Spray sunscreen vs lotion sunscreen: Lotion wins for effectiveness, spray is only good for touch-ups

The key difference is application — people spray too lightly, miss spots, and don’t rub it in, while lotion forces full coverage. Spray is also easy to inhale and gets blown away by wind, so pediatricians recommend against it for kids. If you want spray to work, spray into your hand first and rub it on, but that kills the convenience. Best strategy: use lotion for the initial application, then spray for touch-ups.