10 Summer Beauty Essentials For Your Beach Bag

I never used to be one for spending time at the beach, but now that I'm an adult I've grown to like it. I now enjoy spending time in the ocean breezes, exploring the coast, people watching, well I could go on and on.

Despite all of the fun I have at the beach I've found that if I don't properly prepare and think about protecting my hair and skin beforehand I end up regretting my beach time.

The sun and ocean breezes I enjoy so much can dry out my hair and skin causing damage that will take weeks sometimes months to reverse and repair.

To avoid that damage I make sure to pack in my beach bag these seven beauty and hair care essentials.

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1. Hair clips and bobby pins

I use these to keep my relaxed hair in place and out of my face. I've found from past experience that using a ponytail holder or hair elastic creates a tangled mess.

Some of my favorite hair clips are ones from Scunci because they come in three neutral colors and I can get a secure hold for my thick hair.

For bobby pins, I stick with Goody because I can get several for a really good price and they don't easily slip out of my hair.

2. Hair conditioner

You might be wondering why would I need hair conditioner. Saltwater isn’t good for our hair and your absorbs less of it when your strands are saturated with something else. Like hair conditioner.

Additionally, the hair conditioner helps to keep my hair hydrated so it’s less likely to dry out from the sun and wind.

I typically apply the conditioner before I hit the beach and will take a small bottle with me in case I feel like I need to apply a little bit more later.

I like to switch between a deep conditioner like the Eden BodyWorks Jojoba Monoi Deep Conditioner and a rinse out conditioner like Suave Professionals Natural Infusion Moisturizing Conditioner.

I typically apply the conditioner before I hit the beach and will take a small bottle with me in case I feel like I need to apply a little bit more later.

3. Large hat

Wearing a hat helps to shield my relaxed hair, face, and eyes from the sun and blowing sand. By keeping my hair, face, and eyes protected from the sun I'm reducing, even eliminating damage from the sun.

4. Sunscreen

I wasn’t big on sunscreen when I was a teenager. It always felt heavy and sticky on my skin. Sunscreen’s today come in many formulas and tend to absorb into the skin better than before.


When I go to the beach I like to use a sport sunscreen spray. Using a spray-on sunscreen like the Neutrogena CoolDry Sport Sunscreen Spray helps me to more evenly apply the sunscreen and apply it to those harder to reach places. It also keeps my hands smelling like sunscreen all day.

5. Face lotion with sunscreen

Many times when it comes to sunscreen we tend to forget that our face needs it as well. I don’t like to use the same sunscreen on my face that I do on my body because it causes my face to break out.

So I use a facial moisturizer that includes sunscreen. The two that I’ve been alternating between are from Garnier. They are the Garnier Skinactive Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer w/SPF 15 and Garnier Moisture Rescue Actively Hydrating Daily Lotion w/SPF 15.

Not only do they help keep my face protected from the sun. They keep my face moisturized because my skin tends to dry out from the mixture of salt water, wind, and the sun.

6. Body lotion

Just like my face, the rest of my skin dries out when I spend a lot of time outdoors and it’s exposed to the sun, salt water, and wind. So I like to have lotion on hand so I can moisturize my skin throughout the day.

Additionally, the lotion can take away that ashy look you can get when your skin dries out which is handy if you're not going straight home from the beach.

Read more: How I Keep My Skin Moisturized in the Summer

7. Hand sanitizer and wipes

I pretty much don't go anywhere without a travel size bottle of hand sanitizer. And I make a point to pack some extra hand sanitizer and also hand wipes when spending time at the beach.

There are plenty of times I’ve been a public beach and there wasn’t any soap or running water in the bathroom. So I had to use hand sanitizer or hand wipes instead. They also come in handy if I’m too lazy to get up and wash my hands before eating a snack. 

8. Face wipes

Sometimes after spending a day at the beach you’re not gonna head straight home. I know that after spending some time outside and sweating a bit I feel and look a hot mess. Having some face wipes like the Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes in my beach bag allow me to clean and refresh my face and reapply my facial moisturizer.

9. Waterproof mascara

On days when I wear little to no makeup, I still make sure to put on some mascara. And making sure the mascara is waterproof, like the L’oreal Voluminous Butterfly Mascara, so it doesn’t run when I sweat or go in the water.

10. Deodorant

Last but not least I make sure to always pack some deodorant like this Shower Fresh Antiperspirant from Suave to help me stay fresh throughout the day and if I head out to dinner or the store afterward.

What beauty and hair essentials do you take to the beach with you?