Oh summertime, my favorite time of year. Summer means packing up your bags and hitting the beach to work on your tan. Or at least that’s what I want to be doing (a girl can dream, right?). I just got back from Hawaii a few weeks ago and there were a couple of things that I brought with me that I think everyone should have on their beach packing list.
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Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Did you know that in Hawaii they’ve banned sunscreens that are harmful to the reefs? Two chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, are believed to contribute to coral bleaching which means the coral can’t reproduce the way that it should. This doesn’t mean you don’t have to stop wearing sunscreen! Just look for reef-safe sunscreens such as these two. I used both on my trip and found that they protected me perfectly. (Alba Botanica // Bare Republic)
Net bags, typically meant for fruits and vegetables, are also great for the beach! I found this cheap one on amazon and used it every single day I was in Hawaii. I threw in my sunscreen, my cover-up, my wallet, my phone, you name it. It’s a lot sturdier than it looks, making it super practical! And now that I have one, I’m going to take it with me when I grocery shop!
I used to spend a whole lot of money on cute bathing suits and then I realized there was no point. Bathing suit trends change every year and every year I end up wanting a new suit so why would I spend $100 on one? I’ve become a huge fan of cheap suits like this one from Zaful or Amazon! I got this one in black and loved it. It definitely feels a bit cheaper than other suits but for $20, I can’t complain!
If you follow me on Instagram, you might have noticed how much I love my Lack of Color hat. Well when I was shopping for Hawaii, I came across a straw Panama hat at Urban Outfitters that is very similar to my rancher. It helped block out the sun while still looking stylish.
Layered necklaces are quite the hot trend right now so I knew I wanted to get a beachy one for the summer. I’m not a puka-shells person myself so this one from Amazon was the best of both worlds. It is only $7 so the quality isn’t the best and it does get tangled easily but it looks super cute on!
Maybe it’s just me but I love towels that look like they belong at hotels. The retro stripes transport me back to the 1950’s and I love every bit of it. I found yellow striped ones like this on Amazon and they are my go-to towels when I’m laying by the sea.
Can we just talk about how cute these shoes are?! I found them at Target for $22! And they were on sale and I used my red card to get an extra 5% off. I wear them almost every single outfit because they go with absolutely everything.
I used to be the person that always wore cheap sunglasses from Forever 21. I never wanted to pull the trigger on expensive sunglasses. But then one day I fell in love with a pair of Ray-Bans and went for it and have never looked back. Now I will strictly only wear them and I have them with me everywhere that I go. I liked the ones that I’ve been currently wearing (the hexagons)
The Sun Bum 3-in-1 Leave-In helps detangle and condition hair while helping prevent frizz and split ends. It leaves your hair super soft and shiny and smells like coconut! It’s great for right after you’ve left the beach. Simply spray, brush, and continue on with your day.
Another thing that’s super important after a day in the sun? Lotion. Your skin easily dries out when you’ve been baking at the beach all day. Hempz has always been my favorite lotion but their Sweet Pineapple & Honey Melon has been a game-changer. It helps keep your skin hydrated while smelling like a tropical paradise.
Look at how cute this hydro flask is. It’s like a beachy sunset that keeps your thirst quench. I have officially jumped on the hydro flask trend and use mine every single day. They’re ideal for the beach because they keep your water cold and are tough enough for some roughhousing.
Alright if there is only one thing that you buy on this list, make it this. As someone who is constantly getting burnt rather than tan, it can be very frustrating. A layer of this on and 30-minutes in the sun and I am tan. That’s right actually tan. It’s not a sunscreen so it’s best to wear it with sunscreen or avoid prolonged sun exposure but man does this stuff work!
I am a big fan of listening to some music on the beach while throwing a football around (so long as the music isn’t too loud). These speakers are Bluetooth capable, sand and water-resistant, and adorable.
What’s on your beach packing list? XO
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