Finally summer is here! The sunny, hot weather allowed me my first beach trip of the year. There I was toes in the sand, the sun shining down on me, hands on hips, taking in a deep breath of the fresh salty air and that’s when I realized, I was not ready to be at the beach (cue fast dash back to my towel, hat, & coverup). We’ve all experienced that moment when we’ve realized that we haven’t quite prepared like we should’ve (like when you’re so regretting that second bowl of ice cream as you try to squeeze into your swim suit).
It doesn’t help either that the pages in the reading materials we ladies bring to the beach (and by ‘reading’ I mean looking at pictures in our magazines) are saturated with beach-perfect models— them with their sun-kissed skin, perfectly wavy hair and dewy skin. It makes it all seem like an unattainable feat for the pale swamp witches of the world. However, I’m letting you in on five beauty beach must-haves that will allow you to master the beach this summer.
Disclosure: The following products are affiliated links. However, I only recommend things that I would use or have used.
#1 Natural Looking Tan
Let’s face it, the first trip to the beach is always a reminder of just how long winter really was — when you’re sprawled out on your towel and any of your limbs that hang over onto the pale sand suddenly become invisible. Say goodbye to camouflaged-sand legs, and hello to the best fake tan you’ve ever had (and if you’re one of the lucky ladies with no need to tan, skip ahead to #2).
So before you step onto that beach — or even get into your car for that matter — give your skin a nice step up from pasty white to sexy tan with St. Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse. It’s 100% natural and rubs on smoothly. Most self-tanning lotions for me personally come out too orangey or streaky, but this one doesn’t! You can also try the Moroccan Mineral Dark Tanning Lotion. It gives a truly tan complexion with build-ability and helps your skin feel a little more moisturized so that the tanning lotion doesn’t just sink between your scales… I mean skin (that’s not just me, right?). Having a great “tan” is your #1 pre-beach must-have.
#2 Sunblock That’s Great For Your Face
Aside from getting your fake tan on, it’s also a pretty good idea to protect your skin from the sun —especially your neck and face. We all know the sun feels amazing, which is why it might seem surprising that when you get home after a day of baking in the delicious-feeling sun, you’ve aged into your grandmother.
Ok so maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but with time, the sun causes wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation to happen (and it ain’t pretty) — not to mention that little thing called, uh, what was it? Oh yea, CANCER. All skin types are susceptible to cancer. Which is why this Mesoestetic SPF 50 face lotion is a definite beach (and daily) must-have. Your skin needs moisture in order to keep looking youthful and vibrant. Plus this stuff feels amazing and won’t make you break out. I use this as my daily moisturizer and it works great under foundation. On a beach day, I apply it before I leave my house and after I swim.
Since the Mesoestetic face lotion isn’t water or sweat proof, you’re going to need a good sunblock. If you’re anything like me, you probably hate slathering greasy sunblock all over your face. I hate the smell of it, the feeling of it, the fact that the kid of the person camped right next to us is a sand-throwing monster (yea I said it), which gets all over my towel and sticks to my freshly greased sun blocked face — you know the story. And that’s why this next beauty beach must-have is one of my personal faves.
Colorescience is a mineral face sunblock powder that is water-proof and comes in the best application bottle ever. It’s so easy to use. It’s a million times better than any face sunblock I’ve ever tried and it never makes me break out. They have a range of SPFs (I personally recommend the SPF 50), shimmer or no shimmer, and also comes in a nice range of colors or clear. I prefer the tinted ones so I don’t have a sickly complexion, because I do not tan my face EVER. My color is medium matte.
#3 Smooth Lip Balms
The next beauty beach must-have is probably something that we all carry around on a daily basis, lip balm. But I want to broaden your lip balm horizons. There’s something about the beach that calls for smooth, moisturized lips. And on top of that, we should be protecting our luscious lips with at least SPF 15. These are my two go-to lip balms, Burt’s Bees and EOS Lip Balms. They make my lips feel and look luscious while keeping them from any sun damage.
But if you’d rather go for a higher SPF, then give Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm a go. It’s smooth and sheer with a fresh mint scent (or there are other scents if you don’t like mint. Don’t freak out).
#4 Tame Your Wet Beach Hair
I know I’ve raved about this product in the past, but I seriously never go anywhere I plan on swimming without bringing it along. It’s a 10 is the miracle answer to the ratted nest of hair that always seems to happen at the beach. It smells so good, detangles your hair, makes it silky, replenishes the moisture, and helps enhance natural waves. I apply it before I swim, then after I swim I rinse my hair and spray it all throughout my hair. One particular beach trip, I was attacked by seaweed (not the slimy stuff but the spindly one) and it was all tangled in my hair. After a few spritzes of It’s a 10 and some finger combing everything came right out. This stuff is absolutely amazing. On a side note, I’ve had a few moms tell me that this recommendation has been a life-saver for their girl’s hair during the summer season (it’s not always about you, just sayin’).
#5 Fabulous Body Sunscreen
Just as I’ve said earlier about the importance of protecting your face and neck — let’s keep the rest of our bodies looking smooth and radiant, shall we? Choosing a good sunscreen to block the ultraviolet rays is a must. Those ultraviolet rays attack your skin cells, which cause
irreversible damage.
The damage to your cells causes a breakdown in the collagen, not to mention hyperpigmentation that leaves you looking a bit like a Dalmatian. Yikes!
I don’t know about you, but I enjoy the warmth of the sun on my skin as soon as I find my spot on the beach. So the majority of my body is exposed to the sun for hours. That’s why I use Blue Lizard Sunscreen to help protect me from the ultraviolet rays. Side note: This bottle has a super cool feature where it will turn blue in the sun to tell you that you are in the dangerous rays!
I try to steer clear of aerosols, for environmental reasons, so the lotion application is best. It glides on and doesn’t feel tacky. (Also, this company is doing it’s part to protect the reef ecosystems, so that’s a huge plus!)
What beach beauty products do you take on your beach trips? Have you tried any of these before? Please share your secrets. 😉
