8 Things You Need to Have in Your Beach Bag

Summer is coming! Whether you’re planning to spend it down the street at your neighborhood beach or across the world on the shores of a far-flung exotic locale, you need a well-stocked beach bag at your side. Keep it stocked with these 8 beach bag essentials and you’ll have everything you need for a perfect and well-planned beach day.

8. Sunscreen

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S., so this is one tip that should be taken seriously. Whether you’re at the beach or just enjoying the warm summer months outdoors, your sunscreen should never be far behind. Protect yourself and the underwater world by choosing reef-safe brands (those without oxybenzone and octinoxate – two chemicals known to damage coral reefs) like the green tea and rose hip-rich All Good SPF 30 Sunscreen or ThinkSport’s naturally tinted and ultra-moisturizing Every Day Face Sunscreen.

7. Sarong

With so many uses, a sarong will never go to waste at the beach. Spread it out as a blanket, dry off with it after a dip or wrap it around your body when you need to cover up at a beachside restaurant. There’s literally no other piece of material that’s more functional on a beach day.

6. Sand-Free Beach Mat

Love the beach, but hate the inevitable sand that gets absolutely everywhere? You’re not alone. A lot of people really don’t love the feeling of sand between their toes – or in their hair, under their nails and pressed into their skin. If you’re one of these people, investing in CGear’s multi-purpose sand-free mat should be your first summertime splurge.  A specially-engineered system of polyester layers allow sand to pass through the mat’s material but doesn’t permit it back through, meaning your mat stays dirt, sand and particle-free while you lounge on the shore. Great for camping, too!

5. Leave-in Conditioner Spray

If your locks more closely resemble a rat’s nest than an actual head of hair after a dip in the ocean, you need Sun Bum’s 3 in 1 Leave-in Conditioner Spray. This vegan, Paraben-free and UV-Protecting spray detangles and conditions hair, making it more manageable and easier to run a comb through. It also coats strands with a protective layer which helps prevent split ends and color fade when you're lounging in the sun.

4. Wet Wipes

A day on the beach gifts us with sun-kissed skin and a sprinkling of freckles, but it also leaves us sweaty, sticky and salty. If there’s nowhere to rinse off and you’ve got places to go and people to see, a package of wet wipes is an excellent stand-in for a shower. A few swipes will remove sea salt and grime, leaving you looking and feeling refreshed and ready for whatever’s coming next.

3. Sunglasses

Sunglasses are an essential component of beachwear. They protect your eyes from UV rays, minimize the sun’s glare and prevent the wrinkling-inducing squint. We recommend keeping two pairs on hand – one high-quality stylish pair and another cheap pair that can be tossed on in situations where they could get damaged – like during a game of frisbee or a dip in the water.

2. Hat

Sunscreen is a great line of defense against sunburn, but it can only protect you if you use it every few hours.  If you’re one of those people who struggles forgets to re-apply frequently, make a habit of wearing a hat at the beach. Keep a baseball cap of your favorite sports team in your bag or opt for something a little more fashionable, like a fedora or a floppy straw hat.

1. The Bag ITSELF!

You need a cute beach tote to carry all this stuff around now, right? There are a lot of options out there, but your individual style will dictate whether you go with sporty, girlie, mesh, canvas, cooler-included – the list goes on. We love the bright Boho vibe of Odyseaco’s Baja Beach Bag, the classic good looks of this stripy canvas tote and the functionality and no-fuss frills of this mesh bag with an insulated bottom. Which one will you choose?