Vacation Orange Gelée SPF 30 is a modern take on the cult classic Bain de Soleil Orange Gelée, known for its sun-enhancing properties and luxurious balm-to-oil texture. The updated formula now includes SPF 30 protection and skincare ingredients like shea butter, tamanu, coconut, jojoba, and maracuja oils for a rich, nourishing finish. The gel formula has a sheer tangerine tint that rubs in clear, giving skin a warm, sun-kissed glow.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.. And while I usually reach for silky lotions and airy mists for everyday use, on days when I want to show off some skin, a tinted or shimmer-infused SPF lotion always does the trick.
The only catch? Most formulas I’ve tried either transfer onto white clothing or feel like I’m wearing a heavy layer of body makeup — not exactly the vibe during hot girl summer. , I was immediately intrigued. The innovative gel formula has a sheer tangerine tint suspended in a hydrating, balm-like base.
It’s not meant to perfectly match your skin tone , but rather give skin a warm, sun-kissed glow. It’s unlike any sunscreen I’ve tried before — which is why it just might become my new summer go-to. is described as a “sunscreen gel,” I’d say it has more of a salve-like consistency than a true gel or jelly.
While it goes on clear, it does leave behind a slick, slightly greasy finish that takes a little getting used to. Personally, I especially love the way it makes my legs look: subtly blurred and with a pop-star-like sheen. That said, if you’re applying it everywhere below the neck, give it a few minutes to fully absorb before getting dressed.
The formula relies on four popular chemical UV filters — avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene — for SPF 30 protection, but it also packs in a deeply moisturizing blend of ingredients you’d typically see from a rich body cream. Think emollient-rich shea butter alongside hydrating tamanu, coconut, jojoba, and maracuja oils, which help leave skin feeling soft, nourished, and gleaming. To fully understand Vacation Orange Gelée SPF 30, it helps to take a quick trip back in time.
The year was 1970, and beachgoers everywhere were obsessed with Bain de Soleil Orange Gelée, an orange-tinted tanning balm famous for its sun-enhancing properties and luxurious balm-to-oil texture designed to intensify the sun’s rays for a deep, bronzed tan. Add in the brand’s signature “French Riviera” scent — a heady blend of bergamot, clove, saffron, patchouli, and sandalwood — and it quickly became a cult favorite.
Vacation has always leaned into nostalgia , so it makes perfect sense that the brand would be the one to revive Bain de Soleil for a new generation — this time with a much more modern, sun-safe POV in mind. While the updated formula nods to the original through details like the metal tube packaging, signature scent, and dewy finish, the addition of SPF 30 makes sense for a generation that takes sun safety seriously.
• Formulated with skincare ingredients like shea butter, tamanu, coconut, jojoba & maracuja oils I’ll say it outright: The balm-to-oil texture of Vacation Orange Gelée SPF 30 won’t be for everyone. If a weightless, barely-there finish is non-negotiable for you, you’ll probably prefer the brand’s instead. This isn’t the kind of sunscreen that disappears instantly into skin — but for me, that’s part of the appeal.
My legs get especially dry and ashy in the summer, so I appreciated the extra hydration, which genuinely lasted all day. And, as mentioned above, the glossy glow certainly doesn’t hurt. The formula squeezes out as an orange-tinted, semi-solid balm that melts into skin and rubs in mostly clear, leaving behind just a subtle warm tint. It creates a slight optical-blurring effect that helps soften the look of discoloration, visible veins, and even a bit of leg stubble.
Per the recommendation from the , I aim to use about one ounce of sunscreen to cover my entire body, which means the 3.12-ounce tube wouldn’t last particularly long if used H2T. Because of the richer texture and luminous finish, I found myself reaching for it mostly on my arms and legs, while opting for a lighter sunscreen on my neck, chest, shoulders, and other exposed areas. Yes, using two different sunscreens might sound a little extra, but it didn’t feel inconvenient in practice — nor did it add any extra time to my routine. Vacation’s Orange Gelée is available for $23 at Nordstrom and Ulta Beauty, and is currently on sale for $18.40 atAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
It’s hardly a secretAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Growing up, sunscreen feltIf it feels like a new skincare buzzword drops every week, you’d be right. As a beauty editor, I generally view most new ‘wonder-ingrediAll linked products are independently selected by our editors.
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If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. With 68 million posts on TiWelcome to Sun Blocked, Refinery29’s global call to action to wake up to the serious dangers of tanning. No lectures or shaming, we promise. InsteadAll linked products are independently selected by our editors.
If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Welcome to Sun BlockedWelcome to Sun Blocked, Refinery29’s global call to action to wake up to the serious dangers of tanning. No lectures or shaming, we promise. InsteadAll linked products are independently selected by our editors.
If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. Skincare routines used to rAll linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. One of my 2026 resolutions
Vacation Orange Gelée SPF 30 Sunscreen Gel Formula Tangerine Tint Shea Butter Tamanu Oil Coconut Oil Jojoba Oil Maracuja Oil Sun-Enhancing Properties Cult Classic Modern Twist Rich Nourishing Finish Shea Butter Tamanu Oil Coconut Oil Jojoba Oil Maracuja Oil
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