You didn’t think we were sending you off into summer empty-handed, did you? You’ve got the perfect swimsuit and an armful of magazines, but the next step is a beach bag that’s filled with more than last year’s bottle of dried-up sunscreen. Don’t fret over what to bring to the beach — here are our picks for the seven must-haves to get you to the beach:
1Drunk Elephant Umbra Sheer Physical Defense, $38
It’s not a day at the beach without sunscreen, and Drunk Elephant’s trademark zero-chemical Umbra formulation is packed with antioxidants to nourish and protect your body’s biggest organ. Marula oil will moisturize your skin while raspberry oil, a powerful natural sunscreen, wards off UV rays. Last but not least, zinc oxide leaves you totally protected without any white residue.
2COOLA Suncare Sport Liplux, Vanilla Peppermint, SPF 15,
$22
Don’t forget about your lips when you’re laying in the sun! COOLA’s sweet-smelling lip care tops the Environmental Working Group’s list of SPF lip balmsthis year, which makes it a highly recommended addition to your beach bag and everyday protection routine. (Yes, you should be wearing SPF every day!)
3Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes, $6
We love the beach. We don’t love that grody, I’ve-just-been-to-the-beach feeling. Scrub the sand, seaweed and Poseidan-knows-what-else off your face with these baby-soft cleansing towelettes. Since they’re made with cucumber extract, they’re so cool you won’t want to stop at just one wipe.
4UBU Trimming Twins Eyebrow Razor, $4.50
Say, is that a stray pubic hair blazing in the summer sun?! Tuck this secret weapon in your beach bag for those moments when you want to keep your bikini line in check. Oh, and it’s also an eyebrow trimmer if you get a little obsessive about your brows.
5American Eagle Outfitters Straw Sun Hat, $19.99
Sunscreen shouldn’t be your first line of defense against UV rays. Bring your own shade with a wide-brimmed hat, the darker the better to block out the sun’s rays. If you choose a baseball hat instead, the CDC recommends protecting your ears and the back of your neck with sunscreen of at least SPF 15.
6Ahnesti utiliti Intuitive Gel, $24
If you plan to leave the beach with hair that doesn’t look like wilted seaweed, you’re going to need a styling product in your back pocket. Ahnesti’s naturally-derived gel has xanthan gum for a strong hold that can tame flyaways and beachy frizz. With ingredients like chamomile extract and rosehip seed, your hair will be smooth and shiny by the time you’re sitting on traffic on the freeway.
7Hampton Sun After Sun Moisturizer, $34
Once you’ve basked in the sun all day, the key word for your skin is hydration. Replenish your thirsty body with the aloe vera, cocoa butter, and Vitamin E blend formulated to soothe redness and — woo hop! — prolong your tan.
