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Hate applying sunscreen? There’s a stick for that.

I'm a Shopping Editor who uses my passion for hitting "add to cart" (and my 8+ years in media) to curate the best products on the web — I'm particularly passionate about finding the best beauty products, which probably stems from my days of working at Lush Cosmetics, where I learned about effective skincare ingredients while getting covered in bath bomb dust every day.

If you've ever traveled during the summer months, you know it can be an even mix of fun and overstimulation. The heat, busy crowds, and even busier schedules can make you want to just go home and do a staycation instead. But don't worry — I've found problem-solvers like hair-tie holders, kid-friendly snack cups, and comfy travel pillows that'll make traveling this summer feel like an absolute breeze.

Promising review: "I loved this portable fan! The pink color is beautiful, and the design looks very elegant. It has very good power for its size and cools quickly. The battery lasts a long time, and the digital screen helps a lot to see the charge percentage. The clip is super practical to place anywhere and easily take it on a trip, to work, or in your bag. Excellent quality and works perfectly. It's totally worth it!" —Haila P.

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in four colors).

Check out the sand removal bag on TikTok!

Promising review: "We recently moved to a beach area, and we are constantly there. This item has changed our entire lives! It lasts decently long (depending on how much you use it), it smells super good (not at all like baby powder), and it's super effective. It has saved me from vacuuming my car at least 1x–2x a week. I even use it on my dogs's paws and bellies to make sure they're taken care of. I will definitely be buying the refill and another bag to have exclusively in the car." —Gabbs Uresti

Shakalo is a small biz based in San Diego.

Get it from Amazon for $19.98 (also available in a three-pack). 

Promising review: "I love this! I use it when traveling, and it works beautifully. Lasts a long time on a charge and sounds are perfect. Definitely would buy it again. Handy size." —Chris B.

Get it from Amazon for $15.18+ (available in 11 colors and packs of two).

Promising review: "Bought it for an overseas trip, and it worked great. We used it both in a hotel room when the room safe was out of order and on the beach. I look forward to using it on outings this summer, and I think it will be a very useful addition to my travel staples. I packed in my luggage full of toiletries and sunscreen, so it didn't feel like it took up a ton of space, and I could carry it in my purse/tote without it feeling too bulky. That said, you can fit a lot into it." —laurel

Get it from Amazo for $39.95+ (available in five colors).

Promising review: "Guys. If you’re going on a trip and need a cute hat but don’t want to worry about it getting smashed…look no further. I bought this hat last summer. It’s been as far as The Maldives and all over Europe, and I wear it on the reg in southern California. It’s totally kept its shape, and I’m not shy of shoving it in bags. 10/10 recommend! I’m sitting on a bus in Croatia right now thinking how awesome this hat has been and decided to write a review, as I rely on reviews for my purchases on Amazon. Hope this helps someone!" —Lyra S.

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three sizes and 19 colors). 

Promising review: "It’s so cute! Can’t believe I haven’t bought earlier. It’s so practical and perfect. I bought it for a festival so I didn’t need to carry all day/night if I didn’t want to wear my hat." —DF218

Get it from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in ten styles and in two-packs). 

Promising review: "I have left the house on numerous occasions and needed a hair tie and could never find one. I could dig through my purse, diaper bags, and car, and there was never a hair tie lying around. I have had to refill this hair-tie holder on about five occasions because of how many times I've taken hair ties off for myself and the friends who need one. Great invention." —Samantha

Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in three colors). 

The brand recommends using low heat, delicate heat, or no heat.

Promising review: "I really love these Clorox Refreshables because they make my clothes smell clean and fresh in just 15 minutes without having to rewash them. They’re super easy to use — just toss one in the dryer, and you’re done. The Spring Fresh scent is light, not overpowering, and leaves my clothes feeling refreshed. This is perfect for busy days or when something smells a little off but doesn’t need a full wash. I will definitely keep these as a must-have in my laundry routine." —Carla D.

Each pack comes with three packets. And, because they *are* liquid, they'll easily slide into the side of your toiletries bag.

Promising reviews: "Game changer for travel! We were gone for two weeks, and I was able to wash all the clothes I had packed! Helped with using only a carry-on for the trip and kept my clothes fresh and clean! So easy to use and smelled nice! Will never travel without them again!" —Kristy

"I don’t travel without these. So convenient for washing out undies in a sink, but can even be used in a machine." —Amazon Customer

Get nine packs from Amazon for $6.93 (also available in packs of three and six).

Promising review: "Hate dragging out the old hotel iron and board, so I just spray my wrinkled clothes with this, and viola! Takes the wrinkles out, and off I go — no wrestling while putting the iron and board away. I even have a small travel iron or use my hair styling irons if I want a better finish, but this usually does the job nicely." —Audie 

Promising review: "There are so many options with this travel pillow. It can move in any direction to your liking, and it feels very soft and cushy. There is a metal coil inside of it, but you can only feel it if you were to squeeze it really hard. I keep the pillow in my car at all times, and it has been a lifesaver for long car rides. I would definitely recommend." —Tammy Zevenbergen

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three styles and five colors).

This contraption provides 360-degree support thanks to a wraparound design. However, be aware that some airlines do not allow pillows that attach to headrests.

Promising review: "Just took a 15-hour flight with this travel pillow, and this was the best travel pillow by far. I've used inflatable and memory foam neck pillows before; the major problem is that they don't secure your head and torso, so either your muscles have to hold up your body, or your head and torso will end up swinging around, and both are disruptive to sleep. With this travel pillow, my muscles can relax, and the padded eye mask will hold up my head and torso. One minor downside is that the pillow needs to be mounted on your seat's headrest; if someone bumps your seat, it can be disruptive, but this rarely happens. Its size and weight are also much less than memory foam neck pillows, and I don't have to bring an extra eye mask, so it is very travel-friendly." —Sky

Get it from Amazon for $19.59+ (available in 10 colors).

Promising review: "The perfect companion for traveling with a toddler who loves to snack and prefers being independent. I can fit about 12 average-size grapes in it, about 5–6 regular-sized cookies, about 8–10 mini cookies, a big handful or small cereal such as Cheerios, and about 10–12 standard Ritz crackers. These estimations are all things that I regularly place in there for him to snack on. Nothing spills out, and whatever does come out is whatever he grabs with his hands to get, which is amazing. The only thing I would suggest is placing foil or plastic wrap around the mouth of the cup to prevent any of the snacks from getting stale from being exposed. The lid doesn’t fully cover the snack from air exposure. It simply protects the snack from spilling over and promotes child independence." —Antoinette

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $5.95 (available in two color combos).

Promising review: "I love this little sunscreen stick! I am very fair skinned and it was recommended by my doctor that I wear sunscreen- and that I reapply before leaving work each day. I didn't want to carry around a bottle of sunscreen so I decided to try this out. It is so convenient! It doesn't leave me shiny. It doesn't leave me sticky. It goes on smooth and feels perfect. It's a pretty small size, but I already bought another one. It does leave a slight residue on black clothing but that was only when I directly ran the stick over the fabric." —Amanda

Get it from Amazon for $16.33 (also available in a glowy formula).

This can be worn on its own or over makeup. It comes in a translucent shade that's meant to work on all skin tones, and a shade called "a touch of tan" that adds a subtle bronze glow to light and medium skin tones.

Note: Powdered sunscreens are best used for touching up, not as a replacement for traditional sunscreen (read more from the Cleveland Clinic). If you're looking for a good sunscreen to add to your routine, check out our roundup of the best tinted sunscreens. 

Promising review: "I was skeptical about the coverage of this product, but I have been using it every single day since it arrived and have yet to get sunburnt even though I spend upwards of six hours a day in the sun during the work week. I have also tested it on the weekend in instances where I would normally wear some sort of cream sunscreen on my face, but this seems to work just as well. For folks having concerns about coverage issue, I understand. I have been applying it by going in many circles over my face and seem to be successful with no problems. I have extremely sensitive skin along with a number of allergies and this is the first sunscreen ever that doesn't seem to break my face out at all. This will now be my go-to sunscreen for my face!" —Silver

Brush On Block is a small business specializing in SPF products.

Get it from Amazon for $31.99 (available in two shades).

BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord says, "HELLO, I AM OBSESSED WITH THESE. Despite all the rave reviews I was definitely skeptical of space-saving bags that didn't require a vacuum, and even as they were actively squishing my clothes into oblivion I still couldn't quite believe it. I had easily two suitcases worth of clothes I wanted to pack for a three-week trip to London, and I managed to neatly pack the entirety of my wardrobe in one roller carry-on bag. Truly all I had to do was put my clothes in the bag, push them to the bottom, and then sit on it to get the air out before sealing it up. I had tons of extra bags and make a habit of taking them with me in case other people joining me on trips need them to be able to pack souvenirs on the way home. I'm never taking a long trip without these again — these are worth every damn penny."

Promising review: "I travel monthly for work, usually gone for 4–5 days. Before these, I would have to check a bag. Dress shirts and pants, roll up nicely, and stay wrinkle-free. It's tempting to want to over-stuff these, but if you're packing golf shirts or clothes with 'slippery' fabric, they slide out of the top of the bag as you get close to the end. The clips take a minute to get used to, but after a couple of times zipping up the bags, it's pretty easy." —BigSkinny

Get a set of eight from Amazon for $15.28. 

Listen, I always thought packing cubes were a waste of time, until I discovered the magic of *compression* packing cubes — and now I don't know how I ever traveled without them. As long as I didn't wildly overstuff these, the compression zipper was easy to close (though it does take a bit of elbow grease), and helped squeeze my clothes together so there was zero wasted space. I was able to fit many more shirts than usual, and having everything neatly organized in its own cube made getting dressed on my week-long vacation a breeze. The only downside? You do have to meticulously re-pack everything in the cubes the same way you did for your return trip, but that's a small price to pay for extra space and organization.

Get a set of six from Amazon for $30.99+ (available in 28 colors and also in packs of two and four).

Plus, the zipper compartment at the bottom can be used for putting all your dirty clothes in so they don't get mixed with clean items.

Promising review: "I just love it. I travel a lot. Now, I don’t have to hang anything up but my organizer. I can see what I pack and where everything is. Just love it. I can easily fit seven days' worth of outfits and three pairs of shoes in a carry-on suitcase. Just great." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in two sizes and five colors).

Promising review: "Perfect. Have used these for hiking and business travel. Can't imagine anyone having a bad thing to say about them." —G. B. 

Get it from Amazon for $20.99 (available in 16 colors and six sizes). 

Promising review: "This is a great carry-on bag! It has numerous pockets and storage areas to keep everything organized. I've taken it on three trips to Europe this year, as well as a few domestic trips, and it fits well under most airline seats (unless the seat has a footrest). In those cases, it's easy to fit it in the overhead compartment. On a couple of occasions when airlines requested that carry-on bags be checked at the gate, this bag was OK for me to carry onboard since it's not too large (yet it holds a lot). In an emergency, I was able to fit three days of clothes, sweaters, a jacket, toiletries, shoes, and electronics in this bag because it's so easy to organize it in numerous compartments. It wheels great, too. I've traveled a lot over the years, and this is the best carry-on bag I've found. I bought two of them!" —DM7233

Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in 12 colors).

Promising review: "I LOVE this backpack! The color is a perfect light cream, way cuter than other travel backpacks. I spent a week in Spain on my own, and this backpack truly fit everything I needed when I couldn’t bring my suitcase. The padding and support on the back and the straps made it so comfortable to carry, despite how full it was. The way the backpack is structured distributes the weight evenly and does not cause strain at all. The many compartments make it so easy to keep things organized and allow you to fit more things just when you think it’s full. I kept my clothes rolled up in the main compartment, my toiletries in the waterproof front compartment, and laptop and Kindle in the back. The bottom compartment was perfect for all my cables." —Olivia

Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in four sizes and 40 styles). 

Each pack comes with bandages to fit your heel, toe, and foot. 

BuzzFeed Senior Shopping Writer Emma Lord loves these: "As a blister-prone human, I swear by these. A few years ago, before I invested in these running socks that prevent blisters, I got a blister on my big toe so unspeakably large and painful that I am cringing even TYPING about it, and no amount of rest from running seemed to heal it; it just kept coming back. I finally used one of these bandages, and the pain was virtually gone from the moment I put it on. It was also so airtight that nothing got inside, and it didn't loosen in the shower. You're supposed to take it off when it loses adhesive so it can come off gently without disturbing the blister if it hasn't fully healed yet. After using two of these in a row over the course of a week and a half, my blister was finally healed up enough that it stopped coming back." 

Promising review: "So glad I thought ahead to buy these before going to Italy. I had new fashionable shoes and low-cut socks, and we did 10 times more walking than I had anticipated. I tried the shoes on for an hour and got a blister. Wore these for 10 days in Europe and had zero issues, total comfort, left them on for several days through showers. I’ll never travel without these again." —Paul Hinman

Dr. Frederick's Original is a small business specializing in hand and foot care products.

Get the 12-count variety pack from Amazon for $13.99 (also available in three other types of 10-count packs and in four 24-count packs). 

These are aluminum-free, so they help stop odors, but they don't stop sweat.

Promising reviews: "This is my go-to product after the gym. I hate feeling/being sweaty/sticky. And it smells so good." —Amazon Customer

"I have always suffered from bad odor on my underarms since I have very delicate skin, so I can't use strongly scented deodorants. I'm always trying out cream deodorant or gels, but it either irritates my skin or it doesn't stop my bad odor. THIS IS THE BEST INVENTION EVER. I LOVE IT! I can't believe that something finally works! My armpits don't smell bad. I can finally move my arms freely. The scent is wonderful; I love the smell, and it's not harsh on my skin. Even after a long day, my underarms are still smelling like coconut." —Vicky Reyes

Get it from Amazon for $9 (also available in packs of two and four).

Promising review: "I bought these for a long holiday where I anticipated hiking in remote areas without the opportunity to do a whole cleanup at a hotel before going out for dinner. Tho I was never quite that dirty/smelly, even on regular days in the city that were unexpectedly humid or travel days of hopping between airports and train stations, these came in clutch to make sure constant freshness was a quick wipe away." —candi

Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $12.99.

This works by suctioning up insect venom, saliva, and other irritants under the skin, which in turn prevents your body from producing a reaction to said irritant. You can also use it to treat bites from bees, wasps, biting flies, no-see-ums, chiggers, and sea lice.

Promising review: “You need this! I am a magnet for bites of all kinds and carry topical and medicines with me at all times – so I figured this would be a good product to see if it really works. I used this little tool (3x per the instructions) and documented it with photos. Immediately after using it, [my bite] stopped itching! And less than 24 hours later, the bump/bite was gone! There is a very faint red mark from using the thing, but it is a small price to pay, IMO. Bottom line: it’s awesome. I’m carrying it with me everywhere!” —Rebecca 

Bug Bite Thing is a small business specializing in bug bite relief and tick removal products.

Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in one-, two-, or three-packs and in five colors).

Promising review: "This stuff really is awesome. It really works, and I don't know where it has been all my life. I started looking for something for thigh chafing after running into a few issues (not fun). It is super easy to use; just slide it on like you'd use deodorant." —SweetPea

BodyGlide is a small business that specializes in chafe-preventing personal care products.

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in five sizes; also available in an anti-blister balm).

Promising review: "So I decided to put these to the ultimate test for 4th of July underneath my white, semi-sheer swimsuit. I wore them out in the Florida heat in the ocean all day, and they did not budge or peel off. I thought for sure these would take skin off by the time I got home because I just couldn't believe they stayed on the entire day (humidity is real). I was able to remove them with ease. I washed them with warm water and soap and let them dry, and the next day, they were super sticky, like they were brand-new out of the package again. Buying these forever." —Marisa

Get it from Amazon for $26.50 (available in three sizes, five colors, and two styles).

BuzzFeed editor Natalie Brown swears by these pasties! Check out her Nippies review to learn more.

Promising review: "I travel frequently for work and keep this in my suitcase. Works great; I no longer carry a lint roller." —Liza Przekop

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in four colors and also in packs of two or four). 

Check out a TikTok of the dry shampoo in action. 

Promising review: "Will be buying again!! This is a fantastic product. I have incredibly thin hair that gets very oily very easily. This is the first product that I’ve tried that actually works! I am so very happy!" —Katie_0_Baker

Get it from Amazon for $13.59+ (available in brown, dark brown, blonde, and in multipacks and bundles). 

You can also switch between pound and kilogram measurements. 

Promising review: "This scale works and was accurate on four flights. The first flight was a test at 46 pounds, and Delta scales said it was 46 pounds. The next two flights were at 49 pounds, and both United and Delta found it to be 49 pounds. The bag on the 4th flight weighed 49 but the United scale found it to be 48 pounds. Four different airports and scales proved that this scale is a good, low-cost must-have item for air travel." —Robert

Get it from Amazon for $9.89+ (available in four colors and also available as a two-pack). 

Promising review: "You can totally fit three pairs of shoes in this! (Size 6.5 women's shoe, fits heels, wedges, and sandals.) I bought two and will absolutely be buying more for my husband. 10/10 would recommend! I travel frequently, and I always overpack; this helped cut down space and stress immensely!" —Taylor

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in nine colors and patterns). 

For more info on how to use acupressure for nausea management, check out this guide from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 

Promising review: "Simple game changer! My car sickness has been getting worse for years. I often drive with my family back to my hometown, about five hours away. I put these on and was finally able to ride without constantly fighting nausea. They fit comfortably, and I quickly forgot they were on. This feels like a simple, cost-efficient fix." —Breya Porter

Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.53+ (available in six colors, various pack sizes, and also available in children's sizes).

Promising review: "I bought this as a Christmas gift for my sister. She is loving using this to stash a key and cash in a safe place while she walks her dog." —Tamara H.

Hustle and Sew is a small Etsy shop based in Saint Helens, Oregon.

Get it from Hustle and Sew on Etsy for $8 (available in 14 scrunchie colors and three zipper colors).

Promising review: "Bought these for my whole family to wear at Disney World...worked wonderfully through the rain and rides like Splash Mountain and Kali Rapids. Would definitely recommend." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 14 colors).

P.S. This only works if you have full access to the window (rather than those seats where you get the weird halves of two windows between the rows in front and back of you. 

Promising review: "A friend recommended this to me as a vital travel companion now that I've returned to frequent flying. I initially thought of it as a novelty, but now that I've used it, it's a necessity. It keeps the workspace clear for my laptop, but it also organizes all the little pieces that can become so annoying to keep up with — glasses, earphones, etc. It got my seatmate's immediate attention, as well as a few other folks nearby. I suspect they'll have one soon. Watch for one soon in a window near you!" —Timothy G. Wolfe

These are available in three formulas: a Hyaluronic formula for extra moisture, a Retinol formula to help promote faster skin cell turnover, and a Vitamin C formula to brighten and even skin tone. 

Promising review: "Love these! I purchased for an international flight to avoid liquids. I expected to use them on the hiking trip and go back to my usual cleanser once home. But instead, they are now my usual cleanser. The ease of dampening one fingertip and tapping on the top cleanser square beats squirting a liquid cleanser in my hand or using a make-up remover towelette. The little squares are just the right amount and have no trash impact. They seemed pricey at first, but with the benefits, they’re worth it. I’m worth it! My skin feels clean and not tight." —mistis

Get two packs of 32 from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four formulas).

Start by applying the sticker to your skin, then apply sunscreen on your skin and over the dot, wait 30 seconds for it to absorb and then face direct sunlight for one minute to make the spot turn clear. Once it turns from clear to purple, you'll know it's time for another layer of sunscreen!

Promising review: "After yet another bad sunburn, even though I'm trying VERY HARD to keep sunscreen on, I bought these. First use was at Disneyland on a 90-degree zero clouds day. This helped so much! I kept an eye (as did my friends) on the dot so we all knew when to reapply sunscreen, and not one of us got burned. I also used these on a weeklong hiking adventure in Utah where it was also in the 90s with an extreme UV index. None of us got burned, so all in all, this is one of the best inventions!" —Catherine Shock

Get a 16-pack from Amazon for $16.48 (also available in two other pack sizes).

* If You And The Kids Are Going To Take A Long Car Ride, These 27 Finds Will Keep Them Busy In The Backseat

* Pieces That’ll Turn Your Vacation Into A Fashion Show

* Travel Light With These 43 Carry-On Packing Tips

* Products That’ll Make You Feel Like A Smarter Traveler, Because They’re Just Really Good

Plus, travel shoes and finds from Walmart.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.