I Tested Dozens of Sunscreens. EltaMD UV Stick Is the Clear Winner for Frequent Flyers

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When you're spending your hard-earned money to explore a new destination, the last thing you want is to have to hide indoors recovering from a sunburn. That's why it's crucial to pack a sunscreen that's long-lasting and truly wearable (meaning, it doesn't make you look ghostly). Of course, it also needs to be TSA-friendly.

I tested tons of travel-sized sunscreens for the 2026 Men's Journal Travel Awards. My favorite is easily the EltaMD UV Stick Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+. It's one of the best Dopp kit essentials. Here's why it deserves a spot in your toiletry bag for your next big trip.

Why EltaMD UV Stick Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+ is the Best Travel Stick Sunblock

My dermatologist always recommends EltaMD, and I'm glad the brand makes a travel-friendly stick. The zinc oxide in the EltaMD UV Stick Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+ sits on top of skin rather than absorbing, meaning fewer breakouts and less eye sting when sweating. The twist-up bypasses TSA liquid restrictions and allows precise application around the ears and the back of the neck—the spots that always burn. I do notice some white cast when I'm on the tanner side of my color spectrum, but it layers over moisturizer without pilling.

Why You Should Trust Me

As a travel writer and photographer, I spend more nights in hotel rooms than in my own bed. To source products I should test, I rely on everyday travelers’ experiences as much as any official “expert” endorsement. I test each product everywhere from bumpy jeep rides across the Maasai Mara to back-to-back layovers in Tokyo. If it can’t hack the chaos of my on-the-road routine, it doesn’t make my list.