Brush on Block Review: This Powder Sunscreen Was Made for Travel

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

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E-mail her at cteel@smartertravel.com.

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Tired of greasy sunscreens that leak all over your bag? Brush on Block’s translucent mineral sunscreen is a powder that’s housed in a convenient makeup-type brush that makes you actually want to reapply. Since it’s a powder, you don’t have to worry about spills or the TSA.

Brush on Block Review:

Price and Where to Buy: Brush on Block is $32 on Amazon and the brand’s own website, and is available in two shades: a translucent powder and a lightly tinted tan.

How the Brush on Block Rates:

Usefulness: 10/10. The mineral powder and brush design make it easy to apply sunscreen without messing up your makeup. The clear powder won’t leave your face looking white or greasy, and you can even use it on your scalp or part (common skin cancer spots). Unlike liquid sunscreens, Brush on Block won’t run in your eyes when you sweat, and it won’t spill if you toss it in your bag. It’s sweat- and water-resistant for up to 90 minutes.
Value: 9/10. Although you can get regular sunscreen for cheaper, many face-specific sunscreens fall around this price point. This one is reef-friendly, not tested on animals, and paraben/PABA/phthalate-free, which helps justify the price. When you run out, you can keep the brush and just buy a refill cartridge for around $16, which is a great deal.
Design: 10/10. The design of the brush and container is really genius. The bottom cartridge holds the sunscreen powder, and you can simply twist it to open or close. This dispenses the powder to the fluffy brush, allowing you to apply it as needed. When not in use, a plastic tube pops up to compress the brush so that you can close it off with a lid, making it purse or beach bag friendly.

Final Verdict: The Brush on Block will change how you feel about using sunscreen.

Brush on Block Powder Mineral Sunscreen

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Caroline Morse Teel is always on the hunt for the newest and best travel gear. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

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