18 Fresh Beauty Essentials for Your Next Beach Vacation

Warm sand, gentle waves, and salty air - there’s nothing quite as rejuvenating as a trip to the beach.

Even if it’s the dead of winter, you can always jet off to some corner of the world and hit the beach. But all the sun, countless dips in the water, and exposure to the harsh UV rays can take a toll on your skin and hair.

Here are 18 fresh beauty products for beach vacations that can make your seaside getaway as calming for your body as for your mood.

List of Beauty Essentials for a Perfect Day at the Beach

1. SPF Face Sunscreen

Soak in the sun but not its harsh UVA and UVB rays! A good mineral-based SPF sunscreen can protect sensitive facial skin from sunburn, premature aging, and the dreaded skin cancer. Instead of using the same sunscreen from forehead to toe, we recommend opting for an SPF 30 or higher serum specifically formulated for your face, like the EltaMD UV Clear Face Sunscreen with SPF 46.

It’s easy to apply and reapply (you’ll be doing that a lot) thanks to its travel-sized pump bottle.

The best part?

It leaves no pesky white cast and works well for a wide range of facial skin types and tones. Remember to apply sunscreen to your face every two hours and after every dip.

2. SPF Tinted Moisturizer

If you’re planning to use a full-coverage foundation as a part of your beach makeup routine, think again. A sweaty face and heavy foundation are the recipe for breakouts. Instead, opt for BB creams or tinted moisturizers that not only nourish your skin and make it look glowy but also protect it from sunburn.

Supergoop’s Glowscreen SPF 40 is a huge hit with beachgoers. It works as a dewy primer and a broad-spectrum sunscreen, giving your face a sheer filter-like coverage. It’s a lightweight formula and comes in four gorgeous shades, from light to deep. Oh, and did we mention that it’s cruelty-free and vegan?

3. Easy Application Body Sunscreen

Now that you’ve packed beach beauty products for your face. It’s time to move on to the body. An easy-to-apply sunscreen charged with SPF 30 or higher should do the trick.

Avoid using spray sunscreen with oxybenzone and octinoxate chemicals, as they can hurt the marine environment. These chemicals are ejected from the nozzle in the form of a small cloud, making it easy for the particles to spread easily in the air and surroundings, endangering coral reefs and marine animals.

A better option is to use a reef-safe zinc-based formulation, like Thrive’s Bodyshield SPF 50. It’s made from regenerative plant-derived ingredients and offers ample protection from UVA/UVB rays while also hydrating the skin.

This eco-friendly sunscreen is way less greasy and absorbs faster than traditional SPF 50 formulations - just what you need for hassle-free sun protection.

Related Article: Beach Trip Packing List for a Memorable Trip

4. After Sun Face Mist

This cooling mineral hydro mist from Alder New York, is a must-add to your beach trip shopping list. It blends the goodness of multi-mineral complex and pomegranate seed oil to keep your skin fresh and plump on a hot day at the seaside.

We love the handy little bottle it comes in. A few spritzes are enough to cool you down and help you brave the sun all day long. Another reason to grab this is the natural eucalyptus-peppermint fragrance that we can’t get enough of!

5. Fragrance With Beachy Notes

Speaking of fragrances, SOL DE JANEIRO’s Cheirosa ‘62’s mouth-watering notes of pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla are like a beach in a bottle. The sun-soaked beaches of Brazil are the inspiration behind this iconic fragrance.

It opens with pistachio and almond notes followed by jasmine petals and a trail of vanilla and salted caramel that’ll linger on you all day long!

6. Tinted Lip Balm

No one likes dry, matted lips, least of all on a beach. So make sure you pack an SPF lip balm in your beach bag. We love Sun Bum’s SPF 15 lip balm that nourishes and protects your pout without hurting the environment.

Like Thrive’s body sunscreen, this lip balm is formulated without oxybenzone and octinoxate, making it Hawaii Act 104 Reef Compliant.

The best part? It’s tinted and available in an amazing array of colors to keep your lips moisturized and looking good! Those who’re looking for something that can soothe and add a luminous tint to cheeks and lips might want to give Tower 28’s Beach Please Cream Blush a try!

7. Bug Repellent Spray

It might be hard to believe, but even the most gorgeous and clean beaches can be home to bugs. Here’s what you can do to not let sand flies, mosquitoes, or other insects get in the way of beach fun - bring along a bug-repellant spray, like this DEET-free Cutter’s Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent.

Granted that it’s not a beauty product, but it sure can get rid of pesky creatures that can ruin the day for you and your family. Unlike others, this repellant has a clean, fresh scent that seems to ward off bugs without stinking up the entire place with a headache-inducing smell.

8. Soothing and Cooling Aloe-Vera Gel

Your sun protection and recovery arsenal is incomplete without a soothing aloe vera gel. Whether it’s a bug bite or sunburn, this potent aloe gel will cool your irritated skin in no time.

Besides aloe vera, the Sensiv gel also contains a tiny amount of topical anesthetic to provide relief from sunburn, itching, and cuts and scrapes. This is a must-have product if you’re traveling with kids.

9. Refreshing and Setting Facial Mist

We know just how annoying it can be to have your makeup look washed away with water, sweat, or reapplication of face sunscreen.

So, pack this setting mist pronto! Supergoop’s SPF 40 setting mist is a lightweight formula that spreads evenly and dries quickly without smudging your makeup.

The mist’s bouquet of rosemary and peppermint scents will not disappoint!

10. Waterproof Mascara

If you love showing off your lashes, go for a waterproof mascara. There are plenty of amazing smudge-proof mascaras that can thicken, lengthen, and curl your lashes and keep them that way all day long.

If you’re looking for ideas, then Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara is a great beach buy. Splash around in the pool or go for a dip in the ocean without getting black makeup all over your eyes.

11. Odor-Busting Deodorant

A handful of beach activities, and you notice yourself having worked up quite the sweat. For moments like these, a handy deodorant stick can do wonders in killing the sweaty odor and helping you feel fresh.

Our recommendation? This travel-friendly natural deodorant from Each & Every. Their ingredients are free of baking soda, aluminum, parabens, alcohol, and phthalates.

Our favorite scent is coconut and lime - very beachy! But you can pick from 10 equally refreshing scents. Remember to reapply it after swimming, as deodorant may wash off in the water.

12. Beach Tote

So, where do you stash all of these amazing beach beauty products? Into your beach bag, of course!

Our extra large tote bag with zipper is made from pure cotton canvas and robustly stitched for countless uses. It comes with two super convenient handles to help you carry your beauty essentials around effortlessly. At 16 x 21 x 5 inches, it is roomy enough to accommodate everything from your beauty essentials to snacks.

And when you’re not on a beach vacay, use this tote on your grocery or shopping trips - it’s that versatile!

13. Cream Bronzer

Want a bronzed look without baking yourself under the sun? Then you’ve got to try Tower 28 Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer. It’s the holy grail for nailing that radiant sun-kissed look.

Apply it on the apples of the cheeks, bridge of the nose, collarbone, middle of the chin, and forehead to get a glowy, chiseled look. Opt for a cream bronzer instead of a powder-based formula for a non-messy, natural-looking finish.

14. Organic Cotton Face Wipes

Having a stash of wipes or makeup remover pads is a must after your day at the beach. After all, you’ll be covered in a day’s worth of makeup, sand, and grime!

Our cotton makeup remover pads are made from ultra-soft organic cotton, which makes them good for the skin and the environment. Just soak it in cleansing water and use it to rub or scrub every bit of makeup off.

Don’t throw them in the trash! These cleansing cloths are durably made for reuse. Just toss them in the washer with the rest of your laundry and see them come out clean and ready for reuse!

15. Wide-Brimmed Hat

Wide-brimmed hats are a beach classic for good reason. Not only do they amp up your sun protection game, but they also add a touch of chic to your overall beach look.

You could opt for an oversized floppy straw hat, a baseball cap, or a comfy bucket hat, depending on your outfit and taste. For your little ones, we recommend buying UPF50+ sun hats with neck covers to shield them from harsh UV rays.

Make sure the hat you pick is a packable one that can be rolled up or folded and stashed in your beach bag.

16. Wide Toothed Comb

We’ve got beauty essentials for your face and skin, but what about your hair? The next couple of beauty products on this list are dedicated to protecting your tresses.

For starters, pack a wide-toothed comb. The wind and water can turn your hair into a real mess. Apply a detangling cream or leave-in conditioner and glide the comb through your hair to remove the knots and frizz without breakage.

We love Giorgio GIONAT7’s Large Natural Wooden Comb. It’s made from bamboo and beechwood. Besides busting the knots out of your hair, the natural wooden rounded teeth work brilliantly in stimulating the scalp and improving blood circulation.

17. UV Hair Protection Cream

Next up on the list is a hair protection cream that can act as a protective barrier to keep UV rays from damaging your hair and scalp. Sachajuan’s award-winning Hair in the Sun is one that we swear by.

This cream is enriched with UV protectants and ingredients that also prevent discoloration caused by the harsh chemicals found in the pool water. Apply it to the hair before you step out in the sun. This long-lasting formula keeps working its magic even after a shower or a swim. Worth every penny!

18. Claw Hair Clip

This ‘90s hair accessory is making a huge comeback. And why not? Claw clips are super cute blessed with the ability to tame your tresses into a chic updo. They come in all sorts of sizes to tackle thick-to-thin hair types.

If you’re new to this trend, choose a pack of medium-sized claw clips from Goody that can style and secure your wind and sand-battered tresses.

Final Thoughts

There’s so much to look forward to on a beach vacation - the rolling waves, salty breeze, and getting a hearty dose of vitamin D.

But not everyone looks forward to packing for the trip. Many people end up procrastinating and packing hastily, only to discover later that they’ve forgotten something important back home.

The last thing we want is for anything to dampen your vacation spirit. A handy packing checklist like this one can be of huge help. We hope this guide can help you pack everything you need to soak up the sun while looking your best.