What’s In My Bag: Beach Day

I really love this type of post or blog. Perhaps it’s due to being naturally curious and always on the hunt for great ideas to enhance my own bag contents or to make life easier. Or maybe it’s because I used to be so addicted to People magazine’s Style Watch. In any case, I thought it’d be fun to do my own version of What’s In My Bag. Let’s start with one I just packed for recently. A beach day!

Beach Bag of Choice

My current favorite is a mesh Lilly Pulitzer tote that I ordered off their website a couple of season ago. I completely adore this bag (I love most Lilly Pulitzer prints and have a few of their shift dresses, towels, and causal type fabric bags) and find that it has been really perfect for those heavy beach days. The ones where we are parked out on the sand from mid-morning to sunset, playing in the waves, grilling on the beach, catching up with friends as we lounge on beach chairs, and watching my kids surf. This particular bag has a small pocket (I usually throw my keys, Invisalign case, and citrus salt LMNT electrolyte packets in here) and is just so comfortable and pretty even for a super casual beach outing. Both bags are very stuff able, accommodating my towel, and all necessities for the day. What do those necessities include?

Next up is this beautiful cotton tote that I recently got from SurferGrl Studios. You can find them on surfergrl.com. It’s a local Hawaii brand (I love supporting our local brands and artisans) with the sweetest owner. Featuring a vintage Hawaii print with a retro glam aesthetic, it’s a favorite of mine for the beach, out shopping, or for a causal day. It’s also my new go to gift for out of town guests and friends on the mainland. 

Sunscreen

Well first to pack is of course sunscreen. I’ve been using (and loving), the clean beauty brand Kosas and their DreamBeam face sunscreen with it’s broad spectrum SPF 40 coverage. I tried several at Sephora but found this one to work best for me personally, everyday with or without makeup, and for those beach days too. Then there’s our go to favorite sunscreen for the rest of the family and that I use other than my face (and sometimes on my face too if I want extra coverage), Badger. Purchased at Whole Foods or through my Amazon Subscribe and Save subscription, we often have the Sport 40 with us. With 98% organic ingredients, a good rating on the EWG website, clear zinc (my kids used to hate the thick white version) and reef safe, we find this to be the best option for all of us, especially my more fair skinned children.

Miscellaneous Must-Haves

Now that the sunscreen is packed, there are a few smaller items that really come in handy in the sun. One is a good lip balm (again I tend towards Badger and their cocoa butter version, the Hurraw brand, or Dr Bonners) and my favorite eye drops (Opcon A though I’ve also used and like Boiron’s homeopathic drops). Of course sunglasses. As I tend to be sensitive to migraines triggered by the sun, Maui Jims have been a lifesaver for me. The larger Poolside polarized version in black gloss with a neutral grey lens has been my current favorite though I also love their Triton (so much so that I have their Blue Hawaii lens, neutral grey, and Maui brilliant bronze lens-thank you Costco for a deal on this particular style!). Maui Jims aren’t the oversized shapes and styles of my old favorite brand Celine, but they make a world of difference in cutting down on headaches and I can wear them in the water which I love.

Next would be my Yeti tumbler full of nugget ice (we just got the best nugget ice maker from Costco…I’m so in love) and a bottle of Pellegrino. We always have a separate cooler bag of cold sparkling waters, cut-up fresh fruit, and some protein heavy snacks, but this is my personal water for my own bag. Of course my phone, a pair of glasses for distance, and a pair of binoculars (handy to check in on the kids as they are out at a surf break or to see the peaceful sea turtles that are swimming along). You might also want to pack your Go-Pro (we’ll sometimes bring ours for water sports) to capture fun memories. If we’ll be going to a really calm beach, I’ll usually pack my snorkel as well. Being in the cool quiet under the water, gazing at colorful fish is my happy place, so my snorkel is a must. Everyone prefers something different, but my long time favorite has been the Cressi panoramic wide-view with dry top. We actually all love to snorkel or dive in my family, and all have variations of Cressi masks and snorkels. Purchased on Amazon though I believe there are a couple of snorkel shops on island that carry the Cressi brand as well.

Last but not least would be hand sanitizer (germaphobe here!), my Pelican waterproof phone pouch, towel, coverup (usually a pareo wrap from Costco or one of my favorite L*Space or La Blanca caftans or dresses), a small snack, and I’m good to go!

My Beach Bag “Pro-Tips”

A quick suggestion if you’re wanting additional sun coverage (I use a beach chair with a big sunshade which eliminates my need for this) is a good wide brimmed hat or quick drying cap (there are also some really cute locally designed trucker hats by one of our favorites MASA Artistry -they also make the best local stickers which we use on water flasks and surfboards, perfect for a local souvenir) masaartistry.com, a long sleeved rash guard, and a big UPF 50+UV protection umbrella (the G4free brand on Amazon is my go to). A tube of Maui Vera Sunburn Relief After Sun Moisturizer (you can pick this up at most ABC stores or Island Markets) is another good add and preventative measure after spending some time out at the beach. And of course, lots of hydration! If you don’t care for or have an electrolyte packet to stir into your water, coconut water is a great alternative. An ice cold Vita Coco (as a coconut lover, the pressed is my favorite while my family loves the pineapple version) can really help rehydrate and provide a delicious way to cool off.

Beach Day Here We Come!

We’ve got our beach bag all packed. Now for the next exciting question-which beach to head out to? Lots more on our favorite beaches coming soon!

Sunshine and aloha! 🌺☀️

Hawaii Girl Life