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This Summer, the temperatures are high and our spirits are even higher. As many of us are heading to the beach to cool down, it’s important to pack all the essentials so that we can enjoy a long day in the sun! As a Southern California local and a former competitive surfer who spends every weekend at the beach, I’ve curated a list over the years of all the things you need for the perfect day at the beach.
Face Sunscreen
It’s super important to invest in a high SPF sunscreen that will protect your skin without creating break-outs. Especially if you’re at the beach, finding good Reef-Safe sunscreens is essential to making sure the ocean stays healthy and ensuring your future visits! I recommend SunBum’s face lotion or Raw Element’s zinc stick , but there are so many different brands and formulations out there.
Spray Sunscreen
Spray every surface of your skin! Your face isn’t the only skin on your body that can get sunburnt, so make sure to buy a spray sunscreen for easy application for all over your body. Check out SunBum’s reef-safe mineral spray.
Beach Hat
Sunscreen is great for protecting your skin from harmful UV rays, but hats can be helpful for your skin and your eyes, on those sunny days. Especially if you’re trying to lay out and tan at the beach, I love bringing a big hat to cover my eyes from the sun! Check out all of the patterns and styles on sale at Hemlock. Roxy even makes some cute hats that you can take in the water, for those of you who love to surf and do other water sports.
A Good Book
If you get tired out from playing in the water and just want to relax, settle down with that book that’s been sitting on top of your TBR stack! Check out Barnes & Noble’s “Beach Reads to Fall in Love With” List and especially Jenny Han’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty” for those summer, beach vibes.
Sunglasses
Those of us bookworms know that reading in the sun can be blinding, so bring those sunnies to make reading easier and protect your eyes from the sun! Check out Raen’s unisex sunglasses on sale!
Water bottle
It’s essential to stay hydrated, especially in the summer beach heat, when playing in the saltwater will make you feel even thirstier. Stanley’s and Hydroflasks are all the rave this summer, but you can also find water bottles for tracking your intake and staying hydrated.
Snacks
When hanging out in the heat, aim for packing healthy snacks like berries and fruits that will raise your blood sugar after exercising, and protein like nut butters and CLIF bars to keep you sustained throughout the day.
Beach Blanket
I swear by the Pendleton Packable Blanket sold on Amazon, and Costco, that folds up into a tote with a travel-strap and can fit all of your friends. This way, you stay out of the sand, keep your towels from getting sandy when you’re ready to dry off, and it doesn’t hold a lot of sand, either.
Beach Towel
Getting a quality, fluffy beach towel like this will make all the difference when you’re ready to dry off from swimming in the water. Pro tip: leave one in your car so you have something dry to sit on when you get back, and it keeps your car seats from deteriorating.
Umbrella
When the UV’s higher than 8, I like to have a piece of shade to come back to, and make sure that I’m not going to get burnt. A beach umbrella is perfect when you need enough shade to cover you and some friends, but don’t need the coverage of a whole pop-up tent.
Changing towel
Though these are popular in surf-culture, it doesn’t matter if you’re a surfer or not: using a changing towel is the easiest way to change on the beach. Whether you don’t want wet bikini spots on your new jorts, or you’re going straight to a dinner from the beach, I recommend packing a changing towel with you that can double as a beach towel, too.
Water Resistant Bikini Bag
This has been the most helpful thing ever! A water resistant bikini bag holds your wet bikini secure from spilling into the rest of your bag, for hours at a time. Just make sure to wash it afterwards, like you would for your bikini.
Spray Detangler
The combination of wind, salt water, and white water waves creates the most hard-to-get-out knots in my hair, after a day at the beach, which is why I love to pack a spray detangler to use after I’m out of the water and before I go home. Although it’s not reef safe, I stand by the Unite 7SECONDS Detangler’s ability to smooth out the knots in my hair.
I hope my list of go-to beach essentials helps to make your summer beach days a little easier and hopefully a lot more enjoyable!