Beach Bag Must Haves For July 4th Weekend

A HAT, SUNNIES & A BEACH UMBRELLA

We love the beach, but there’s no denying it’s one of the most intense environments in terms of sunlight and heat. Without much shade—often any— it’s important to bring along a beach umbrella to provide some much-needed shelter. Although beach umbrellas alone do not provide adequate sun protection (meaning you still need to wear broad-spectrum sunscreen and take other protective measures), they can definitely come in handy. Similarly, wearing a hat and sunglasses can help protect your face against harsh UV rays. The area around our eyes is one of the first places to show signs of aging, and seeing that UV damage is one of the causes of premature skin aging, it’s best to protect your eyes. By wearing a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, and by seeking shade when possible, you’re well on your way to a sun-safe holiday weekend.

BROAD-SPECTRUM SUNSCREEN

Regardless of whether you’re heading to the beach, if you’re planning to be outdoors at any point this holiday weekend you’re going to need broad-spectrum sunscreen. We recommend reaching for one that boasts an SPF of 15 or higher and is water resistant as well, like La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Melt-In Sunscreen. The fast-absorbing sunscreen, with SPF 60, earned a perfect score in a recent Consumer Reports test for the fourth year in a row! Just be sure to reapply at least once every two hours.

Editor’s note: Keep in mind that even if you’re planning on wearing makeup to the beach, you still need to apply and reapply sunscreen throughout the day. Luckily, there are ways to reapply sunscreen without ruining your makeup, and we’re sharing exactly how here!

A REFRESHING FACE MIST

A long day at the beach can leave your skin feeling sticky and uncomfortable. Throw a cooling face mist into your beach bag to help beat the heat. Most face mists can provide an instant skin refresh as well as lightweight hydration, which can totally come in handy while you’re lounging on the sand. Spritz on Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water. It’s enriched with 15 rare minerals and offers a burst of moisture and cooling relief! 

For a quick recap on the benefits of face mists, click here! 

POUT PROTECTION

We always remember to reapply sunscreen on our complexions and bodies, but it’s easy to forget about our lips! Providing the delicate skin on your lips with SPF protection is just as important as lathering up the rest of your body with sunscreen. One of our go-to lip conditioners formulated with SPF is Kiehl’s Butterstick Lip Treatment with SPF 25. It boasts UV protection plus light hydration. Not to mention, it’s available in five tinted shades!  

DETANGLER & A HAIR BRUSH

Whether you’re running around on the sand or jumping though waves, salty beach hair can get messy in no time at all. Keeping a hair brush and a detangling hair mist on hand is an easy way to help beat the beach tangles. Spritz on L’Oreal Paris’ Power Moisture 10 Second Hydra-Detangler before combing through your locks.

BB CREAM

When the weather is warm, many like to swap out their full coverage foundations in favor of a lightweight BB cream. These formulas offer subtle coverage over minor imperfections without weighing your skin down. Many also boast built-in SPF protection, like Maybelline’s Dream BB Fresh 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector. It’s a titanium dioxide sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection that offers a light to medium sheer tint.  

AFTER-SUN BODY CREAM

While we hope you’re not planning to bake under the sun (remember: there’s no such thing as a safe suntan), it can be hard to avoid ultraviolet rays altogether when you’re at the beach. That’s why we encourage you to pack an after-sun body cream, like Biotherm’s Sun After Body Cream, to help beautify the look of your skin and give it some intense moisturization post-beach. The formula even boasts a touch of sparkle, so there’s no doubt your skin will be glowing. For best results, use the iridescent body cream on your neckline and shoulders, avoiding the face area.

ALOE VERA GEL

One of the most important items you should bring to the beach? Next to your sunscreen (which should have priority placement in your bag), should be an aloe vera gel. Aloe vera gel can help soothe sunburns, as it helps hydrate the skin, offering a cooling shield and sensation for temporary relief. Learn more about the benefits of aloe vera, here!