Beach Beauty ~ What To Pack In Your Beach Bag

How's your summer going?
As for me, well I could do with more beach days, as in every day.
I was asked recently what I put in my beach bag (apart from towel, book, hair ties). I actually keep it pretty simple.
If you have some beach days coming up, here are 5 essential pieces to pack in your beach bag.

Caslon straw beach bag, on sale at Nordstrom

Broad Spectrum Facial Sun Protection

I can't stress enough how important a really good facial sunscreen is. You should wear it every day of your life, not only to protect you from getting melanomas on your face (have you ever seen someone with half their nose cut off from skin cancer?) but also sun damage is the fastest way to age your skin, so therefore preventing sun damage is the best way to stay youthful.
You just cannot get more sun protection than Neutrogena Dry Touch Broad Spectrum SPF 100

Sun Protection For Your Body

This summer I'm into Juice Beauty's Organic Moisturizing SPF 30 Sport Sunscreen. 

I love the whole organic side to it, but also like that it's a sport formula (I'm not sporty) because sport sunscreens tend to stay on better and longer. If they're going to protect you nicely while you're out running, chances are they'll take care of me nicely while I'm lazing in the sunshine.

Lip Balm 

You need to give your kisser some extra loving when you're at the beach, both keeping it hydrated and using some sun protection.
Try Juice Beauty's Organic SPF 8 Lip Moisturizer. 

These are ridiculously affordable, so  not only can you keep re-applying all day but it's not a big deal if it gets sand in it or gets melty in the heat. Win win win!

A Bright Lipstick

 Electric Poppy

If you are going to wear any makeup to the beach, such as your brows and some waterproof mascara you will be putting them on at home before you leave, so the only makeup you need to throw in your beach bag is a nice, bright, vibrant lipstick or lipgloss to offset your beachy glow.
Try Charlotte Tilbury's new Hot Lips in Electric Poppy or in Hot Emily

Hot Emily

After Sun Hydration

After a day at the beach your skin is normally a little more dehydrated and maybe got some excess sun, so it needs some extra loving. I prefer to spritz on something refreshing rather than try to work a cream or lotion into my skin, and if you've been reading this blog for the past three years you already know that my go-to product is Tatcha's Luminous Dewy Skin Mist

Home Remedies For Sunburn

Sunburn is misery.

The only thing worse than you getting sunburned on vacation is your child getting sunburned on vacation. 

Can you even imagine how badly this must have hurt??

If you are heading to the sunshine this summer make sure you bring along some of the following items for a quick homemade sunburn remedy:

1. Cucumber

image via eatandrelish.com

Cucumbers provide instant relief to skin that is sun scorched, not just because they feel cooling but also because their antioxidant and analgesic properties promote healing great relief from discomfort.

Keep cucumbers in the fridge, and should you get sunburned or windburned, or even if your face just feels parched after a day at the beach, grate them and then smooth onto the affected area, leaving it to soak into the skin.

For a really bad burn liquefy the cucumbers in a blender and then make into a paste with cornstarch and aloe, apply to the area and leave it for as long as you can.

2. Plain, Live Cultured Yogurt.

It must be plain, non flavored yogurt, not vanilla yogurt. Plain, live cultured yogurt is full of probiotics and enzymes that help heal the skin.

Apply a liberal coating to the affected area, leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes - it will feel wonderful and cooling. Then gently rinse it off with tepid to cool water.

3. Vinegar.

image via cosmopolitan.com

People swear by this remedy, especially when using unfiltered apple cider vinegar.

Use about a cup of apple cider vinegar and a spray bottle. Have a cool shower first (avoid soaps as they will dry the skin out, making it worse), air dry or pat dry, and then spritz liberally with the apple cider vinegar.

4. Witch Hazel 

Witch Hazel contains tannins which when applies directly to the skin reduce swelling, help repair damaged skin and ward off bacteria.

Soak cotton balls or gauze in witch hazel and gently apply to the burned area.

5. Aloe

The aloe plant is famous for its healing properties and for its ability to take the redness and the sting out of sunburn. Slice fat, juicy leaves along the middle, open them up and press them to the skin.

If you don't have fresh aloe, use an aloe gel and apply it liberally.

6. Baking Soda

Baking soda can take out redness and diminish the pain of sunburn.

Either add some cool water and make it into a paste to apply to the area, or poor a cup of baking soda into a cool to tepid bath, and soak in it for as long as you can.

7. Oatmeal.

Oddly enough oatmeal is another great aid for troubled skin. 

Put 2 cups of any plain rolled oats into a tube sock, tying off the end. Add this to a cool or tepid bath, allowing it to soak for a few minutes, then squeezing it out. Repeat this a few times until the water looks cloudy, then soak in it for as long as you can. The polysaccharides in oatmeal will coat the skin, helping it heal.

Don't do a cold bath, as cold will close the pores and hold the heat in. Find a temperature that you can tolerate, somewhere between tepid and cool.

Don't stay in the bath too long as this will dry the skin out.

8. Potatoes

image via natashaskitchen.com

Potatoes are known to be pain relievers and work wonderfully on everything from insect bites to scratches to burns.

Wash the potatoes really well and then either grate them into a bowl or slice them and put them in the blender to liquefy them more. You don't need to peel them first. If necessary add a little cool water.

Apply grated raw potato to the skin, or if you've blended and added water, soak cotton balls or gauze in the mixture and lay on the skin.

9. Drink as much water as you can and stay out of the sun until your skin is healed. Avoid soaps and bubble baths as they will dry your skin out too much.

Make sure you apply full sun block and use hats, sunglasses and full cover lightweight fabrics to keep the sun off your skin.