Summer is officially here! After a rainy and cold spring, I am happily embracing these hot days, despite the humidity. Truth be told, and I know many people will not agree with me here, but I actually like the humidity. It is such a nice reprieve from the dryness of winter, and it feels good on my skin. I know, I’m crazy right? The one thing that is kind of a downer though is my hair and makeup never stay! I actually curled my hair for these photos, but that humid beach air caused my fine hair to fall right back to its normal state.
In honor of the start of summer, I’ve partnered with Hawaiian Tropic to share what’s in my beach bag. I love Hawaiian Tropic not only because it’s the sunscreen brand I remember my mom using on me when I was a child, but also because I know I can always rely on the sun protection factor to help me avoid a burn. Plus, the fragrance is amazing and takes my mind right to a tropical island oasis every time I use it.
My favorite way to unwind in the summertime is with a trip to the beach. Nothing is more soothing to me than the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Truth be told, that sound can put me to sleep like a baby. Weekend trips to Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket and day trips (or even half-day trips) to the beaches north of Boston like Plum Island, where these photos were taken, are quintessential of New England summers. Packing up the beach bag quickly for those spur of the moment trips means you can’t leave behind any of the essentials! No matter where or when, I always throw the following in my beach bag:
ONE // Sunscreen
I don’t care who you are, how tan you already are, if you don’t burn easily, etc., you need sunscreen. The sun’s rays can be deceivingly strong, even on cloudy days, and nobody wants a sunburn, or worse, skin cancer. I use sunscreen daily under my makeup, and for days outdoors, I like to make sure I use an SPF of at least 30, like Hawaiian Tropic® Silk Hydration® Weightless Face Sunscreen. Lately, I’ve been keeping a bottle of this tropical smelling goodness pretty much on me at all times. I like to have easy access to reapply frequently for days at the beach.
See more about my essentials for glowing summer skin.
TWO // Water Bottle
The sun can make you feel dehydrated after just a few hours. Feeling thirsty and tired is a surefire way to ruin an otherwise great beach day. You don’t always have easy access to concessions, and even if you do, you probably don’t want to be spending the money on water. Just be sure to fill up a reusable water bottle with lots of ice and water beforehand and you’ll be glad you did. Bonus points if you pack some snacks too – I love frozen grapes for the beach.
THREE // Hairbrush
The windy, sandy, salty environment of the beach makes my hair a complete mess. Like I said, I even curled my hair before this shoot (still not sure what I was thinking). It becomes so tangled that all I can do sometimes is to throw it up in a messy topknot. To combat beach hair, I throw a hairbrush in my bag so I can work through my matted mane in the event I need to look presentable, such as for a beachside lunch.
FOUR // A Good Book
By a “good” book, I really mean that you need a fun book – something that piques your interest, is easy to read and enjoyable. Beach days are supposed to be relaxing, so you should be reading for pleasure, not for work on anything else. Even silly romance novels are fair game – who ever said I don’t love a “trashy” beach read. 😉
I am looking forward to lots of beach days this summer. The one thing that gets me through long New England winters is the knowledge that New England summers are truly the best.
Now that you know the essentials in my beach bag, what goes in yours? Did I miss anything important?
xo -L
I’m sharing Hawaiian Tropic in my life as part of a sponsored series for Socialstars™ More from this series here.
