I spend a lot of time at the beach—I mean, a lot. Whether it’s the freshwater coast of Lake Michigan or the salty shores of Southern California, being at the beach is genuinely my favorite way to spend time, but it doesn’t come without downsides. I may be beach obsessed, but I’m also a beauty editor, and I know how harsh summer can be on skin and hair. I’m talking about sun damage, discoloration, split ends… You name it.
Thankfully, it’s possible to ditch damage if you use the right beauty products, namely hydrating, skin-soothing, sun-protecting ones. After years of product testing and beach-based trial and error, I’m convinced I’ve found them—all 16 to be exact. Ahead, I’m sharing my guide to packing an end-all beach bag.
SPF Lip Balm
COOLA
Organic Liplux Classic Sunscreen Lip Balm SPF 30
This is perhaps the best SPF lip balm I’ve ever used. It’s smooth, hydrating, and transparent and doesn’t taste awful the way other ones do. It’s a true essential.
Ultra Violette
Sheen Screen SPF 50 Hydrating Sunscreen Lip Balm in Silk Pillow
The other SPF lip product that lives in my beach bag is Ultra Violette’s Sheen Screen SPF 50 Lip Balm. It’s nonsticky and super hydrating and gives the lips a hint of luxe-looking shine and color. There are four shades. I prefer Silk Pillow, which is a sheer light pink, and Dusk, which is a neutral, rosy beige.
My trusty Ultra Violette Sheen Screen SPF 50 Lip Balm
(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)
Face Sunscreen
Bioré
UVAqua Rich Daily Hydrating Facial Moisturizer SPF 50
When it comes to face sunscreen, I need SPF to check off a few boxes before I commit to using it. I need it to offer broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection, not pill or leave a white cast, and keep my pores clear and unclogged. This one hits every benchmark. It offers broad-spectrum SPF 50 with a lightweight, serum-like texture that looks nearly invisible on my skin, save for a nice, dewy finish. It never clogs my pores or worsens my texture. Plus, it layers well for reapplication, and there’s no pilling or thick, goopy feeling that I often get with other face sunscreens. Dare I say… It’s my favorite SPF right now.
Dr. Jart+
Every Sun Day Invisible Korean Sunscreen Stick SPF 40
Speaking of reapplication, a sunscreen stick is an easy way to do it when you’re on the go or have sandy hands and don’t want to smear fresh SPF all over your skin. This Korean sunscreen stick offers broad-spectrum SPF 40 with a smooth, silky texture.
Body Sunscreen
Vacation
Classic Lotion SPF 50 Sun Jug
Now for the staple of my beach bag—Vacation’s Classic Lotion SPF 50 Sun Jug. This giant, 20-ounce bottle contains the brand’s best-selling body sunscreen and comes with a detachable handle. It’s lightweight, hydrating, and scented with the brand’s iconic summertime fragrance (coconut, banana, pool water, pool toy, and swimsuit Lycra). Unlike with other sunscreens that are smaller and more expensive, I feel like I can use as much as I need and then some to make sure my skin is truly protected from sun damage.
I bring this along on every beach day without fail.
(Image credit: @kaitlyn_mclintock)
Coola
Piña Colada Classic Body Organic Sunscreen Spray SPF 30
I also like to have spray sunscreen on hand for reapplying SPF to larger, harder-to-reach areas like my back. This one from Coola is a continuous, nonaerosol spray with broad-spectrum SPF 30. Thanks to a water-resistant formula, it doesn’t slip and smudge off me as soon as I step in the water. Plus, hydrating and antioxidant-rich ingredients like red raspberry–seed oil, buriti oil, meadowfoam-seed oil, and prickly pear extract actually benefit my skin beyond sun protection. It comes in multiple scents, but Piña Colada is my favorite. The fruity, juicy scent sets the right tone for a long, relaxing beach day.
Scalp & Hair SPF
COOLA
Scalp & Hair Mist Organic Sunscreen SPF 30
Here’s a not-so-fun fact: The scalp is one of the most overlooked areas for sun protection, and neglecting it can lead to dryness, flakiness, sunburn, and even skin cancer. While I always bring a hat to the beach, I like to double down on sun protection by using this Scalp & Hair Mist. It protects the area with SPF 30, is water-resistant up to 80 minutes, and has a weightless texture that won’t weigh hair down—not even fine hair like mine.
Rahua
Hydration Detangler + UV Barrier
Sun exposure can cause hair dryness, breakage, and color fading, which is why I like to protect it with Rahua’s Hydration Detangler + UV Barrier. (I keep the travel size in my beach bag.) Spray it onto damp hair, preferably after the first swim of your beach day, and it will coat your strands in a weightless shield, fending off photodamage from the sun and harmful environmental stressors. It also detangles, boosts shine, and strengthens with a nutrient-rich blend of rahua, morete, and sacha inchi oils. Plus, it smells like mango and passion fruit, which makes me feel like I just left the spa at an expensive seaside resort.
Cooling Mist
SOFIE PAVITT FACE
Fridge to Face Blemish Defense Cooling Mist
This is one of my favorite beachgoing hacks. If you spritz a cooling mist on your skin now and then, you’ll feel comfortable and refreshed, even in scorching temperatures, and have much more hydrated skin than if you didn’t. This one from Sofie Pavitt is my favorite. It contains a postbiotic ferment to protect and rebalance blemish-prone skin and vitamins B3 and B5 to absorb excess oil, address redness, and soothe and calm irritation. Most importantly, though, is a cooling agent that soothes and refreshes hot skin.
Hanni
Water Balm Instant Hydration Body Mist
For the body, I recommend Hanni’s Water Balm Instant Hydration Body Mist. It’s a weightless mist that feels like water yet hydrates like a deep moisturizer and leaves zero residue. It keeps my skin hydrated during long, drying beach days.
Post-Beach Fragrance
OUAI
Santorini Hair and Body Mist
Often, I head straight to dinner or drinks after leaving the beach, and I don’t necessarily want to smell like sweat, salt, and sunscreen. I’d rather smell elegant and refined, which is where grown-up hair and body mists come into play.
Last year, I was all about Ouai’s St. Barts Hair & Body Mist ($28). With notes of dragon fruit, orange blossom, and musk, it’s basically a luxurious tropical vacation, bottled. While I still love it, I’ve been packing Ouai’s Santorini Hair & Body Mist this year. The fresh citrus scent has a just-showered quality thanks to notes of orange, honeysuckle, and amber.
PHLUR
Beach Skin Hair & Body Mist
Phlur’s Beach Skin Hair & Body Mist is an obvious choice. With notes of bergamot, salted tiare flower, and sandalwood, it’s equal parts airy, creamy, and warm. It’s the ideal post-beach scent if you want to smell sultry and sun-kissed.
PHLUR
Island Swim Hair & Body Mist
Phlur’s Island Swim Hair & Body Mist is another favorite. The solar scent features notes of calamansi (a citrus fruit), plumeria, coconut, and sandalwood. It evokes the first refreshing “plunge into tropical water.” Yes, please.
My Go-To Beach Bag + Accessories
madewell
The Lexington Small Tote in Raffia
What would a beach-bag packing list be without, well, a beach bag? This one is my number one pick. I love the silhouette and natural raffia fibers. I also love that it’s big enough to hold all of my essentials without being so big that I have to dig for them.
lack of color
Holiday Bucket in Beige Canvas
This foldable hat offers such good sun protection, and it’s so stylish.
Madewell
Pierport Sunglasses
I love Madewell’s sunglasses. They’re chic and high-quality, yet they don’t exactly qualify as an investment purchase. (I, for one, lose too many sunglasses to spend $300+ on a single pair.) The slight cat-eye effect on this square pair is so cool.
