11 Items You Must Pack in Your Beach Bag

11 Items You Must Pack in Your Beach Bag

Before you head out for an amazing day at the beach pack your beach bag with these must have beach essentials – you will be glad you did! After a towel and a swimsuit, these 11 items you must pack in your beach bag are definitely things you will want and need before, during and even after your glorious day of sand and sun.

● Sunscreen – While you may want to “get some color” sitting on the beach, remember that a suntan is actually a sign of skin damage. Even worse, a bad sunburn or sun poisoning can leave you seeking medical treatment. It is much healthier to apply sunscreen before heading out and several times throughout the day-especially after swimming. Note: if you are planning on spending a lot of time in the water, try Neutrogena’s Wet Skin Sunblock.

● After Sun Lotion – Even if you do not overdo it with sun exposure, an after sun lotion is great to apply to your skin for extra moisturizing and healing. Sun, wind, salt, sand can all be harsh on your skin and after sun care is very important.

● Sunglasses – Get a quality pair of sunglasses that block the sun’s UV rays. Look for a pair of sunglasses labeled 100% UV Block. In addition to protecting your eyes, wearing good sunglasses may help ward off the fine lines you could get from squinting on a sunny day.

● Hat – Our head and face are the first places that sun exposure hits. These areas are often burned. A peeling red nose, ears or cheeks are not only unattractive and a sign that you definitely have damaged your skin, but can be painful as well. A hat will give you additional protection (in conjunction with sunscreen) and will also shield your hair from wind and UV ray damage.

● A Bottle of Water – While you may be doing nothing except be lounging on the beach, you are still losing moisture through sweat in the sun. It is important to stay hydrated with good clean water – not soda pop, tea, or even sports drinks. Pure clean water. Before you head to the beach freeze a couple of bottles of water. When you toss the frozen water bottles into your beach bag, the water will be nice and cold when you sip … as the bottle water melts over several hours time. If you are toting a cooler to the beach, load it up with water!

● Baby Powder or Corn Starch – Either of these work as an easy way of removing sand from your hands, arms, feet, and legs. Even if you don’t have little children, purchase some baby powder for this quick, sand removing tip: simply sprinkle baby powder (or corn starch) wherever you need to remove sand and then brush it away. Not only does dry sand on your body or in your shoes feel less than pleasant, but sand removes moisture from your skin (this is why the sand clings).

● Alcohol Free Wipes – Again, even if you don’t have little ones alcohol free wipes come in super handy at the beach to wipe sand and food off your hands, clean up an over abundance of sunscreen, wipe off book jackets, bags, and more. Wipes are handy to have in any bag or purse, not just your beach bag. Pack some wherever you may go!

● Wide Tooth Comb – Salt, chlorine, sand, and wind all tangle and make your hair unmanageable. Pulling a brush roughly through your hair after a day of sand and sun may cause hair breakage and other damage. A wide tooth comb will gently work through your hair knots and snarls cause by water, wind and sand, without damaging your beach-worn hair.

● First Aid Kit – Small cuts from shells, bites, and other little ailments can be quickly treated instead of turning into a bigger problem if you bring along a first aid kit. A travel sized first aid kit is great for car, day trips to parks, beach, and more. Packing a first aid kit makes safety sense.

● A Great Book – Beach time is the perfect time to catch up on the bestseller list. Grab one or two of those books that are stacked on your bedside table that you have never gotten around too and enjoy a little me time. They don’t call them “beach reads” for nuthin’!

● A Cute Cover Up – If you bring along a cover up that doubles as a dress you can go from the sand right into a nice beach side restaurant or the local shops. It also comes in handy when you want to give your skin a break from the sun.

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