My Caribbean Vacation Beauty Edit Is for the Girls Who Love Glowy Skin

The best of the best to wear on the islands and at home.

A woman with a black shirt and glasses looking into the camera. She is next to a setting spray and spray sunscreen.
(Image credit: Ariel Baker/Sephora)

I recently got back from a trip to Barbados (more on that to come in a Glow Guide near you), and while I had the time of my life, because I am who I am, half the fun was playing with the beauty products that I brought with me. As someone who refreshes her routine seasonally (my summer skincare influenced these picks pretty heavily), finding the perfect vacation beauty edit was the first thing on my to-do list once I landed—aside from inhaling all the mangos that I could find—so of course, I got right to work.

I had the basics covered. Sunscreen, body glow, and my trusty hair brushes and tools never leave my suitcases in the busy summer travel months. Still, I’ve been playing around with some new complexion, skincare, and skin prep products that have made a world of difference not only on vacation, but also in the weeks since as I’ve settled back into my routine.

​Whether you’re also on the way to the Caribbean destination of your choice or simply need essentials for a quick staycation or a jaunt in your home state, keep reading for the products that not only made getting ready on vacation a breeze, but also have made it to the big leagues (i.e., my everyday beauty routine). Your perfect beauty editor-curated travel beauty and toiletries bag awaits.

The Best Caribbean Vacation Beauty Products

Best Sunscreen Mist

Best Face Sunscreen

Best LED Mask

Best Under-eye Masks

Best Face Wash

Best Mouthwash

Best Skin Tint

Best Setting Spray

Best Brow Product

What Beauty Products Should I Bring on Vacation?

While I feel like I did a pretty good job with the products that I brought, there were still one or two that I could’ve used on the trip, especially as an oily-skinned gal in an extremely hot climate. First on the list? Gel moisturizer.

​“While heavier moisturizers are thicker and have more occlusive ingredients, lightweight moisturizers have more humectants," Naana Boakye, MD, MPH, FAAD, previously told Marie Claire. These are water-attracting substances that draw moisture into the skin, either from the air or from deeper layers of the skin. I, for some reason, decided that sunscreen was adequate enough moisture while on vacation, and while my barrier didn’t freak out a ton, I absolutely felt the difference. My face felt rougher and more textured than it did when I left, even with consistent use of my LED mask. Avoid this rookie mistake.

​Another must-have on vacation? Lip SPF. Yes, your lips need protection from the sun too, and boy did I learn my lesson. I didn’t necessarily get sunburnt, but it’s like I could feel every single line in my lip times 10. Part of the issue was likely that I was surviving on mango daiquiris for almost a week straight, but lip SPF would absolutely have helped smooth the area over time. Learn from my mistakes and stock up on some of my favorite formulas from Prequel, Caliray, and more from this list.

Why Trust Marie Claire

For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.

Meet the Expert

Dr. Naana Boakye
Naana Boakye, MD, MPH, FAAD

Dr. Naana Boakye, MD, MPH, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist.

Ariel Wilson
Beauty Writer

Ariel Wilson is the Beauty Writer at Marie Claire. Previously the associate beauty editor at PS, she also has bylines in InStyle, Forbes Vetted, Women's Health, and more.

Shaped by her experience in research, social sciences, and the non-profit sector, Ariel enjoys looking at beauty from a sociocultural lens, looking to avenues like politics, culture, and the arts, to inform her views on the space. That being said, as a true beauty-product obsessive, testing the latest items to hit the market, keeping up with trends, and meeting industry icons, will always be her favorite part of working in the beauty space.

When she's not working, Ariel can be found hanging out with her husband and loving on their two cat daughters: Cow and Chicken.