Two Weeks at Sea: How I Finally Got My Skincare Routine Right

I'm sitting on my private balcony in Stateroom 8094, sipping a cold Pimm's Cup, and honestly? My skin has never looked better. Two weeks ago, I would've laughed at that statement while frantically applying aloe vera at midnight, cursing myself for not preparing better. But here I am, about to share everything I've learned about keeping your skin healthy and protected during a two-week Caribbean cruise aboard Cunard's Queen Victoria. Trust me, this knowledge is worth its weight in sunscreen. Let me back up. I booked this cruise last October when I was desperately tired of gray skies and winter weather. The Queen Victoria's itinerary—stopping in Barbados, St. Lucia, Dominica, and Antigua—sounded absolutely perfect. What wasn't perfect was my complete lack of preparation for what two weeks of Caribbean sun would do to my face, neck, and shoulders. I'm not someone who typically burns easily, which is probably why I was so arrogant about my sun protection needs. Spoiler alert: that arrogance cost me dearly during days two through five. The first thing I did wrong was pack my regular daily moisturizer and call it a day. I showed up at the ship on embarkation day in Port of Miami with ba…