The only thing standing between you, mermaid-esque waves, dewy skin and a natural golden glow? Organisation.
Before you hit the beach, make sure your bag contains a little more than just sunnies and a towel.
From the top of your head to the bottom of your feet, here are some beauty essentials you need to pack in your beach bag.
#1 SPF Lip Balm
A word to the wise: your lips are just as vulnerable to UV damage as the rest of the skin on your body.
So don’t forget to slip, slop, slap your pout in the process. Aside from sun damage, dry weather and salty water create the perfect storm for chapped, flakey lips. To prevent a day at the beach from wreaking havoc on your lips, upgrade your regular chapstick to a lip balm with SPF.
Left to right:
QV Face Lip Balm SPF 30+, $4.99 at Chemist Warehouse
SunSense Lip Balm SPF 50+, $3.99 at Chemist Warehouse
Dermal Therapy™ Lip Balm SPF 50+, $6.99 at Chemist Warehouse
Ultra Violette Sheen Screen SPF50 Lip Balm, $25 at Adore Beauty
#2 SPF For Your Body
If you want to steer clear of sunburn, premature ageing and dark spots, make sure you apply a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to your entire body. Be sure you don’t forget about those less obvious areas like your ears, the back of your neck and your feet.
Left to right:
Reef Coconut Sunscreen SPF50 Dry Touch Lotion, $9.95 at Your Discount Chemist
Eau Thermale Avène Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+, $34.99 at Adore Beauty
Cancer Council Ultra Pump SPF50+ Sunscreen, $21.99 at Chemist Warehouse
Naked Sundays SPF50+ Glow Body Mist, $44.95 at MECCA
#3 SPF For Your Face
On and off the beach, wearing sunscreen is a must. Fortunately, the days of thick SPF formulations clogging our pores and causing breakouts are long gone. Use a formula that is specifically formulated for your face to enjoy hydrated and nourished skin, plus all the anti-ageing benefits that come with protecting yourself from UV rays. For easy top-ups throughout the day, try Neutrogena’s spray-on sunscreen and keep your sticky, sand-covered hands off your face.
Left to right:
Dr Roebuck’s Barrier Reef Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF50+, $49 at drroebucks.com.au
Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Mist SPF50, $23.99 at Priceline
Bondi Sands Hydra UV Protect SPF 50+ Face Fluid, $19.95 at Bondi Sands
Ella Baché Active Face Great SPF50+, $55 at Ella Bache
Hydrating Mist
Long days of sweat, salt, and sun rays can often lead to one thing: dehydration. And it sabotages a glowing complexion like nothing else. In order to keep your skin dewy, plump and hydrated, keep a mist in your beach bag and regularly spritz over your SPF to safeguard your skin against moisture loss.
Left to right:
Olay Mist Ultimate Hydration Essence – Calming, $35 at Woolworths
A’kin Rose Mist Toner, $19.95 at David Jones
innisfree Green Tea Mist [Micro], $25 at innisfree
Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist Intense Deluxe Edition, $79 at Myer
Hair Treatments
There’s a stark difference between salty beach tresses and frizzy, dry hair. To avoid the latter, infuse strands with nourishing and conditioning products and prevent hair from being compromised by the harsh and drying effects of salt water. Rinse out the salt water, run any hydrating treatment through the ends, and comb it out to prevent your locks from feeling like straw.
Left to right:
Herbal Essences bio:renew Pure Coconut & Aloe Hair Oil Blend, $16.99 at Chemist Warehouse
Glow Lab Hair Mask, $18 at Woolworths
JUSTICE Professional Detangle Brush Compact, $12.95 at JustCuts
The Body Shop Shea Beautyfying Oil, $20 at The Body Shop
Main image credit: @ultravioletteau
Are you looking forward to beach season? What are your beach bag essentials?
Sunscreen definitely but not all lip balm have SPFs, can you use a lip balm with SPF at night as well?
Yes, but there would be no point – extremely low UV exposure at night. Definitely have a lip balm with SPF in your arsenal. I know people who have developed moles on their lips from exposure to the sun.
This is so important. I always think of cricketers all zinced up!
I have different lip balms for day and night. I use SPF for day and normal for night – I don’t want to use SPF all the time as I need to be careful of blackheads around my lips which increase with the use of SPF lip balms – it is not too bad but juggling lip balms reduces the risk.
That’s good to know!
I find lip balm with spf so yuck. Any lip balm with spf. Soooo bitter and chemically strong taste even then not placing it close to the inner edge of the lips. I find no need plus these balms are so uncomfortable eeek
Great idea sooty! I do tend to forget to do that.
The QV Gentle Cleanser is good for that – it’s creamy and picks up the sunscreen off the face really well. Double cleanse with it and you’re there!
I absolutely love the QV Gentle Cleanser. I first ordered some in an RR and now I’m never without it!
.and an esky ! I love taking my esky full of food and it tastes much better when it stays cool from the esky. It’s great to take when I go to the place that isn’t far from the car.
It’s just relaxing PS – if I’m there for a while under the umbrella it’s nice to pick up a mag for a few minutes inbetween, surfing and swimming and eating of course! : )
Ooooh nice place! I haven’t been there but flew over it a few years ago and it looked so pretty that I told myself I would visit it one day!
Yes aloe is a great idea! I just bought one in a tube the other day from Thursday Plantation.
I’m allergic to fresh aloe so I try to stick away from products that include it.
I wonder how common aloe allergy is?
Me too! Only once placed it on the skin and it was awful! Very tight , extremely uncomfortable feel, my skin looked as if aged years in minutes, redness, bumps and dryness
I know Yo! I can’t even consume Aloe drinks! Best stay away!
That reminds me – I do love my Roxy beach cap – the one with that has a hole at the top because I love having fresh air on my head. lol. Also my hair lightens easily by the sun and then I don’t get ‘marks’ on my hair where my hair has lightened and where it hasn’t .
I need a cap with a hole in it! I love my Helen Kaminski hat but it keeps on flying off my head on windy days!
I always tell my nieces that I’m going to wear my old lady swimming cap with big plastic flowers – they’re not impressed. Obviously, I don’t own such a cap.
I also joke that I’m going to wear a macramé g-string bikini – & I might need help getting the sunscreen into all my dimples, so I don’t get sunburnt when I’m doing yoga on the beach.
I always tell my nieces that I’m going to wear my old lady swimming cap with big plastic flowers – they’re not impressed. Obviously, I don’t own such a cap.
I also joke that I’m going to wear a macramé g-string bikini – & I might need help getting the sunscreen into all my dimples, so I don’t get sunburnt when I’m doing yoga on the beach.
I always tell my nieces that I’m going to wear my old lady swimming cap with big plastic flowers – they’re not impressed. Obviously, I don’t own such a cap.
I also joke that I’m going to wear a macramé g-string bikini – & I might need help getting the sunscreen into all my dimples, so I don’t get sunburnt when I’m doing yoga on the beach.
I always tell my nieces that I’m going to wear my old lady swimming cap with big plastic flowers – they’re not impressed. Obviously, I don’t own such a cap.
🤣🤣🤣
I also tell them I’m going to wear my crocheted g-string bikini & do yoga on the beach – they’re always appalled, haha!
I also tell them I’m going to wear my crocheted g-string bikini & do yoga on the beach, haha!
LOL! You make me giggle M8!
I also joke that I’m going to wear a macramé g-string bikini – & I might need help getting the sunscreen into all my dimples, so I don’t get sunburnt when I’m doing yoga on the beach, haha!
APOLOGIES FOR MY DUPLICATED COMMENTS ABOVE!
They disappeared when I clicked “Post Comment”, so I kept trying to post, then gave up. Now, they’ve all appeared, days later! I wish I could edit or delete them – SORRY!
Yes it brings back nice memories.
My big beach umbrella (but that doesn’t fit in my bag) but definitely a magazine – country style would be my pick.
Yes and if I could lug a big enough bottle to rinse my hair with after a swim I would as I love the feel of freshly rinsed hair at the beach – I’ve done it before and it keeps me feeliing so fresh (not stiff and salty!)
I’ve just ordered a tinted lip balm from Clinqiue and can’t wait to try it. Don’t think it has spf in it tho : / Oh well, I’ll put the spf balm underneath. See how that goes.
Hear! Hear! Yes roll on summer and I’d put in SPF and a big bottle of water too!
It will be good when we can pack the beach bag again – I love going for a swim in the clear sparkling beach water (not that it always is that way depending on weather/currents etc) but it seems a long way off atm as it’s the middle of winter and we are in lockdown from the virus. Would be great if Australia could be completely vaccinated by summer so we don’t have to worry about being locked down. Come on Australia go and get it – some of the vaccination hubs are just twiddling their thumbs – Australians can be slowwwww to do things…not all of us just a huge chunk of us. I’ve had my shots btw!
I’m stocked with SPF for my face and body so I’m good to go
Apart from the spf, towels, sunglasses and a change of clothes for me it’s water and hydrating mist is a really good idea I spray my face all year round with it and am imagining myself at the beach giving myself a refreshing spritz. 🌸
The hydrating mist sounds amazing!
I love a great hydrating mist followed by a moisturising sunscreen!
A large-brimmed hat is a must for me. Protects my face and some of my shoulders. I like the idea of protecting hair from salt water by using masks and oils.
I really need to find a decent large brimmed hat for the beach.
Check out Solbari hats, Helen Kaminski or Cancer Council hats!
We have a problem in Perth with large brimmed hats. they blow off. The wind is so often blowing.
Same here in Melbourne Normap! I wonder whether I should add some string to mine to secure around my face? It’ll look a bit daggy though!
Hm, I love the idea of wide brimmed hat, but found it useless at my local beaches. Wind just blows them off!
I love Helen Kaminski hats but yes, easily blown off in the wind!
Thanks for the advice and products, will try some.
Thanks for sharing your inside!
I cannot wait and neither can my kids. In my bag I have my sand free beach towel to sit on, sunscreen, hats, water and some beach toys.
Good reminder. Haven’t been to the beach in ages. I tend not to sit on the sun. Go for a walk and a dip and head for shade. Always wear 50+ sunscreen head to toe!
I’m similar Frenchy! Beach is best, early morning or very late afternoon/early evening when the UV index is low!
Same here: in the water, back to the shade, then in the water when I start to dry off.
SPF for all parts of my body, including lips! Also don’t forget to rub some of your ears. I would also add there are some hair mists out there with UV protection incorporated and they are worth having if you are not wearing a cap/hat at the beach or taking breaks in a tent/under shelter.
I’ve never heard of sprays with SPF! Off to explore now!
For example: AVEDA
Sun Care Protective Hair Veil (https://www.mecca.com.au/aveda/sun-care-protective-hair-veil/I-032798.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAs92MBhAXEiwAXTi256cRWVwOn9EzMef8sGJ2nR6cipDEwLRHtCnLq9K6ZwLK3elygCGxORoCPDwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) or Sun Bum Protecting Hair & Scalp Mist SPF30+ Sunscreen Spray (https://www.superpharmacy.com.au/products/sun-bum-protecting-hair-scalp-mist-spf30-sunscreen-spray-59ml?gclid=CjwKCAiAs92MBhAXEiwAXTi25zYwXooGaPKT5z2nKgGzwEDhlYxrSi0lNQWc8KrqVO4K5vZ1UTzaLBoCqg0QAvD_BwE).
Thanks so much Ethelinde! ❤️ 😊
Do these protect the scalp or is a parasol, hat or tent your best best?
Because it is a spray, you would need to spray a bit liberally to achieve max protection. Whether it protects your scalp depends on the density of your hair. If you have a few parts of your scalp that are more exposed than other parts, this is something you should definitely look into. A hat will of course protect your scalp completely, but not your strands. Same with a tent, but what is the point of being at the beach if you’re just going to be holed up in the tent most of the time?
Some great ideas here, thank you!
Towels, SPF, water and dry clothes💧
Actually now that I think a detangling hair spray helps but would probably be better after you have showered at home and use it after.
I love the rosewater spray!! I 100% agree, its so refreshing to have nearby
I also like rosewater spray at the beach. Also, particularly like to carry Avene mist in my beach bag.
SPF is a must! I like Nivea for the body and La Roche Posay for the face.
I definitely agree!
I can’t live without my Invisible Zinc- both tinted and untinted!
Yeah, I love IZ tinted, too!
UPF protective wraps and hats are a must!
I want to try the Ultra Violette sunscreen!
Always re-apply sunscreen after 2 hours of direct sun exposure in the sun at the beach. If you have been in the water, it is more important than ever as some of the sunscreen will have washed off.
Want glow lab hair mask and Innisfree green tea mist
Towel for me and water bottle and a huge beach hat and sunnies
Yes! Sunnies, Wide brimmed hat , UPF wrap, towel!
Sunnies for sure and of course a towel is a must for the beach. Love to walk on the beach down near the waters edge
Same NormaP, I mostly take walks at the shore edge, not much swimming.
Yes sunnies are an absolute must for me!
I can’t leave the house without my sunnies!
Same now. Sun is so glaring even with cloudy skies in spring and summer!
For me, even winter glare sears my freakishly light-sensitive eyeballs, so I’m in sunnies year-round.
I’m not a big fan of mists but I should keep one of the ones I have by the sunscreen to take to the beach.
That Jurlique one looks divine
It does! I would probably want to reserve that for use at home, it’s gorgeous and I’d hate to break the bottle.
I’d pack an aerosol like Evian for a cheaper alternative
Doesn’t it just!
We definitely a Penguin Classic in the bag, for sure!
I love the classics, too! Lucy: you might be interested in the “Reading and Book Recommendations” thread on the forum, here: https://www.beautyheaven.com.au/forums/topic/reading-and-book-recommendations/
A few of us are friends on the Goodreads website, too.
Love the beach so missed it. Not sure I would use many of those products. Happy with S/S, lip balm, hat and sunnies.
I try to keep the bare minimum in my beach bag, so sunscreen, hat, towel and lots of water to keep me hydrated.
Oh wow, I can see I was the first to comment on this.
I make sure SPF is 50 as I have fair skin and our sun is pretty hot.Good idea to have a sun hat but I always forget mine !!!
Don’t go to the beach much anymore.
All impotant things listed, I don’t know if their is anything else needed in a beach bag, maybe a bottle of water?
Don’t forget your sunnies, hat & shade.
Always need to have a good Beach Bag full of especially SPF 50+ Water Resistant and some good Face Sunscreen 50+ as well need to protect our bodies and faces stay out of the hottest sun during the day time. 🌞
A good beach bag is essential. So difficult to carry everything one needs if no bag.
So looking forward to beach weather!
Good article. Definitely lip balm and sunscreen. A bottle of water is in my bag to keep hydrated
I used to always take a bottle of vinegar in case of jellyfish stings, but now, they say vinegar can cause them to release their toxins. You should use warm water instead. I carry tweezers to remove the tentacles.
I remember when I was a kid, Mum & my brother got surrounded by blue bottles. Their panicked reflex was to toss them away, but they ended up inadvertently playing catch with each other, haha!
Need to invest in a good hydrating mist next!!
Same they sound amazing
I want to try the Naked Sunday SPF really badly.
I wouldn’t be taking a mist or a hydrating hair product to the beach, that would be for afterwards.
I don’t need anything in my beach bag. I hate sand! Beaches are not my scene – I love looking at the water but from a distance.