like the others…)
I tried them all, and they all passed my “spray” and “nose” test, so it really came down to which scent I liked best. If you’re going to be at the beach, lake, or pool all day and therefore reapplying your sunscreen a lot, then it definitely matters what it smells like (at least to me). The better it smells, the more likely I am to want to apply more. On first sniff all 3 of these have a really, really nice smell (not “sunscreen-like” at all), so I decided to put it to the ultimate test.
I sprayed each of these on a separate piece of paper, and had 3 sniff-testers give them all a smell and vote on their favorite without knowing which was which. The sniff-testers were String Bean, age 15, Loli Bean, age 13, and Jelly Bean, age 10. The results were surprising…
I first asked them which one they THOUGHT would be the winner, and both Loli Bean and Jelly Bean thought the Hawaiian Tropic would be the winner, while String Bean thought the Coola version would be best. But, when voting on the scent alone it was a unanimous vote for the Coola. All 4 of us thought the Coola Citrus Mimosa smelled the most yummy both on paper and on our bodies, so it’s clearly the winner here.
That being said, the Coola version is insanely expensive compared to both other sunscreens, so while it is nice and smells amazing, if you are on a budget it just won't do. Out of the other two options, I recommend the Neutrogena Beach Defense Water + Sun. I think it smells just a tiny bit better than the Hawaiian Tropic one.
And for the record, all 3 of them kept me equally un-burned, so in that aspect they were all even :)
Do you have a favorite sunscreen that I haven't listed here?
i also love spray sunscreens! so much more refreshing and lightweight :)
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I love the spray versions of sunscreens, these sound so nice!
ReplyDeletelaurenlovesmakeupxoxo.blogspot.co.uk
Sprays are a definite must! Especially at the beach. But for face, I've always been a Neutrogena girl.
ReplyDeleteLoving the blog, Elle!
http://ruffles-truffles.blogspot.com
The hawaian tropic after sun is AMAZING though! Healed my back!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/birchbox-uk-august-2013.html
I have never tried spray on sunscreens as I don't go out in the sun very often but I do hate the feeling of lotion sunscreen. I will definitely give one of these a shot in the near future!
ReplyDeleteI love the Neutrogena one! I really want to find the Coola one just to smell it, but it's too expensive for me to use regularly!
ReplyDeletewww.modernbeautygirl.blogspot.com
I really love the typical sunscreen scent! I've been using Esthederm's Sun Care Lotion***, but at $90 it's insanely pricey. I also love Hawaiian Tropics' Silk Hydration lotion :)
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I have never tried spray on sunscreens, but this post really makes me want to try them out! Great Post, Elle!
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I love the Alba sunscreen, in the purple bottle. It's my all time favorite.
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Fashion and Happy Things
I've always though sunscreen in a can was a little odd and have been a bit hesitant to try (due to being very pale and easily burnt) but since they all actually work I might have to jump in on this bandwagon! Probably won't be trying the Coola sunscreen though, haha.
ReplyDeleteDebra Bros
I heard sunscreen can be really toxic for the skin (aka cancer but everything gives you cancer I get that however your skin absorbs more of the toxins and doesn't have a way to get rid of it..) Have you done any research as to what ingredient is good/bad for your skin?
ReplyDeleteJust a thought :].
The post is helpful! I was hoping you'd do one on sunscreens :]! Thank you!
Great post i have tried all three of them and love them equaly
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I really like the neutrogena clear face sunscreen, but I think I remember that you didn't like it! i'm also a huge fan of the nuetorgena spray sunscreens - I think they do the trick
ReplyDeleteI go for spray ons too, though they do run out quite fast! I've been repurchasing the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist every summer :)
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My skin got really weird this summer due to changing the washing products of clothes and couldn't handle anything so yeah.. The only sunscreen that I could handle was vichy with factor 35 and the aftersun all for sensitive skin
ReplyDeleteBioderma has a mist su screen that smells, to me ar least, very beachy and helps to Activate your tan.
ReplyDeleteBioderma has a mist su screen that smells, to me ar least, very beachy and helps to Activate your tan.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite sun screen is clipso, it smells like the beach and you only have to put on on once a day!
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Will have to look into the Neutrogena one when summer hits and when I start to go to the beach again! Still on the hunt for a holy grail face sunscreen. My lips are super sensitive and my face burns so much faster than anywhere else! xo
ReplyDeleteYour Daily Break
Isn't the coola organic?? that most likely explains at least some of the price difference and is an important point for a lot of people who would be comparing them, no?
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the sunscreen smell, but I LOVE the Hawaiian Tropic. This was an interesting read, though. I was watching a pixiwoo video a while back and they explained how American/UK sunscreens are tested differently than the brands in Australia, and ever since, I've been strangely interested in sunscreen. Strange, I know.
ReplyDeleteI burn really easily so I'm scared to use sprays
ReplyDeletebut these sound great
Rachel XX
http://bubbleblush11.blogspot.com/
I really like this post! :) I just recently discovered my love of spray sunscreens so this is very helpful! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAshley
http://dreamliveandrepeat.blogspot.com/
I love the Hawaiian Tropic Dry Oil Spray Sunscreen. So easy to use and always helps me achieve a tan! :)
ReplyDelete-thinksandra
I always use the Neutrogena Sheer Touch lotion version! It soaks in the fastest, so doesn't leave you feeling sticky or slippery from the lotion. I prefer lotions though because with sprays I inevitably miss a spot (I know, most people find they actually miss spots with lotion, but I'm the opposite!) and they always feel sticky on my skin.
ReplyDeleteSun Bum makes a fantastic spray sunscreen! I think it's more than neutrogena and Hawaiian tropic, but less than the Coola. I have little ones, so I prefer spray versions as well-way easier to apply to wiggly bodies, plus it's easier to put on my own skin. Oh and the loreal sublime sunscreen in the spray pump (as opposed to aerosol) is good too! It's an oil so it feels super luxurious (just wish it was an aerosol)
ReplyDeleteThe coola one is sold on hautelook sometimes for a lot cheaper. They were on the site just a few weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteHello, I'd be happy to send you a sample of our sunscreen spray. It is the only oil, alcohol, paba, preservative and paraben free spray.
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested, send me a mailing address.
All the best,
Jeff
The blog is like a chocolate for me. I want to have it all the time.
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