Summer is finally here and you’re planning your next trip to…the beach. Without the essentials, a fun trip can leave you burnt and crisp. So be sure to check out our extensive guide that will keep you cool and happy while relaxing in the sun.
Before You Leave
A checklist can be helpful to make sure you have everything you need once you get there. Also, check the weather or any other reports about your location.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is an important part of life in the summertime. Wearing UV protection can reduce your risk of skin cancer and signs of aging. A sunscreen with a broad spectrum SPF value of 15 or higher is recommended for adults.
Before heading to the beach, apply sun lotion to all parts of your body and don’t forget your feet. This can help alleviate random burns from applying after you’re suited up and ready to go. Once you’re there, routinely apply sun lotion approximately every two hours or after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating.
There are many great sunscreen options on the market. Sunblock comes in a variety of sticks, sprays, lotions, and liquids. All natural sunblock is available. There are also products especially designed for babies and children as well as for the aging adult not to mention sun tan lotions that are for sensitive skin or the active individual. Find a product that meets your individual or family needs and carry on.
What to Wear
Beach dresses, short and long, are trending now. Great on the boardwalk or down in the sand, a beach dress can be versatile for shopping or wading in the water.
Sarongs are another sensible wardrobe choice. Adaptable, sarongs can be worn as a skirt or can also be wrapped around the shoulders, like a shawl, as a fashion choice or to prevent burning. If needed, a sarong can even be utilized as a towel or blanket.
Choose light colored clothing to keep cool and protect you from the sun and wind. Fashion forward beachwear with long pants and long sleeve shirts can provide UV protection when lounging beachside. Protecting your skin from the elements can help ensure your holiday goes smoothly start to finish.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are key to beach life. Your eyes need UV protection too, thus making your outfit and eye-comfort complete with the right pair of shades. Polarized lenses keep out the glare with a special protective coating that enhance your ability to see more accurately in bright light. Prescription sunglasses or transitional lenses are great in the summertime too. Sport sunglasses for surfers are a great way to keep your eyes protected while being active in the water.
Sun Hats
If you’re flying solo and toting a large umbrella to the beach is not your thing, your sun hat can almost act as an umbrella. Oversized sunhats are chic and great for a woman on the go. Be confident in knowing that sometimes your fashion choices are also health choices.
Umbrellas
Umbrellas can literally save your skin and eyes. Even when wearing sunscreen the protection of the shade can be more effective. The shade offered by your umbrella can also reduce glare and prevent squinting. Umbrellas are especially useful for keeping kids cool and safe from the sun on a hot day.
Hydration
Being out in the sun is fun as long as you take the necessary precautions. Staying hydrated is vital to a good day at the beach. Water, and not soda, is always a great to maintaining your body’s daily dose of liquids. Water bottles are easy to come by, so find an earth friendly container that you can fill up while you’re out.
You can be creative with your hydration solutions by adding lemon or cucumber to your water. Essential oils, such as an energizing orange or grapefruit oil, are also a popular way to enhance your water and add additional health benefits to staying quenched.
Coconut water is another great way to stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes lost when sweating in the summer heat. Popsicles, especially made from 100% juice, are another fun way to keep cool. Just a cup of crushed ice can be delightful on a hot afternoon.
Be mindful of signs of dehydration. If you are dizzy, feeling weak, have a dry mouth, headache, or have low or no urine be sure to replenish as soon as possible. Drink regularly, even if you do not feel thirsty, to prevent dehydration and heat stroke.
Snacks
Keep energized with snacks. Fresh fruit is nourishing. Cucumbers and watermelon are light and refreshing and hydrate the body on a hot day. Replenish the body’s need for salt lost from sweating with pretzels, nuts, or crackers.
Phone
Take your phone in case of emergency and get cool pics for your Facebook profile… of course. Phones at beachside are also helpful to find nearby places to eat, local music, and for taking beach pictures and videos. Stay connected or keep it in your bag, your phone is a tool that is hard to leave behind.
Time to Chill
How do you relax on the beach? Do you imagine lying on a blanket between splashing in the surf or sitting back in your chair under an umbrella with a book in your hand? Prepare for a perfect day of beach chilling by packing the necessities.
Make a checklist and go over it; so when you get there you have everything you need to relax and have fun. Enjoy your holiday and be safe.