It pays to have a set of ocean-ready essentials on hand. While a swimsuit and towel are obvious ones, for beauty mavens like us – skincare and hair care are equally important considerations for our beach bags. Because as much as we like soaking up the sun’s rays, we don’t love the damage they cause to our skin and hair. To take the guesswork out of packing for you, we’ve curated an edit of seven must-have beauty buys for your beach bag and – spoiler alert – it includes lots of SPF.
Chloe Zara Glossifying Hair Mist, $59
We all know that sunscreen is non-negotiable when it comes time to head out in the sun but few of us give our hair that same care and attention. The reality is – excessive sun exposure is often considered to be the most damaging factor to the integrity of our hair, contributing to breakage, colour loss, and overall frizziness. And while you can’t rub sunscreen through your tresses, a good way to protect your hair is by investing in a bottle of Chloe Zara’s Glossifying Hair Mist, a heat and UV-protecting leave-in conditioner. Formulated with Oléobooster, a powerful active to protect against heat and UV damage, this mist will not only leave your hair hydrated and frizz-free, but it also smells delicious to boot.
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40, $87, from Mecca.
While it might be in your best interest to forgo makeup when you’re at the beach (what with all the sand and the unpredictable waves), many of us prefer to simply stick to the essentials. When it comes to skin, this means swapping out your regular mattifying foundation for a light and dewy one, and ILIA’s Super Serum Skin Tint is a great option to reach for. With a reliable SPF of 40, its lightweight hydrating formula combines sunscreen and skin coverage into one step, making it a perfect pick for those days where you’ll be getting lots of Vitamin D.
Bondi Sands Aero Foam Ultra Dark 225ml, $27, from Life Pharmacy.
Want the perfect bronze tan without the sun damage? Bondi Sands have long been the go-to brand for achieving a streak-free tan, and their Aero Self Tanning Foam is a cult-favourite for a reason. Formulated with a quick-dry formula enriched with Vitamin E and Jojoba, you can achieve bronzy even coverage in minutes while keeping your skin feeling soft and nourished.
RAAIE Sun Milk Drops Tinted SPF50, $115.
We come for the packaging and stay for incredible formulas when it comes to RAAIE – and their highly coveted Sun Milk Drops are among our favourite SPFs on the market right now. Acne is a common side effect associated with wearing sunscreen, but RAAIE’s SPF is not only non-comedogenic, it also delivers broad spectrum protection with non-nano zinc oxide, protecting against UVA and UVB, as well as other skin aggressors such as pollution, and infrared radiation. Providing a ‘lit from within’ glow thanks to its peachy tint, you can sit back and let your skin do the talking.
Mecca Cosmetica To Save Body SPF30 Radiant Sun Mousse 150ml, $47.
Unless you’re keen on sunburnt shoulders or that pesky back burn, it’s important not to forget the rest of your body when going through the steps of your SPF routine. Mecca is known for having a great sunscreen range, and recently, the brand has added a mousse version to its offering that’s made its way into our beach bags and beauty cabinets. With a luxuriously whipped texture infused with glycerin and Vitamin E for hydration, applying full-body SPF just got that much easier.
Aēsop Protective Lip Balm SPF30, $27.
Like the rest of your face and body, your lips can also get chapped and damaged from too much sun exposure — so regularly applying a good quality SPF lip balm should be a top priority. With an SPF 30, Aēsop’s Protective Lip Balm contains a bountiful blend of botanical oils to soften, hydrate and nourish, while the addition of UVA and UVB filters ensure your pout stays protected from sun’s harsh rays.
Ultraceuticals Ultra Hydrating Skin Mist, $79.
While a face mist is by no means a necessity in your summer beach bag, there’s something lavish about having one at your disposal to give your skin a quick spritz between dips. The goal is to get one that has a deeply hydrating formula, and this one from Ultraceuticals definitely fits the bill. Made with Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Betaine and Sodium Hyaluronate to support skin moisture levels, all it takes is a gentle mist to help your skin feel refreshed and nourished.
