Wow summer has come in with a bang! When we have those long, beautiful summer days, I get the undeniable urge to head off to the beach. Long gone are the days when I could just throw a few things in a bag, plop down in the sand with a towel and some baby oil and spend the day in the sun. For one thing, I would not be able to get up gracefully, or at least still walk when I got up, and I would be literally fried to a crisp.
Now, I want to be comfortable, safe and relaxed, so my beach bag items are different. It’s also not as easy as it used to be to run back and forth to the car or up and down to the hotel if you forget something. Remembering all the right essentials is key, so I thought it would be fun to make up a list of cool stuff that I like to pack for a day at the beach. The links to the items here are provided on the Resources page. We are Amazon Affiliates so we may earn a small commission on items ordered through these links.
Start with a great beach bag. It needs to be roomy, cute, easy to carry and water resistant. I like this tote by ALOHA Collection. The strong wider strap and lightweight material make it easy to carry over my shoulder instead of a bag with handles, which frees up my hands. Having your hands free may help prevent falls.
It is water resistant so you can wipe it down with a damp cloth, and the top zips, so it doesn’t get full of sand. It comes in a lot of designs and colors, making it stylish and practical.
MOST IMPORTANTLY! Good Sunscreen. Grab one for your face and one for your body. This Isdin sunscreen is expensive but very good and it lasts a long time. It has the right ingredients to protect you from UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) sunrays. It is a 100% mineral-based, tinted and water-resistant facial sunscreen with SPF 50, vitamin E antioxidant, 10.7% zinc oxide, peptide complex, and DNA Repairsomes. Protects, repairs, and corrects the skin with moisturizing benefits.
This Isdin sunscreen’s emollient formula goes on silky smooth and non-greasy. It is water resistant. It does have Zinc Oxide (important) in it, but it blends in easily and does not make you ghostly white like some sunscreens do!
I also like to stick in one of these SkinBetter Tinted Sunscreen Compact for my face. It gives you some coverage, it’s good for quick touchups, and I like the mirrored compact. We have this available online in our FoothillsCenterforWomen.com website, look in the spa and aesthetics section.
Don’t forget your lips, they get sunburned too. This UV Lip balm has SPF 36, contains Zinc Oxide and it water-resistant. It is moisturizing for chapped lips but doesn’t make you look glossy, so guys can use it too. For protection with a little color, check out the Jane Iredale Lip Drink Lip Balm.
One thing I have learned through first hand experience is that those of us with a little age on us SHOULD NOT wear regular flip flops with smooth, slick soles and no support around a pool or slippery walkway. It is a good way to fall and break some bones, I did that last summer and it was not fun. Now I wear these Vionic sandles to the beach or pool. They have a really good arch support and feel good on, but also have a more durable gripping sole. They come in a lot of cute colors and styles too!
This cooling neck fan is a life saver on the beach when it is scorching out and you have your own built in furnace. I was actually surprised at how much it cools you down. I just got back from the beach in Florida and saw them around a lot of people’s necks! This one is lightweight around your neck and can be charged with a USB.
The thing I like to do best on a beach day is sit on the beach and read. I never in a million years thought I would like an e-reader, I was always a book in the hand kind of girl. Then I got a Kindle and changed my mind completely. I can easily go through at least 3-4 thick books on a week long beach vacation. I was always lugging all these books around in my suitcase. The kindle is small and light and you can put loads and loads of books and magazines on it. It is easier to carry in a beach bag or in your purse and it is fun to browse the Kindle store and get books with a push of a button. The best summer read for me so far has been “First Lie Wins” by Ashley Elston. This is a page turning thriller with lots of twists and turns! If you have read a good summer book lately send me a message and tell me about it, I love to hear about new books!
Hydration is super important when you are outside in the heat. I got this big 40 ounce Stanley Cup to fill with fluids and ice. At first I thought that the Stanley Cup wouldn’t be worth the extra price but you can literally fill it up with ice and water and the ice will still be frozen the next morning. They come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. They are in style right now, but there is also a reason Stanley has been in business for so long. Put some water with electrolytes in it and you are set for a day of fun in the sun.
Last but not least, you need a sun protective beach cover up. The ones I have been liking the best this summer are by Coolibar. This one has UPF of 50+ which means it blocks 98 % of the UVA/UVB rays. It is machine washable, soft and comfortable. I like these because they give you extra protection on your arms and back but they are not too hot.
This summer is already going by super fast. I hope everyone gets to enjoy a little beach or pool time. Check out these Baby Boomer Beach Bag Essentials before you go!
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